C-5s Start To Arrive At Martinsburg Air Base

The first C-5 Galaxy aircraft to be part of the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing base in Martinsburg was officially unveiled during a recent ceremony. Ten C-5 transport planes will be based at the Airlift Wing’s base in the Eastern Panhandle. The airplanes are part of a $235 million federal investment to upgrade and expand the entire Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport facility. Once the C-5 unit is fully operational, the 167th Airlift Wing anticipates an additional 200 full-time jobs and the annual economic impact is expected to increase to at least $50 million a year.

In addition to receiving the fleet of C-5s, Byrd announced that the 167th Airlift Wing has been selected as the Isochronal Inspection site for the Air National Guard’s C-5 aircraft. An average of 33 C-5 aircraft in the Air Force fleet will be scheduled for a comprehensive 40-day inspection and maintenance period every year and a half at the base. The additional responsibility will bring at least 120 new jobs to the base.