How Are Airplanes Transported?

1. Reasons To Ship An Airplane
2. In What Ways Airplanes Are Supposed To Be Transported?
3. Which Parts Of The Airplane Can Be Transported Individually?
4. Fuselage Transport
5. Empennage Hauling
6. Wings Shipping
7. Landing Gear Shipping
8. Power Plant Transport
9. How Are Planes Transported To A New Place?
10. Process of Small Aircraft Delivery
11. Process Of Passenger Airliners Delivery
12. How To Transport An Airplane By Road?
13. Choose The Right Trailer
14. Double Check Your Equipment
15. Secure The Load
16. Drive Carefully
17. Cost For Shipping An Airplane
18. Does a Customer Inspector Fly An Airplane Before Purchasing it?
19. Conclusion

When most people think of airplanes, they think of the enormous commercial jets that occupy airports worldwide that fly people from one place to another.

However, there is another side to the airplane transportation industry – the transport of planes. This lesser-known aspect of aviation involves moving planes from one location to another for servicing, repairs, or storage. It's an intricate process that requires a lot of planning and coordination.

But, when we talk about airplane transport, multiple questions might arise in your mind. For example…

What is the most appropriate way to transport an airplane? On land, on water, or in the air?

The answer is all of the above. Planes are transported through various methods depending on their size and destination. For small airplanes, transportation by truck is often used. For larger airplanes, ship or air transportation is employed.

So how do these different methods work? We'll take a closer look but let's know some of the reasons to transport airplanes first.

Reasons To Ship An Airplane

Here are a few situations when you might need to ship an airplane rather than fly it.

The airplane is not finished. For airplane companies, this is a common reason. They often send the fuselages of aircraft and other components to a new destination so they can be put together for the final look.

If your airplane is not working and needs repairs, but the repairs are not possible where the plane is currently located, or if you want to move the plane without repairing it to a new location, you may be able to ship the plane overland.

The aircraft is too expensive, or you want to avoid the costs and time of disassembling and then reassembling the airplane at the destination.

In What Ways Airplanes Are Supposed To Be Transported?

Moving an airplane is a difficult task that requires a lot of skill and care. Planes are designed to be lifted by the air, making it hard to move them overland.

Some larger aircraft is partially taken apart and loaded on flatbed trailers for transport. It will drain the fuel for safety purposes, and all parts are carefully cabled down. If your airplane is too large, you may need to put flags on it for safety. You may also need an escort convoy to help you reach the destination safely.

Another option is breaking your airplane into smaller parts and shipping them in crates. The crates will travel on a truck. This option will require professional airplane engineers, so do not try to do it yourself.

Which Parts Of The Airplane Can Be Transported Individually?

Airplanes have five main parts, which can also be transported individually or by plane. These parts include:

Fuselage Transport

The fuselage is the main body of an airplane. A fuselage is a hollow tube responsible for holding cargo or passengers.

Empennage Hauling

There are two main components on the back of an airplane. These are the elevator and rubber. The elevator helps the plane move up and down, and the rudder helps steer it from right to left. Both of these components help keep the plane stable in the air.

Wings Shipping

They help the airplane fly. The wings can be detached from the airplane so they can be transported.

Landing Gear Shipping

The landing gear is a system on an airplane that helps it take off and land. It includes the shock absorbers and wheel.

Power Plant Transport

Powerplant combines two components. The engine and propeller work together to create thrust and power.

How Are Planes Transported To A New Place?

Many smaller planes may not be able to fly to other countries. Like Cessna 172, it can travel about 736 miles before needing to refuel. It means that sometimes planes are sent to destinations too far away to fly to and must be transported by other means, either by sea or land.

Here's how new airplanes are delivered…

Many airplanes are created to accommodate airplane operators and airlines worldwide each year. There are close to 10,000 planes in the sky daily.

Eventually, it includes smaller single-engine planes and colossal 747s.

There are two ways to transport an airplane. Most airplanes are fascinated by flying, but you will need to fill the tank with extra fuel if you need to transport your aircraft by flying.

Some planes need to be taken apart and transported through cargo or a ship. This process usually requires professional help. Following, we will discuss different types of airplanes and how they are transported in the following.

Process of Small Aircraft Delivery

How aircraft deliveries work depends on how far the aircraft can travel. If an airplane cannot reach its new location without stopping, it will make several stops to refuel. The plane will make as few stops as possible to reach its destination.

Some small planes can be fitted with tanks that let them make the flight over long distances. If this is not possible, the aircraft may be shipped to its destination in pieces. The final assembly will occur in the last location after the different parts have arrived there by cargo plane or boat.

Process Of Passenger Airliners Delivery

Most passenger airliners can travel up to 9000 miles. The airplane will fly directly to the buyer's chosen airport if your destination is close. If the destination country is far away, you have to fit the tank in the plane to fill the extra fuel. The airplane may need to be equipped with different fuel tanks to fly there.

These extra tanks are called "ferry tanks." The "ferry tanks" help the airplane fly further. They are often installed in areas in the plane for cargo or passengers.

Only two significant companies make passenger airliners – Airbus and Boeing. Boeing airliners are made in the USA, but they might need to travel a long way to get to their destination.

For example, Boeing makes airliners in California and Washington.

The planes are shipped from Snohomish County Airport (PAE), Washington. That is almost 1424 miles from Alaska and up to 5000 miles from China.

How To Transport An Airplane By Road?

Transporting airplanes can be dangerous if it is not done correctly. It is essential to use a professional who knows how to load the aircraft or its part onto a trailer. If you don't follow this advice, there is a greater risk of injury and damage to the equipment.

Before starting this type of job, make sure you plan and coordinate very carefully so that everything goes as smoothly as possible. You have to follow the following steps while transporting an airplane by road.

Choose The Right Trailer

The first step is to make sure you choose the right trailer. There are different types of trailers that can be used to transport airplanes. You can use the flatbed trailer to transport your aircraft safely. It all depends on the size and weight of the plane or its part that needs to be transported. If you're not sure which type of trailer to use, ask the professional you're working with for advice.

Before you leave, you need to ensure that the trailer and its load are safe. You should check that everything is working correctly, like the reflectors and headlights. Make sure the axles and tires are in good condition to avoid any problems in the future.

Double Check Your Equipment

The airplane needs to be shipped safely. Before you begin, you must have the right equipment. It is done with specialized equipment that must be checked before. It includes ensuring that the airplane parts are kept correctly and with no problems. After the equipment has been double-checked, the next step is to secure the load.

Secure The Load

Once you have the right trailer, the next step is to secure the load. It is done by using different components. The goal is to make sure the airplane or its part doesn't move while it's being transported. If it does move, it could shift and become unbalanced, leading to an accident.

Drive Carefully

The last step is to drive carefully, which means taking your time and obeying all traffic laws. It's also essential to avoid sudden stops and starts. If you have to brake suddenly, it could cause the airplane or its part to shift and become unbalanced.

With these steps in mind, you should be able to transport an airplane by road without any problems.

Cost For Shipping An Airplane

As we all know, the first thing to consider when shipping an airplane is the cost. Shipping an aircraft is not as simple as flying to other places. There are many reasons people choose to have their planes shipped.

It includes looking for a distance, whether the plane is safe to fly, or whether it can be shipped overseas or not. Some aircraft may be cheaper to transport to their destination by ground than air.

Although if the craft can cover the distance safely, you can quickly ship an airplane, make sure to remember it is not always safe to do so; it is always better to take necessary precautions beforehand.

Airplane shipping can be expensive, especially if you need to ship the plane overseas. The cost of shipping an aircraft will depend on the size and weight of the plane and the distance it needs to be sent. The larger and heavier the plane, the more it will cost to ship.

Some companies ship many different aircraft types, from biplanes to helicopters, and they can even transport large jets.

Airplanes need to be transported in pieces. The airplane's body is called the fuselage, and the wings are always transported separately. These companies can also help in shipping the fuselage and wings.

So how much will it cost? This is not easy to answer because it depends on:

• The type of airplane
• The size of the fuselage or wings length
• How many shipments are needed

Depending on the shipping company, shipping a small passenger plane could be around $1,000 to $5,000. For a larger aircraft, the average price could be $10000. These are only average estimates, and the final cost will depend on the type of plane and the company you use. If you want to get a more accurate estimate, it is best to contact an experienced shipping company specializing in airplane transport.

Transporting an airplane is a challenging task. It needs to be done very carefully so that the equipment arrives safely and the crew is safe. So always make sure to hire an authentic company.

Does a Customer Inspector Fly An Airplane Before Purchasing it?

This might seem a little off-topic, but the question is somehow related to airplane transport as it's essential to check the operability of the airplane.

Every type of aircraft purchase involves test flights. When customers buy an airplane, the pilot may do a test flight to check how the plane works and look for any problems.

Test flights for passenger airliners usually last up to five days. When Airbus sells an airplane, the customer must send a team of people who inspect and test the aircraft. Their team includes a maintenance crew, engineers, and pilots.

The first day of the inspection involves examining the external surfaces of the airliner and checking things like the bay and cabin. They also perform engine tests.

On the second day, the team does a test flight to check the airplane's systems and how it handles the air. Airbus fixes any problems on the third day. On the fourth day, a final technical acceptance is done. If everything is okay, then the customer accepts the plane. The next step is delivering it to their airport.

Conclusion

It's incredible to think about all the work that goes into transporting an airplane. From planning and organizing the move, ensuring the safety of the aircraft and crew, to making sure everything goes according to schedule.

Airlines have a variety of methods for transporting planes. Some standard techniques include using a ground vehicle such as a train or truck and disassembling the plane into parts that can be transported.

Each method has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, transporting planes by ground vehicle is cheaper but takes longer, while transporting them by ship or air is more expensive but faster.

Airlines often use multiple methods to get their planes from one airport to another as quickly and cheaply as possible.

So there you have it. That was all we had to share in the quick overview of how airplanes are transported!