Why Do Cargo Operators Fly Older Planes?
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- Опубликовано: 20 июн 2020
- You may have noticed that many cargo aircraft are older planes that have long been out of commercial passenger usage, like the Airbus A300. Others are new aircraft from production lines that no longer offer passenger versions, like the Boeing 767. Why do cargo carriers prefer older planes? Let’s find out.
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727 FedEx • Fedex Plane Lands at M...
767 FedEx • Tàu Cargo ở Nội Bài: B...
Dc-10 FedEx • FedEx MD-10-30 (DC-10)...
767 Freighter cargo UPS • UPS 767-300F [N356UP] ...
767 Amazon Prime Air • Inaugural Flight: Amaz...
747F Kalitta AIr • 【4K】カリッタエア Boeing 747...
767 Atlas Air • N641GT Atlas Air Boein...
787 ANA • ANA JA820A 787-8 Landi...
a350 air france • Meeting with Air Franc...
British Airways business class • British Airways - Busi...
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*Correction: When mentioning the average fleet age of Singapore Airlines it should have been be 6.6 years instead of 16.6 years.
ive always thought that Singapore Air has one of the youngest fleet in the world, then comes 16.6 years! lol good i came to the comment section
hmmmmm. Singaporean here - Thank you for clearing that up before angry Singaporeans show up in the comment section!
Also, I think that the Cargo Airlines are well positioned to last for a very long time with older aircrafts (since the availability of spare parts tend to slowly bleed off after production ends.)
You will upset SQ with that incorrect Info.
That sounds real. 16.6 wad SHOCKING
Cargo airlines are the only reason why we could still enjoy the sight of amazing aircraft that we normally wouldn't be able to see.
Allec keep making your awesome videos
Allec Joshua Ibay hi
Woah Alex is here
Allec hello
Yup!
As a retired cargo airline pilot, we were always told that the higher operating costs of flying older aircraft were more than offset by the reduced acquisition cost, considering that we flew far fewer hours per day than the passenger aircraft which are in almost continuous service. Hourly operating costs become the driving economic force in the passenger fleet, hence their willingness to pay for new, more efficient planes!
Another benefit is that Avgeek can enjoy the sight of old planes that are no longer in service. They're the only reason I still can spot A300, A310, B747-200, MD-11, etc.
_Cries in A340_
@@electric7487 F
@Jasper DAVIS ER-BAT.
I haven’t seen a 747-200 in years other than Air Force One!
A few operators still use 747 classics: Geo-Sky, The Cargo Airlines, Fly Pro, Iran Air, Iran Air Force, Air Georgia, TransAviaExportCargo, Caspian Airlines, Fars Air Qeshm, Rolls-Royce North America, Pratt and Whitney, Saudi Government, Oman Government etc etc
As a aviation enthusiast, I like older planes
Same, I also prefer cargo airlines
Personally for me, tri-jets are some of the coolest looking planes. Think 727, DC-10, L-1011, and MD-11. You only see cargo airlines flying tri-jets. These days, of the planes listed, you’ll probably only see DC-10’s and MD-11’s. It would be a shame to see them go away for good.
Me too, it’s like spotting a dodo bird. 🙃
Drew Saumier couldn’t agree more, I live by EWR which is a hub for fedex and I love seeing the md 11s! They’re engines r so distinct!
Alex Bregman I live under the KEWR approach too and FedEx DC-10s and MD-11s are some of my favorites as well. I also caught an Atlas Air 747-400 flying over this morning!
Most passengers don't know how old their plane is. Delta has the oldest fleet among major us carriers, yet they are the preferred one amongst the big there. As long as you have a refurbished cabin and good punctuality, most passenger won't have an idea that the plane is over 20 year's old, and may even think they are on a 787 when they are actually on a 767.
As a FedEx employee and aviation enthusiast I remember the days prior to 9-11 where I could jump seat everywhere in 727, A300, DC10 and MD11!!! Those days are gone but I do love these airplanes!
😢😢😢👍👍👍👍
The A300 is getting pretty tired these days
Older planes cost less to buy but sometimes more to operate. but as a guy who loves aviation from the 1960s-2000 i love to see these types in service and wouldn't mind if they keep them in their fleet for much longer. hoped Passenger airlines would also but many passengers love newer planes :-/
Yeah, fuel savings alone I’d think would overcome cost of the aircraft after X number of years. Also, some aircraft can be re-engined for huge fuel savings. That’s what they’re doing with the B-52 bomber. The current engines are so outdated and burn fuel at astronomical levels compared to a modern aircraft of equivalent size, range, and capacity.
Actually, for many years they were flying DC-8's powered by CFM56 engines as freighters. UPS retired the last of them some years ago.
I love FedEx for using MD 11s😍
Bosstron 5000 and UPS 😍
Also dc 10 to :))
@@baofan7544 they are DC-10s - Just renamed
Because of its unreliability, we called it either the "MD Lemon" or "The Scud...you never knew when it would take off or where it would land". The worst plane I ever flew.
But alas, many cargo carriers want to get rid of their MD-11F freighters. They're replacing them with (mostly) 777F freighters.
I love seeing old planes including trijets. It's because they still look badass. Usually cargo airlines do update their planes. I've seen a DC-10 get new modern engines before including the tail engine. So old aircraft's are loved by cargo pilots because they are old and beautiful.
Buying Older Aircraft that aren't yet Worn Out, is a Smart Business Decision. Cargo Carriers are doing the right thing
Are you actually a Shelby GT500?
Especially when you consider the 747. Lot of 400 series that the airlines are dumping for more fuel efficient models. This means that 747’s with lots of airframe life can be had at a low price. They are converted to freighters and can be used for another 10 years. Lots of spare parts and support available. Like you said, a smart business decision.
What about their higher fuel consumption though?
Zhi Han Lee Their higher fuel consumption costs are offset by the fact that hauling air freight is a much more lucrative business than hauling passengers. FedEx or Kalitta can make much more revenue from 200 pounds of cargo than a 200 pound passenger. Plus it is just freight, no passenger baggage, no flight attendants or seats or emergency air bottles etc. All of that is extra weight which can instead be cargo and fuel. I hope that helps.
@@lzh4950 And those cargo planes don't fly too much unlike passenger planes
I miss the Boeing 727’s. The loud engines sounded so awesome. You could hear them longer when they took off because they had a slower climb rate.
And because they made a HELL of a lot more noise.
The MD-11 is such a beautiful airplane!
I had the chance to fly it with KLM from 2007 to 2009. YUL to AMS
Bouncy landings
I flew it many times with KLM from SFO you AMS. It was a great plane. MD-11's are the top choice for cargo because they are cheap and they have the greatest thrust-per-pound ratio, so you can load them up fully.
@@RK831 besides being huge by themselves already, they carry like 80 tons of cargo or so right? Think of a plane that suits your needs perfectly, and nobody else wants it so it's cheaper. Kind of a no-brainer choice, just train the pilots to the finicky takeoff and landing and you're good to go.
I also love how it looks, specially the cockpit windows look somewhat mean if you get what I mean by that.
Most passengers do NOT always want new aircraft, most simply do not care. Price, along with customer comfort and service come out top all the time
I agree. I think only a certain group in the market that have those demands of the very newest planes.As long as the plane doesn't cause them problems or fall short greatly in the comfort and refinement, they don't really care.
I use to fly on Piedmont's DC-3 from Miami to Key West all the time. That's the plane that got me hooked on flying.
I can disagree, it's more expensive to update the older planes with the passenger commodities to the point it is better to buy newer planes that have all the bells and whistles, lower fuel burn is a plus.
Agreeed most passengers aren’t av geeks and don’t really care
UPS has some of the 747-8
Jason Babila yup. That’s for mainly very long distance and high volume cargo routes where the increased fuel efficiency and cargo capacity offsets the upfront cost.
The 747 is something of an anomaly. It has very few buyers right now and a huge amount of airlines trying to sell it second hand. Consequently, the 747 simply doesn't have the order backlog that other models have and Boeing is more likely to give discounts just to keep the line running. The economic factors are different.
Cargo carriers don't prefer older aircraft. They prefer aircraft they can get cheaply and easily. If a brand new 747 is available quickly with steep discounts, they'll buy it.
Simple Flying: Because passengers love newer aircraft!
Avgeeks: Uh, well there are passengers that love old aircraft as well! We would pay to go on an old plane ANY DAY.
My suggestion: Airlines operating both very old and new aircraft, like middle Eastern airlines.
Transit-Gaming yes, though to be honest, avgeeks only make a fraction of the passenger size. So yea :(
ZK-APA I got it! What if airlines made a bigger profit from old aircraft? Like make us pay more to go on older planes.
Transit-Gaming it would still be unprofitable. Because aviation sector has always been a cost sensitive market. And not everyone has the money to pay extra for the same trip. (Ps this is for scheduled flights)
The best answer found
ZK-APA I would absolutely pay extra to fly on an older aircraft
I remember when the DC-8's from UPS were phased out, one of the pilots almost bursted into tears while being interviewed about his experience with one of the sturdiest planes ever made...
I remember reading that the DC8-63F and -73F were the most efficient freighters ever built.
The first cargo plane I flew had a cerification date of 1983. I since flew that thing through at least 4 thunderstorms, several tropical storms and a hurricane before I left that job. Ironically, i had more fun in that old turboprop than the modern jet I flew afterward.
Considering that I haven't flown in 10 years due to aerophobia I'd have a heart attack
I’ve flown in my time on DC10,s and the Tristar lovely old buses. Somehow these planes were rather comfy.
You also forgot the main reason: FedEx fly some planes only 3-6 hours per day, because they only do 2 flights a day, one to hub and one out of hub. That's why the fuel saving is little, but new planes are expensive, and they can't justify an a350 for 6 hours per day
FedEx has been getting younger. FedEx also flies a lot more than UPS. UPS takes full advantage of their ground network and their day operation is much smaller than FedEx and they only run 4 days whereas FedEx does a Tuesday-Sunday day operation.
Yoav Hofstein They mentioned daily utilization at 1:35 .
I think long haul intercontinental legs are best served by new, fuel-efficient planes, like UPS does with its round the world service on 747-8I’s. There is makes sense to invest in a newer fleet. But for short domestic legs, the economics just doesn’t justify anything new.
1:40
I love flying on older machines so I'm quite happy cargo carriers do have them!
I love when I see a FedEx MD-11 land at my home airport DFW
Unconventional Gaming...In the early 90's, I worked part time at FedEx there at DFW. It was very interesting but hectic work at night. I remember loading cargo into the 747's and wow are those planes HUGE inside..!!
Same. I used to operate the DART Orange Line train to DFW. I loved seeing the FedEx planes off 114
@@Tyrannosaurus_Wrexx Indeed. Have you ever driven over to the plane spotting area. The UPS planes are literally right there!
As an AV GEEK ... I'm glad to see cargo carriers flying these older aircraft... as many of the types are no longer operating with passenger airlines. MD-11 DC-10 747 ... love all these and hope to see them having extended lives with cargo carriers!
Yet again, another underrated Aviation RUclipsr! I mean, the narrator is good, new videos everyday, High definition and good content!
There are still smaller freighters using the DC - 3 for cargo carrying. They mainly operate in small and rough airports and airstrips, where jets can't operate.
Some cargo only and cargo divisions of airlines do buy new aircraft made for cargo use. Many cargo aircraft are conversions of retired and converted passenger aircraft. Some models are initially made in cargo configurations or for relatively easy conversions. Some also allow the use of existing size roll on-roll off containers, usually used for smaller packages. Some may be built with large doors that can handle package containers, larger items and with some 747's, with a tilt up nose for very large cargo.
Thanks simple flying team. Very good explanation
In the case of the MD-11, their airframes are made like no other ... Unless you are willing to retire them of run out of parts, this thing will keep flying. A true definition of a workhorse, that, even when old, is still modern enough in terms of avionics
I flew one of the oldest cargo aircraft in the world for years, the DC-3. As far as I'm concerned, if it's got jet engines it's wasting fuel. I love those big radial engines, smoking and dripping oil. Beautiful.
In the componies prespective its because they sit on the ground all day round but in av geeks prespective we would say they want to keep classic planes alive
I love seeing some of these beautiful old birds decked out in their cargo livery
If many remember, Aloha Airlines 243 incident in Hawaii, first surfaced the issue of passenger airlines flying older high cycled aircraft and it's liability, insurance and high maintenance cost.. The industry further and forever changed focused more on technology advancements of new airline products. Thus why we see well publicized retirements. Thankfully, these older aircraft helped to build economies of scales of industrialized nation's by the men and women whom built them.
John Texas < This smartass is not from Texas. This little trick is too stupid to say anything intelligent so she tries to correct grammar in a RUclips post. Where are you from Bimbo, California?
Great video and very informative
As a plane spotter: I enjoy seeing an A300 or DC10 on approach every now and then. My absolute favorites are the converted 737-800's.
No, I like that the cargo guys fly the older stuff. Without them, we'd have long ago seen the end of many of these cool old planes. I do however hope that the cargo carriers would continue buying and supporting the Boeing 747-8 line for many more years to come. I'd also love it if the passenger carriers would also be queueing up for years to come for the passenger variant too. All 747's are just sexy beyond compare...while also getting the many jobs done.
No, be because I’m glad to see 747F still flying like it best moment, despite that the 4 engine aircraft doesn’t operate, at the moment, for passenger flyghts.
They do though. Lufthansa these days flies Boeing 747-800s, A-340-313 and -642s, Air Mauritius fly A-340-313s, Iberia A-340-642s (but not for long, sob) between Madrid and South America, Air Malta at least two A-340-642s, Azerbaidjan AIrlines a gorgeous A-340-500 (the rarest one for sure), I often follow on Flight Radar 24 South African Airlines A-340-642s.
Yesterday I spotted three A380s. There was a Qantas one sitting in LAX,at the same time another one taking off also from LAX was a China Southern A-380 plus a brand new one, not even painted yet, a baby A380 making its first test flight over and around Hamburg, Germany.
@@julosx Yes. TG and Air India and BA , KLM and AF, Korean fly the 744 and 748. Four engined planes are still very popular. After COVID 19 they will come back. Flights to Afghanistan ( Safi, Emirates, Etihad ) are all 340 500
Here is the real reason for purchasing older used airframes... RELIABILITY ... old airframe have had years to sort out design flaws and component failures and know issues can be sorted before they create a major event.. major cargo companies need that regardless of added maintenance costs . FedEx was actually forced by the FAA to retire the 727.. the 727 was so reliable because of its mechanical systems and the robustness of the airframe beingnin use for over 40 years
Its nice to see classic planes fly with cargo operators :) new 747-8 freighter also nice
Brilliant
I have been flying jets for over 17 years now I would definitely follow your channel
You just answered my life long question!
When I lived in Louisville KY, I loved watching the MD 11s landing all day
Simple flying is the best channel!!!!!
Nice Video!
"Passengers want newer planes" this isn't always the case though.
I'd rather go for a 8 years old A380 or a 15-20 years old A340 if not a 20 years old 747-400 (or a recent 747-800) any day rather than any of the latest twin jets. For me A350s and 787s look like toys compared to the formers.
Heck of they could bring back the 707 or DC8 I think a lot of people would be first in line to get on them
Good video keep it up
Simple flying u guys are the best...always answer my Question that pop up everyday as I am a Avgeek. And you guys answer these myths every single day! Love you all
I used to work at Norman Manley Airport in Kingston Jamaica ,it was the old piston prop driven cargo planes like the d.c 3,4,6 & the occasional Constellation I loved watching .When them planes speeding on the runway & them piston engines blowing out orange flames ,especially at night . They would also pull up the three landing gears all at once . Can tell some of those pilots were hot shot pilots during Vietnam war the way they deal with those old birds.
Can you make a video whi FedEx dosent operate the 747-8 and UPS operates the aircraft
FedEx flies B777 more fuel efficient and range .
If I remember correctly,it is due to their different payloads, UPS 747-8 allows the carrying of outsized cargo that will not fit on the side loading door of the 777.However Fedex carries smaller cargo and will be better off using the 777 (in money terms). However 747-8 Has better cabin altitude ( about the same as 787) which means live cargo (animals) will have a better time onboard and not start a rampage) also the pilots/crew/pax are more refreshed and energised.
FedEx had 747 back in the 1990's and determined that the dc10-30/40 and md-11 could carry the exact same loads as the 747 because of the network that was already established.. and the aircraft share the same uld's. UPS needs the 747 for international routes because they are still building out thier network .. FedEx has build out thier network and nas several hubs around the globe that allows them to get the right aircraft on the correct lane..
Simple Flying: Because passengers like newer planes
Aviation enthusiasts: Am I a joke to you?
YES !!!!
Those are great shots of our UPS jets at my gateway at PDX.
2:32 is the last time that plane flew. It's parked at Merrill Field in Anchorage, AK.
UPS runs an MD-11 from Louisville to KRDU early most mornings. The sound of the tri-engine plane usually wakes me up. As an older person, I tend to appreciate quality over the “latest and greatest”.
In Australia where I live, Qantas utilises some 737 classics that are nearly 40 years old on cargo routes, Toll utilises some 737s that are over 30 years old and a few others are probably the same too.
Md-11 is my favorite plane so I like that it still flies with ups and fedex!
Good video
I loaded Next day air for UPS in the early 90s. At that time they were buying new 757-200 PFs. At the same time we were loading converted DC-8s and 727s. New and old side by side on the ramp.
love the UPS livery so smart
Great comparison and it makes sense for cargo airlines to use older fleet. How about FAA requirements for passenger aircrafts vs cargo aircrafts?
While plane spotting I almost lose my mind seeing an MD-11 or Atlas 747. It’s a treat to witness nostalgia
Welcome 777-300ERSF & We're waiting for the A340-600P2F
The other popular perspective is that older aircraft/lower capital expense but higher fuel cost doesn't impact as much due to less flights.
Newer aircraft-the lower fuel costs more quickly offset the initial capital expense.
My first experience on a widebody was a Lockheed L-1011 flown by American Trans Air (ATA). I miss that plane.
My all time favorite, Lockheeds L-1011 TriStar, it truly was a magnificent aircraft, i only wish they were still around.
Keep the oldies going. I Love seeing a FedEx DC10 approaching or taking off from O'Hare airport every now and then. ❤💪
FedEx has no DC-10 anymore. What they do have are MD-10 and MD-11
Forever grateful for them still using older planes, takes me back
One example of an old bird is N942FE, a FedEx Boeing 757-200. Built in 1986 it began service for defunct Eastern Airlines before being passed around different charter airlines in Europe, before being bought by FedEx around 2011-2012.
I think a pretty significant argument you missed is that as opposed to humans, cargo doesn't care how new, shiny and comfortable the plane they're on is.
Samaritan’s purse’s missions operation is the only reason I’ve been able to see a DC-8 up in the air
Well makes total commercial sense, also extending work life of those planes.
Good vlog
Thanks for the feedback. - TB
i think the cargo airline should buy the 747-8 cause it can carry big and heavy cargo and can travel fast
They do! The vast majority of B747--8 on order are freighters.
Not every cargo airline flies transatlantic routes, and even for those who do and operate the type might not be economically viable.
I don't remember the figure for the 747-8 or 4, but for a 737 for instance NG are around 18 million dollars, you could buy a classic for around 3,5. Considering the freight you move is not that much more for an NG and the fuel consumption, yes, is less but only about 400kg an hour roughly. The math doesn't help.
Big and heavy cargo can be carried cheaply by other means.
@@riccardogranato1274 oh i didnt think about that
Freighters have range limitations 748, 777 and 330F. Cant fly as long as passenger planes. Very large cargo ( huge cranes, and mining equipment ) can be moved fast and cheaply in large RO RO s. Wallenius Willemsen, Toyofuji, Hoegh, NYK, Mitsui OSK, K line are all large RO RO shippers. Cargo planes are just " kids in the sky "
@@indranilchakrabarty4196 k
I thought the main reason was that cargo airlines typically don't fly very long distances (they prefer 6-8 hour flights to save on fuel and be able to hub at for instance Anchorage for SE asia North America traffic) so the fuel burn problem of older airplanes is less of a problem for them compared to passenger airlines?
Here in Alaska we still have DC-6 and C-46 aircraft flying cargo. I love the sound of those round motors.
Buffalo Airways in the NWT
Piston Pounders!
High octane at it's finest
SQ = Singapore Airlines Fleet age is 7 years and 7 months. Not nearly 20 like you proclaim.
It was supposed to be 6.6 instead of 16.6 :(
Never mind. Nice video :)
Yes. Singapore Airlines fleet is one of the newest in the market out there with A350-900/A350-900XLR B787-10. They are now in the midst of replacing older aircrafts such as the A330-300 and B777-300/B777-300ER. On top of that, they have a A380-800 and soon will have the B777-9s.
Singapore's low cost Scoot also operate new B787-8 and B787-9. SilkAir, soon to be merged with Singapore Airlines operate slightly older planes including the A319-100, A320-200 and B737-800NG but have the new B737-8 for the future use
cool vid
Love seeing the older aircraft and they look better as cargo aircraft. Just wish there were more tri jets about as they really are beautiful!
I work on the ramp for UPS at SDF. We had DC8's until 2009.
One of the main reasons they keep the old planes, is that they don't have to maintain the passenger systems, like seats, overhead bins, food, lavatories, Oxygen Masks, etc., etc. So, they are much cheaper to operate.
And you don't have to pay the wages of the flight crew or have any food on the plane that adds up
Air cargo typically has weaker competition in terms of prices compared to air travel. But there’s a lot more competition in terms of coverage and reaction time. So you need as many planes as possible in order to order the fastest deliveries from as many departure points as possible. Older planes are not only cheaper to buy, but you can get them pretty much immediately. New (= efficient) planes are mostly only used on high-traffic routes where there actually is price competition.
Miss flying in 727 and DC-10s. I see an MD-11 at Pittsburgh international Airport of UPS all the time.
Another factor is simplicity to repair. Older airplanes, like 767s, are fly by cable with rudimentary electronics. New airplanes require a software degree.
A large chunk of cargo fleet only operates a return trip from their hub a day（for short hauls such as MEM-ORD), hence the fuel and maintenance savings do not justify extra capital costs. Cargo carriers do buy a few cutting edge aircraft like 747-8, but only for a few routes with high utilization. As a side note, at least in the States, air cargo and rail freight usually don't mix, and are both used for longer distance delivery.
UPS has a large fleet of B747-8F and B767-300F acquired in recent years. Likewise, FedEx has a large fleet of new B777-F and B767-300F aircraft. Long range routes have higher daily utilization making new aircraft viable, whereas short range operations tend to have lower daily utilization making a difficult business case for new production aircraft purchases. Maintenance reliability on older aircraft like the MD11-F are challenging for cargo operators.
Another point is that many of the new aircraft available do not fit the size needed. 757 for example is used by both FedEx and UPS but doesn't have a suitable replacement in the new market. The MD10/11 as well.
I look forward to spotting the UPS and FedEx A300s landing at BUR. I just read that FedEx is modernizing all their A300 cockpits. Seems like that means they'll be around for a while longer.
I live right by jfk, and seen a ups tristar yesterday
WOW!!!
An indirect impact of reliability: if some minor glitch grounds a cargo plane for 4 h the impact is usually minimal. On the other hand, a 4h delay on a passenger plane results in passenger re-imbursements and a cascade of delays on following legs.
This summer i was in a regional airport where a passenger plane had failed. A part and mechanic needed to come 4 3:28 h by road before repairs even started. Air crew reached their daily limit. All hotels were full when the flight was finally cancelled. Chaos. A cargo airline would have not have cared so much about overnight delay and might have hired a truck for the priority freight.
I just saw two DC-10 planes in Honolulu at the FedEx facility.
The ones you mention are not flying the oldest aircraft. Not by far. There's Buffalo Airways in Canada who still fly an assortment of vintage piston engined aircraft such as the DC-3, DC-4 (or C-47, C-54) & I think at least one Lockheed Electra four engine turboprop. Then there's Evert's Air Cargo in Alaska still flying vintage DC-6s & some long retired C-130s. My kind of planes. There are also still a few small cargo operators flying Convair 240/340/580s, etc in the US.
I would’ve loved to fly on the Airbus A300, but it’s only cargo airlines that operate them now!
The 767 is the perfect cargo plane!
Old aircraft like the B747 is still a wonder to fly on! Just need them to renovate the inside. Inside seatings as well as paint job.
Cargo doesn't complain about old planes.
When Singapore Airlines discontinued the passenger 747, I was also so hyped to see a cargo version of the 747
2:32 does anyone know which airport’s approach this is?
The video should have mentioned fuel cost as a major factor as well. I know passenger airlines factor fuel cost per seat - fuel efficiency is key when competing on ticket pricing. I know cargo carriers do factor fuel cost but it’s probably not as big of a deal because 1) operating longer, more direction routes as mentioned, and 2) not concerned with poor fuel efficiency effecting ticket pricing. The cost of shipping can be spread out easier.
It makes PERFECT SENSE to make good use of these airplanes in stead of DESTROYING Them
They are the backbone for retro avgeeks
I've been on some Delta 757 passenger flights where the aircraft are well over 20+ years old.
Do cargo planes fully pressurise the cargo cabin or just the cockpit & a smaller section ?
The new vs old cargo plane has me stumped because it must be very costly to convert an old plane rather than build it for cargo from scratch then there is the fact that an older plane is out of date so inherently more costly to operate, fuel & maintenance wise, these cost must be more than a newer aircraft.
The other question i have is that after a passenger to cargo conversion does the aircraft get a longer airframe certification & does pressurisation get factored in to that ?
For example DC3s are still flying today, some rebuilt some not but they are not being pressurised.
For the 747 All sections are pressurised, but for different types of cargo the pilots will turn on different settings of the pressurisation and airconditioning system (PACKS) 747 has 3 PACKS which when all 3 are operational provides plenty of fresh air and also controls the cabin altitude to 5200 feet when the plane is flying at 35,000 feet (8.6-8.9 delta psi) however if the pilot has cargo that is not temperature sensitive, the pilot may opt to turn of the airconditioning in the main cargo deck and the FWD cargo and AFT cargo deck. Thus ECON FLOW will be turned on and although the outflow valves still hold the pressurisation in, the PACKS work less and saves 0.3 percent more fuel.
Hope it helps
Cargo carriers can be the launch customers for pilotless unmanned/remote aircraft in near future.