Cargo aircraft

Abstract

In one embodiment, an aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container is disclosed. The aircraft comprises a forward fuselage, an empennage, a beam structure, and mounts to detachably and structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the beam structure. The beam structure is disposed between the forward fuselage and the empennage and the beam structure configured to receive the at least one cargo container. The beam structure and structurally engaged cargo container provide sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.

1 . An aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container comprising:
 a forward fuselage;   an empennage;   a beam structure disposed between the forward fuselage and the empennage, the beam structure configured to receive the at least one cargo container; and   mounts to detachably and structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the beam structure, the beam structure and structurally engaged cargo container providing sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.   
   
   
       2 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the mounts are disposed on the underside of the beam structure to detachably suspend the at least one cargo container therefrom. 
   
   
       3 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the mounts are disposed on the top side of the beam structure to detachably support the at least one cargo container thereon. 
   
   
       4 . The aircraft of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of rigid containers attached to beam structure via the mounts. 
   
   
       5 . The aircraft of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of attachments configured to engage adjacent rigid containers with one another. 
   
   
       6 . The aircraft of  claim 5 , wherein the mounts and the attachments are universally engageable with one another. 
   
   
       7 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one panel partially enclosing the at least one cargo container. 
   
   
       8 . The aircraft of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one panel is an aerodynamic panel. 
   
   
       9 . The aircraft of  claim 8 , further comprising framing to support the aerodynamic panels, the frame including vertical elements and horizontal elements with corner elements lying in transverse planes of the aircraft. 
   
   
       10 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container being at least four containers, a first two of the at least four containers each extending longitudinally on top of and engaging the beam structure via the mounts and arranged side by side, and a second two of the at least four containers each extending longitudinally on top of the first two containers, the at least four containers including the attachments, the second two of the at least four containers being arranged side by side and being attached by the attachments to the first two of the at least four containers. 
   
   
       11 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein either one or both of the forward fuselage or the empennage is pivotally mounted relative to the beam structure to fully expose an interior cavity above the beam structure for loading of the at least one cargo container. 
   
   
       12 . An aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container comprising:
 a forward fuselage;   an empennage;   a beam structure configured to receive the at least one cargo container and comprising a first end to which the forward fuselage is attached, a second end to which the empennage is attached, and a floor therebetween;   mounts to detachably and structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the beam structure, the beam structure and structurally engaged cargo container providing sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.   
   
   
       13 . The aircraft of  claim 12 , wherein the beam structure further comprises flanges along each longitudinal side of the floor. 
   
   
       14 . The aircraft of  claim 12 , wherein the floor of the beam structure includes rollers and/or anti-friction devices to facilitate longitudinal movement of the at least one cargo container along a surface of the floor. 
   
   
       15 . The aircraft of  claim 12 , wherein the beam structure further comprises I-beams with bulkheads positioned periodically along the beam structure and affixed to the floor and the I-beams. 
   
   
       16 . The aircraft of  claim 12 , wherein the mounts are retained on the floor of the beam structure. 
   
   
       17 . The aircraft of  claim 16 , wherein the mounts are shoulder bolts which extend between the beam structure and the at least one cargo container. 
   
   
       18 . The aircraft of  claim 16 , wherein the mounts are adjustably positionable along the length of the floor. 
   
   
       19 . The aircraft of  claim 16 , wherein the mounts are provided at incremental positions along the length of the floor and configured to engage different sized cargo containers. 
   
   
       20 . An aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container comprising:
 a forward fuselage;   an empennage;   a beam structure disposed between the forward fuselage and the empennage, the beam structure configured to receive a plurality of cargo containers and comprising a floor; and   mounts retained on the floor of the beam structure, the mounts configured to detachably and structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the beam structure;   wherein the beam structure and structurally engaged cargo container provide sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight when the aircraft is fully loaded with the plurality of cargo containers.