There are many different types of military aircraft. Most of them apart from the smaller combat aircraft, such as fighters and ground attack aircraft – are similar to civil designs. So what are the differences?

Military Transports

   A “tactical” (short-to-medium range) military transport differs from its commercial counterpart largely in being designed to carry bulky loads such as armoured vehicles and to operate from short, make-shift air fields.

   Aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and Transall have a very low floor and a rear loading ramp; rear loading means that vehicles can be driven straight on. Sitting low on the ground, the aircraft has a short, strong undercarriage with low pressure tires to suit unpaved surfaces. The wings and engines are set high; ground clearance considerations rule out low wings. Because it is primarily intended to transport rectangular loads, the fuselage tends to be....