THIS paper deals primarily with the considerations affecting the airplane design, leaving discussion of operations to the operators.
The big probable field for air cargo lies in the transportation of perishable and relatively high valued classes of goods.
The structural design of floors, tie-down equipment, and the like, is shown to be basically dependent only on the maximum allowable cargo load and the maximum available cargo volume.
Analysis shows that the actual operations of the cargo airplane determine the relative importance of speed of loading and weight. Speed is essential in short-range operation, but minimum weight is essential in long-range operation.
In conclusion, the author suggests that reduction of rates can make air cargo a really big business, capable of affecting the prosperity of our country and the rest of the world. Rate reduction is not only possible, but necessary, as air cargo can be a powerful instrument of trade and commerce that may be used to promote and preserve world peace.