Yokota kids visit AMC and board C-5M Super Galaxy

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Three classes of students from Yokota West Elementary School visited the Air Mobility Command Passenger Terminal at Yokota Air Base to learn about the mission of the 730th Air Mobility Squadron and get an inside-look at a visiting AMC C-5M Super Galaxy, assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California, March 17.

The kindergarten and first-grade classes traveled to the terminal with their teachers and parent chaperones, where they were greeted by 730th AMS passenger services members and issued customized boarding passes to simulate a typical AMC trip.

After “checking in” with their boarding passes, the kids lined up and filed through the security inspection area to learn about how the 730th AMS ensures safe flights for all of their passengers. 

Then, it was off to the buses. Airmen from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron drove the field trip attendees to the visiting AMC C-5M, which has been a feature on the Yokota flightline for a two-week ground trainer exercise hosted by the 730th AMS. 

The C-5M has a cargo load of 281,000 pounds and can fly 2,150 nautical miles, offload, and fly to a second base 500 nautical miles away–all without aerial refueling. With refueling, the aircraft’s range is limited only by crew endurance. 

The kids and their teachers marveled at the size of the air-giant, standing at a massive 20 meters tall with a wingspan of 68 meters. 

The 730th AMS team and Yokota elementary students alike agreed that the exchange was the best part of their day and they couldn’t wait for another field trip.