Cargo aircraft facts for kids

A cargo aircraft is an aircraft that can carry cargo. In some cases, it may also carry passengers. It exists as well as civilian as military aircraft.

Civilian aircraft

Oversized cargo aircraft Boeing 747LCF.

Civilian cargo aircraft carry cargo or mail. This is generally a kind of airliner, designed for passengers but modified for cargo. Some civilians cargo aircraft are specially equipped for carrying oversized cargo such as aircraft wings, tank-trucks, rocket pieces, or sometimes military heavy trucks and tanks.

Examples

• Airbus A300-600ST,
• Antonov An-225,
• Boeing 747LCF,

Military aircraft

Cargo aircraft Transall C.160 of the French Air Force.

Military transport aircraft can carry cargo and passengers. Passengers are usually troops, including paratroopers. The seats are usually simple. These aircraft typically have a sloping loading door at the rear of the fuselage for quick loading and unloading. Some use turbojets, others use turboprop engines.

Examples

• Airbus A400M,
• Antonov An-26,
• Boeing C-17 Globemaster III,
• Casa C-295,
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain,
• Lockheed C-5 Galaxy,
• Short 330UTT,
• Transall C.160.

• Frawley, Gerard, The international directory of military aircraft 2002/2003 . London : Aerospace Publication, 2002. ISBN: 1-875671-55-2.
• Gaillard, Pierre, Avions et hélicoptères militaires d'aujourd'hui Paris, France : Larivière éditions, 1999. ISBN: 2-907051-24-5.
• Kaminsky, Tom, The United States Military Aviation Directory, London : Airtime Publishing, 2000. ISBN: 1-880588-29-3.
• Wilson, Stuart, Airliners of the world, London: Aerospace Publication, 1999. ISBN: 1-875671-44-7.

Images for kids

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  Volga-Dnepr An-124 ready for loading

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  The Vickers Vernon was the first dedicated troop transport in 1921

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  The Arado Ar 232 was the first purpose built cargo aircraft

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  The C-130 Hercules is the archetypal military transport aircraft

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  The Antonov An-225 was the heaviest aircraft

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  Boeing 737-300 converted freighter of Toll Aviation

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  The Chinese Academy of Sciences flew an unpiloted PAC P-750 XSTOL

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  The Boeing 747 nose cargo door open

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  The Type 158 York

See also

In Spanish: Avión de carga para niños