Airman part of record flight

Master Sgt. Matthew Thomas was recently a key member of an Air Force flight that set numerous records for altitude, speed and cargo weight during an hour-long flight on a C-5M cargo jet out of Travis Air Force Base.

Thomas grew up in Columbia Falls, graduating from high school in 1992 and enlisted in the Air Force shortly thereafter. Today, he is a loadmaster with the 22nd Airlift Squadron, in charge of making sure cargo on the giant transport plane is properly secured for flight.

The C-5M cargo jet will hold 265,000 pounds of cargo and has room for 73 passengers and crew, Thomas explained, and the cargo bay of the C-5 is longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight.

Over his career, Thomas has visited every continent and active war zone, including a yearlong tour in Afghanistan where he was an advisor to the Afghan Air Force. While he’s flown into war zones, he said he’s never taken enemy fire.

“At least that I know of,” he said.

Thomas said he’s enjoyed his career with the Air Force.

“It’s a blast,” he said. “It’s really neat to be part of the largest airplane the Air Force has.”

Last month, a crew of eight Travis AFB airmen, including Thomas, unofficially established 45 records for altitude, speed and cargo weight during an hourlong flight, giving the C-5M more records than any other aircraft in the world.

Verification of the records is pending from the National Aeronautic Association.

In the C-5 cargo bay was more than 265,000 pounds, composed of 33 pallets, each weighing 4,000 to 10,000 pounds, Thomas said.

Thomas is ending his Air Force career soon. He said he plans to retire in the fall of next year. He has a wife, Lynn, and 16-year-old and 10-year-old boys.

He said he might seek a job in the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service. He isn’t sure yet — he’s only 42.

His father, Karl Thomas, served in the Air Force, worked at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant and was a longtime Glacier National Park employee, working on the road crew plowing Going-to-the-Sun Road each spring.

Matthew said he was happy to serve in the Air Force.

“I was proud to serve the U.S. and do what needs to be done,” he said.