According to federal deputy Marcelo Ramos (PL-AM), the Brazilian government requested the US Embassy to use Lockheed C-5 Galaxy planes to transport oxygen to Manaus (AM). “I already spoke today with Minister (Foreign Affairs) Ernesto Araújo and we are trying, together with the Embassy, to release a US Air Force plane, a Galaxy, to take oxygen”, said the deputy.
“There are places that have oxygen, but they don't have an aircraft that transports oxygen in cylinders. The only one that has (capacity to transport the cylinders) broke down and is undergoing maintenance”, said Ramos.
According to UOL, the US Embassy said it is aware of the request and is in with Brazilian authorities on the matter.
The Brazilian Air Force has been involved with the logistical transport of oxygen and other health supplies to Manaus since the beginning of the pandemic, but work intensified last week. Between the last 8th and 10th, the FAB transported more than 24 tons of oxygen cylinders to Manaus. This week the FAB should transport at least more 50 tons.
Work will continue until Sunday (and most likely will continue after that as well), being conducted mainly by Lockheed C-130M Hércules and Embraer KC-390 Millennium. THE CNN stated that the FAB will start transporting oxygen in liquid form on the C-130s. The FAB should also transport patients with COVID-19 from Manaus to other states.
The C-5 Galaxy is one of the largest and most famous military aircraft in the world, and can be compared with the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the “smaller brother” of the An-225 Mryia, the largest plane in the world. In its most modern version, the plane can carry more than 127 tons of cargo. The C-5 has been in service with the US Air Force since the 70s.
