Scott Vernon wrote:

I've been in the cockpit of a USAF C-5 Galaxy. ''the largest operational
aircraft in the free world''.

AN-225 is "the largest operational aircraft in the free world."

What is the free world? It's not 1952 anymore even though we do seem to
heading that way in the US.

It is used for civil charters worldwide and even you can charter one if
you like. Boeing uses one to haul engines to Seattle from Europe. Both
takeoff and landing are in the "free world" ... sort of.

Rick