A container having corner regions with hollow bodies is provided. Locking devices are provided that are received in the corner regions. Electrically driven, rotatable and displaceable locking mechanisms are respectively disposed in corners of the container. For a lower region of each locking mechanism, a locking member is provided that is adapted to engage in corresponding hollow bodies, disposed on upper corner regions of a comparable container disposed there below and adapted to receive locking devices, for interlocking the containers, sensors and signal emitters are disposed in the container for indicating a respective position of one of the locking mechanisms in a corner of the container.
An aircraft for carrying at least one rigid cargo container includes a beam structure with a forward fuselage attached to the forward end of the beam structure and an empennage attached to the rearward end of the beam structure. Wings and engines are mounted relative to the beam structure and a fairing creates a cargo bay able to receive standard sized intermodal cargo containers. Intermodal cargo containers of light construction and rigid structure are positioned within the cargo bay and securely mounted therein. The beam structure is designed to support flight, takeoffs and landings when the aircraft is empty but requires the added strength of the containers securely mounted to the beam structure when the aircraft is loaded. The aircraft is contemplated to be a drone.
A new and improved airport concept is disclosed herein. Redesigned aircraft would be allowed to dock in the terminal instead of pulling up to loading bridge. The nose section of the aircraft would tilt upwards or to the side, either before or after the aircraft enters the terminal docking station, wherein the passenger compartment would be removed from the aircraft and placed in a deplaning area. Subsequently, a new passenger compartment, fully loaded, would be placed into the plane. Baggage would also be compartmentalized and would be removed through the tail end section of the plane and the next baggage compartment would be put in place. The airport would be laid out in order to minimize passenger traffic and restrict vehicles to emergency and official airport use only. Common use aircraft could be used to accommodate a variety of airline companies flights, and also reduce fuel consumption and time. Dwell time at gates being reduced will mean less gates required to accommodate all aircraft. Terminals will no longer need to be spread out to accommodate more people. New restaurant designs would allow for a food court or restaurant tower.