WIX Archives

Not a warbird question

Posted by Mick on Wed Jan 30, 2002 06:06:47 PM

The posts on the whys and wherefores of the C17 have prompted this small query, although it's something I've wondered about for a long time.

Why is it that armed forces make very great and good use of "hatch-back" transports like the C17, C130, etc etc etc, which always seems to me to be the best and easiest way to load and unload cargo....but the civvy cargo airlines invariably use cargo versions of normal airliners, which doesn't seem to me to be the best and easiest way to do the same job.
Surely the costs of each type must be similar, so is it because the converted airliners are faster than a similarly sized military "hatch-back", and speed is considered the most important element of running a cargo airline, rather than making it easier for the load-masters etc?

It will be very interesting to hear what the reason is, I've always wondered.

Cheers
Mick

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