Extra-Large Wings on Air: Cargo Shipping Planes and Its Difference With Passenger Aircraft

Extra-Large Wings on Air: Cargo Shipping Planes and Its Difference With Passenger Aircraft

When using an air cargo shipping service, some might wonder about how they actually fly so many things to different places. Compared to the usual passenger aircraft, it is hard to imagine how so items and packages can fit inside. As most people know, the planes used for the two types of cargo (people vs. 'actual' cargo) are not the same.

Passenger aircraft, which everyone has grown to know and love, are built to carry a certain capacity of weight, restricted to people, carry-on luggage, and other relatively lighter objects.

An example of this type of commercial airplane is the Boeing 737 Next Generation series. This narrow-bodied passenger aircraft is not used for air cargo shipping because it can only carry up to 756-1,835 cubic feet of cargo paired with its 130-215 seating capacity; adding anymore to this will render the aircraft overloaded.

Freight planes, on the other hand, do without the seating capacity as they function solely to transport goods, and not people; there is more space for shipment to be stored, especially since these fright planes are designed to be bigger than its commercial counterparts. The Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF), or the Dreamlifter, is a perfect example of how cargo planes are made differently to suit their function.

This outsize cargo freight aircraft is used exclusively for transporting airplane parts from around the world. This plane can hold up to 65,000 cubic feet in its main cargo compartment and has a wingspan of 211 feet and 5 inches. This wingspan allows it to soar in the skies even with heavy airplane equipment inside, as compared to the 93 feet that the Boeing 737 is equipped with; making the Dreamlifter a giant that can hold so much more than other commercial jets.

As seen from this comparison, freight planes are really made to be bigger and more durable than commercial counterparts because of their function. Modifications have been made to make them an ideal form of transport for shipment of different sizes, ensuring everyone that their goods are safe and secure even from 25,000 to 37,000 feet above ground.

The Difference Between Aviation Fuel and Ground Transportation Fuel

The Difference Between Aviation Fuel and Ground Transportation Fuel

Aviation fuel and ground transportation fuel both come from petroleum. Petroleum comes from crude oil, which is a fossil fuel. Yet the makeup of each is quite different. Ground transportation's vapors are flammable, whereas aviation fuel has to be non-flammable. There are multiple types of aviation gasoline, as well as ground transportation fuel.

There are two different types of aviation gas, which are jet fuel and avgas. Avgas is a combination of the two words aviation and gasoline. Avgas is normally used in aircraft that have reciprocating engines. It is a high-octane fuel used for aircraft and racing cars. The higher the octane, the less flammable and/or combustible the fuel is.

Jet fuel is the more common of the two. There are three types of jet fuel. These are Jet A, Jet A-1 and Jet B. The most common jet fuel is a kerosene and paraffin oil-based fuel classified as JET A-1. Kerosene is thin oil distilled from petroleum or shale oil. Jet A-1 fuel has to comply with international standardized set specifications. JET B is a fuel in the naptha-kerosene "family" that is prized for its superior cold-weather performance. Since it is a lighter composition, it is more dangerous. Both JET A and JET B typically contain a number of additives, including antioxidants to prevent gumming, antistatic agents to dissipate static electricity and prevent sparking, and fuel system icing inhibitor agents.

Ground transportation fuel is normally gasoline or diesel. Both come from petroleum. Production of gasoline is achieved by distillation of crude oil. The desirable liquid is separated from the crude oil in refineries. To create gasoline, petroleum must first be removed from crude oil. Gasoline for sale in most countries carries an octane rating. Octane is a measure of gasoline's resistance to combusting prematurely. Diesel is a by-product of crude oil. A diesel engine is a type of internal combustion engine which ignites fuel by compressing it, as opposed to a gasoline engine that uses a spark plug.

All of these fuels come from fossil fuels, which are then turned into crude oil. After different types of refining, a fuel is made to suit the type of engine and conditions it will be used in. If an inappropriate fuel is used in an engine, then the desired outcome will not be achieved.