THELASTMILE Logistics Outside the Box
Everyone wants their goods delivered at breakneck speed, but what happens when those goods need to reach treacherous locations quickly? Here are some innovative air supply chain breakthroughs that might fit the bill. Vehicle name: Green Launch Light-Gas Vertical Artillery Cannon Passengers/Crew : none Payload capacity: unknown, but small Top Speed: Mach 3 (2,300+ mph) Application: Satellite payloads, small space cargo If scaled, this explosive transport method could reduce the cost and carbon footprint of small satellite launches.
Vehicle name: CH-54A Sikorsky Skycrane Passengers/Crew: 3 Payload capacity: 20,000 lbs Top Speed: 150 mph Application : Firefighting, heavy air cargo, special air crane operations This sky-crane can drop a 10-ton payload just about anywhere, allowing the supply chain to reach otherwise remote areas of industry.
Vehicle name: Aero Spacelines Super Guppy Passengers/Crew: 4 Payload capacity: 54,500 lbs. Top Speed: 290 mph Application: Oversized cargo transport
The Super Guppy exclusively hauls outsize cargo, such as other plane/aerospace components, significantly reducing shipping time when compared to land or sea alternatives.
Vehicle name: Boeing 747-8 Freighter Passengers/Crew: 2 minimum Payload capacity: 308,000 lbs. Top Speed: 650 mph Application: Long-haul air cargo, special cargo, general cargo
A true workhorse of the air supply chain, the fleet of Boeing 747-8 freighters across various carriers has accumulated more than 500,000 flight hours and 88,000 flight cycles to date.
Sources: • Interesting Engineering • NASA • Siller Helicopters Inc. • Aerospace Technology
104 Inbound Logistics • June 2022
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