Big Loads - Post Photos

LMAO thats good stuff

 

here is a sub section of a small oil rig I hauled this week

 

Looks heavy!

 

72500. 13'6" wide 43' long 12'6" high

 

Yesterday I worked with some really hardcore Russians. They didnt talk to anyone (including each other). They all knew their stuff. These guys were all business! Thats the plane that was confiscated by the UAE when they thought the Russians were transporting drugs from Afghanistan in exchange for weapons going to Belfast.

 

We used to load and off load these with the Russians on a regular basis.
That looks like an Antonov 124 , only worked with those a few times a year but with the Ilyushin 76 a couple every month , never worked on a Antonov 225.
The load-master and crew are very serious and professional about their work.
You have to appreciate that one little mistake that causes damage to the plane can easily cost tens of millions.
Not only can the plane get damaged very easily but the freight they carry is most often very expensive and always in a critical hurry.
Then the strains at take off and landing on the securing straps (not chains usually) is much greater then on a truck in operation.
You know the strain you feel on take off and landing coupled with the angle at take off.
Imagine having to secure a 120 000lbs load to handle that with just straps.
Floor loading per sq ft is critical as is center of gravity.
If they get just one thing wrong the results are deadly not just a fine or the likes.
Having said that after all the work is done some of those Russian fellows are real friendly party animals.
If they get to know you and trust your abilities the will engage you and allow you to work on the plane with them , up till then they just want you to keep out the way.

 

Spot on King Q. It was a $400 Million satellite and the box was 70K gross. They were not playing around.

 

I have never carried something valued at $400 million that I knew about.

 

I used to haul those when I was with Melton Truck Lines! Fort Worth Tower.

 

Funny, I just loaded a belly section for a 747 into the Antanov this afternoon at Alliance Airport. The pictures are kind of deceiving, the piece is actually 16' 6" wide but to try and get some sort of balance we haul it with only 1' off the left side and 7' off the right side. Overall on the trailer I'm 96' overall, 15' high and of course 16' 6" wide.

However not sure if it was the same crew you worked with Guntoter, these guys were very friendly and visited with us as best they could in their broken Russian. A great bunch of guys.