8 Types of Cargo Planes for Freight Shipping
Cargo planes are crucial for shipping freight to Alaska, moving goods across the state as quickly and efficiently as possible. All-cargo aircraft help transport products to remote areas of Alaska that are often difficult to access for passenger aircraft, increasing the number of communities we can serve. Here is a summary of some of the cargo planes available.
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body all-cargo plane, a variant of the initial Boeing 747. It can carry up to 124 tons of cargo, has a range of 4,350 nautical miles, and operates at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
Boeing 747-8F
The Boeing 747-8F is a wide-body airliner that is the largest commercial freighter plane in the world. It is a popular cargo model that carries about half of the world's freight. The freighter has a maximum takeoff weight of 975,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 308,000 pounds.
Boeing 747-400ERF
The Boeing 747-400 ERF (Extended Range Freighter) is a freight-specific version of the 747-400. One of the most notable differences from the 747-400 is the increased gross weight capacity, allowing it to carry more payload. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 910,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 248,600 pounds. In addition, it offers cargo airlines the option to add 22,000 pounds of payload or 525 nautical miles.
Airbus A330-200F
The Airbus A330-200F is a twin-engine cargo plane. It can carry up to 70 tons of cargo and has a maximum range of 4,000 nautical miles. The A330-200F has highly-efficient operation with less noise and emissions than similar mid-size cargo aircraft. Moreover, it has a large main deck cargo door that easily stores commonly used pallets and containers.
Airbus A330-740ST (Beluga XL)
The Airbus Beluga XL is a large cargo plane designed by AirBus to replace the original Airbus Beluga. It has a 30% higher storage capacity than the original Beluga XL, operates at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, and has a cruise speed of 458 miles per hour. Airbus Beluga XL entered service with AirBus Transport in 2020.
Aero Spaceline Super Guppy
The Aero Spaceline Super Guppy is a wide-bodied airplane designed to transport outsize cargo components. It has a cruising altitude of 20,000 feet, a cruising speed of 250 miles per hour, and a carrying capacity of 52,500 pounds.
McDonnell Douglas MD-11
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F is a twin-engine wide-body airline designed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. It has a maximum payload of 200,151 pounds and can transport 26 pallets of the same size.
Saab 2000
The Saab 2000 is a turboprop aircraft with short runway capability. It has a maximum cruise speed of 425 miles per hour, a maximum operating altitude of 31,000 feet, and a max payload of 12,125 pounds.
Shipping cargo to Alaska can be a challenge. Fortunately, Alaska Air Forwarding's extensive network of agents can help you send goods to Alaska year-round. Contact us to inquire about shipping freight or get a quote.
