PATENT OF THE WEEK – CARGO AIRCRAFT

Cargo Aircraft (US7699267B2) was invented by Elie Helou, Jr. and patented by USPTO on April 20^th, 2010.

Trucks have traditionally served as the primary mode of transporting goods, setting the size limits for intermodal containers used across various transportation modes. While these containers have revolutionized cargo transport, air cargo has largely been left out of the intermodal equation. This exclusion of air cargo from intermodal systems has posed challenges for international commerce. Despite advancements in technology, air cargo systems remain costly and inconvenient for intermodal shipping.

The current invention is an aircraft, designed as a drone, featuring a beam structure designed to accommodate one or more rigid cargo containers. It has wings and engines attached to the structure, and a fairing creates a cargo bay for standard-sized intermodal cargo containers.

These containers, lightweight yet robust, are securely mounted within the cargo bay, providing structural strength during flight.