I was surprised to read (Flying Ships, Flight International, 1-7 July) that Boeing's Pelican concept is envisaged to carry standard sea-going containers. Surely there is scope for the development of low-weight, weather-resistant plastic containers of similar dimensions for road transfer with huge payload benefits?
I recall a ship captain once remarking that invariably the weight of a steel container was greater than its contents.
Martin Noble Holmfirth, UK
Source: Flight International