Whereas some aircraft can offer a greater weight carrying capability or similar volume, it is the unique combination of these factors that frequently makes the Belfast the right choice, and indeed sometimes the only aircraft able to meet demanding criteria.

The Belfast fills a very useful niche between smaller aircraft such as the C130 Hercules and the larger Antonov 124.

The aircraft's true forte is the transport of large and irregularly-shaped loads often requiring pressurised transit that is not available on many dedicated transports.

The four-engine Shorts SC5 Belfast, one of the biggest turbo-props built, was originally designed for the Royal Air Force where for years it was the biggest aircraft it ever operated. It was able to carry up to 200 parachutists and the biggest weapon or truck then in service.

An indication of its military specification and origins is the heavy floor, able to carry heavy wheeled and tracked vehicles such as self propelled guns and armoured personnel carriers.

It was built specifically as a long-range transporter to lift heavy, outsized and unusually-shaped military loads. It quickly established an enviable reputation for reliability. In civilian use it has proved its versatility in the movement of general, volumetric, palletised and just-in-time air cargo on civilian and military contracts.

The Belfast has a large cross-section combined with a cargo deck length of up to 25.7 metres and overall available length of 64 ft. But that’s not the whole story. The large cross-section with a diameter of 14 ft puts HeavyLift’s Belfasts in a class of their own when it comes to airlifting bulky and awkwardly-shaped cargo.

The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 24 racehorses.

With payloads up to 36,000kgs with an impressive capacity of approximately 360 cubic metres the Belfast can carry
three standard 20ft containers.

It provides high quality performance, carrying all kinds of air freight, any time and anywhere you need it.

The Belfast has already flown over 400 hours carrying up to 26 tonnes of cargo on Australian DoD missions on the 1,100nm route between Townsville and the Solomon Islands. The missions took around four hours each way cruising at 275kts.

It has also transported an urgently-required water filter and an electric power generator to Nauru. The Belfast is particularly suited to operations in austere environments and was chosen to airlift equipment and emergency supplies to Niue in the South Pacific after the island was struck by a devastating cyclone.

It is equally well suited to the carriage of volumetric shipments including furniture, textiles, computers, cars and cans.

It is equipped for operations into airports offering little or no support.

Freight can be loaded with the aid of a powerful on-board electric winch.

Notable features of the aircraft are its large rear loading ramp and its side loading cargo door.

The rear ramp allows the loading of up to ten unit load devices of different types and height dimensions to allow transit to or from 747 main decks without the need for rebuilding.

When it comes to awkward, oddly-shaped, unique or very heavy loads, the Shorts SC-5 Belfast is virtually unbeatable.