US Air Force’s C-5M Super Galaxy lands at Auckland’s Whenuapai air base

The C-5M Super Galaxy arrived at Whenuapai’s Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

The biggest aircraft in the US Air Force has touched down in Auckland tonight.

The C-5M Super Galaxy arrived at Whenuapai’s Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland around 10pm to deliver components for the new C-130J Hercules simulator.

The Defence Force said the components will be unloaded on Thursday, ahead of a second delivery.

In a statement, the Defence Force said the full-motion flight simulator will be ready for use next year.

“This simulator is a critical piece of equipment for the RNZAF and will train air and ground crews operating the fleet of five C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.”

The simulator is expected to provide a safe and secure space for pilot training.

It is also expected to help with loadmaster systems training and engine run training, as well as procedural and mission systems training.

The Super Galaxy, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is 75m long and has a 68m wingspan.

It has four General Electric turbofan engines.

The Soviet-built Antonov An-225 Mriya, destroyed in Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, had an 88.4m wingspan.

The US Air Force’s stealth bomber, the Northrop B-2 Spirit, has a 52m wingspan.

The Defence Force said its personnel had been working with the US Air Force, defence company CAE USA and Lockheed Martin to deliver the simulator.

You can view more photos of the Super Galaxy below.

The C-5M Super Galaxy arrives at Whenuapai. Photo / Dean Purcell

Components will be unloaded from the huge aircraft on Thursday. Photo / Dean Purcell

The C-5M Super Galaxy is one of the largest military transport aircraft ever built. Photo / Dean Purcell