On September 7, 2017, the last active C-5A powered with TF39 engines made its final flight to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for retirement.
The United States Air Force opened the "CX-X Program" in 1964, intending to produce a next-generation strategic airlifter.
The high-bypass turbofan was a huge leap in engine performance, offering a thrust of 43,000 pounds, while improving fuel efficiency by about 25%.
It introduced use of a large by-pass ratio which, together with advances in core technology, contributed to a significant improvement in fuel efficiency over engines available at the time.
By modern standards the Low Pressure Compressor on the TF-39 is fairly unique as a single T-stage is mounted upstream of the fan rotor, rather than behind it.