How many Cars Can Enter a Cargo Plane?

Cargo planes are commonly used in car shipping to transport cars between locations. You likely see cargo planes flying overhead regularly, but have you ever wondered how many passenger cars can fit inside a single plane?

Let's explore all the questions you've never thought to ask about freight planes and how these behemoths of the sky can carry so much weight.

We'll also examine the various kinds of cargo planes and the benefits that each offers.

What, Exactly, Is a Cargo Plane?

These enormous vehicles are aircraft specially designed to transport people, animals, and goods worldwide.

Payload planes are typically larger than passenger planes, with a much bigger capacity. They often have hydraulically operated loading ramps at the back of the aircraft to load and unload goods.

The interior of a cargo plane is usually configured with ropes and other specialized equipment, such as landing gear, to secure freight during flight.

They also have large, reinforced fuselages with multiple compartments and specialized loading equipment, making loading and unloading huge items easy.

In addition, shipment planes often have a more powerful engine than passenger aircraft to help them carry heavier loads.

• Air freight car shipping typically costs $2,000–$10,000 per vehicle, making it reserved primarily for luxury, exotic, or time-critical transport needs.
• Large cargo aircraft like the Boeing 747 or Antonov An-124 can carry 30–100+ cars per flight, with total delivery time averaging 1–5 days including loading and customs.
• Aviation authorities enforce strict FAA weight distribution, cargo balance, and aircraft-specific payload regulations on every vehicle air shipment, regardless of aircraft size.

Types of Cargo Aircraft

Today, planes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most widely used cargo aircraft is a “turboprop,” an engine that combines pistons and turbines to generate thrust.

Turboprops are commonly used for short-range flights. This is largely thanks to their cost-effectiveness and capacity to transport large cargo volumes in one trip.

However, larger cargo planes can move large quantities of goods across vast distances.

Here are five of the biggest cargo planes in history:

1) Antonov An-225 Mriya

The Antonov An-225 Mriya, also known as the "Dream," is a strategic airlift freight aircraft designed and built by the Ukrainian manufacturer of ANTONOV.

It was built to carry the Soviet Buran space shuttle and is powered by six turbofan engines.

The freight plane is the world's largest operational cargo aircraft, with a wingspan of 290 feet (88 meters), a length of 275 feet (56 meters), and a height of 59 feet (18 meters).

This massive aircraft can carry objects up to and above 250 tons in weight, making it perfect for transporting large loads over long distances.

The An-225 holds the Guinness World Records for the heaviest item ever airlifted, maximum takeoff weight, and plane with the largest wingspan, among other things.

This monster can carry up to a staggering 50 cars in its hold!

2) Airbus A300 - 600ST Beluga

The Airbus A300 ST Beluga is an extraordinarily spacious conveyance aircraft reaching 56.15 meters (183 ft) in length, a wingspan of 44.84m, and 17.2 meters in height. It accommodates around 47 tons of freight or 136 passengers and has a takeoff weight of just over 175 tons.

The Beluga was created to transport large, oversized cargo, such as aircraft engines and helicopter blades.

The plane's clever ramp system also allows loading up to and above thirty-six cars into the plane's payload hold.

This iconic-looking plane boasts two GE CF6 turbofan engines, which allow it to ferry large pieces to assembly lines around Europe for Airbus operations.

3) Ilyushin Il-76TD

Although this Russian marvel couldn't be more different when compared to the Beluga, the Ilyushin Il-76TD Candid is one of the workhorses in terms of military cargo aircraft.

Its size is impressive still — primarily due to its unusual design — with a span of 51m and can hold objects up to 30m long such as submarines and combat tanks, plus divisions or personnel on board.

This enormous machine has a cargo area at the back of the fuselage that accommodates a payload of more than 88,000 pounds - more than a bulldozer or two Greyhound buses!

4) Boeing C17 Globemaster III

The Boeing C17 Globemaster III is a genuinely iconic cargo aircraft.

Large and in charge, the U.S. Air Force and its allies worldwide predominately use this four-engine military transport aircraft. It can carry up to 170,900 pounds of freight over intercontinental distances, the equivalent of packing a crane in its underbelly.

Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines power these planes, which can carry a vast cargo load. Each produces 40,400 pounds of thrust, allowing the Globemaster to take its enormous wingspan of 169 feet (51.5 meters) into the air!

The C17 Globemaster can hold three combat-ready Stryker vehicles or 10 HMMWV (Humvees) as a deployment load and can even cart M1 Abrams battle tanks. 279 of these beasts were produced for the U.S. Air Force.

5) Antonov An 124 Ruslan

Finally, we must talk about another goliath of the sky from Ukrainian Manufacturer Antonov Airlines.

The Antonov An 124 Ruslan is a giant four-engine turbofan transport aircraft. These metal birds have a wingspan of 73 meters and a length of 69 meters and are powered by four Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofan engines, each producing 229 kN (51,000 lbs) of thrust.

The An 124 can carry up to 150 tons of cargo over a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles). It can also carry objects as long (42 meters - 137 feet) and has an interior height of 4.4 meters (14.5 feet).

The An 124 had broken thirty world records, including the complete payload-to-altitude record established when a 171.219-ton payload was raised to 10,750 meters. Its cargo bay can hold up to 50 cars.

The Quantity of Vehicles Aircraft can Carry

With all this new information, just how many cars can enter a cargo plane? Well, the answer depends on the dimensions of the aircraft and vehicle.

Generally, large load planes can fit up to 50 cars in their hold if it is the only freight being transported.

Payload Planes are specifically designed to carry heavy payloads over long distances and are thus equipped with reinforced floors and walls.

Smaller cargo planes, however, may not accommodate as many cars due to their size and other limitations, like weaker engines.

Do Your Homework

Before you plan to fly your car there, be sure you know the weight and size restrictions of the cargo airplane you intend to utilize.

Remember that shipping multiple cars on large planes may be more expensive than sending them with smaller aircraft.

Shipping a car on a cargo plane can be worth the money if you need your vehicle to arrive quickly and safely. Otherwise, sea freight is the more intelligent financial choice.

A1 Auto Transport offers exceptional international car shipping services. We can quickly ship your car by air or sea freight, and our experienced team of skilled workers will ensure it gets there safely and on time.

Jumpstart the shipping process by getting your free quote today.