N138UP 2001 Airbus A300-600F

Overview

This airframe, N138UP, is an Airbus A300-600F (type A300F4-622R) manufactured by Airbus Industrie in 2001, serial number 821. It is owned by United Parcel Service Co (a corporation headquartered in Louisville, KY, US) and operated in a cargo role consistent with the UPS fleet. The aircraft carries a US registration and has been employed on palletized freight missions out of its operator’s Louisville base; registration and operational records indicate continued use in UPS’s express freight network. Condition and valuation details are operator-controlled and not publicly published for this specific frame.

Operations & Cabin

The cabin of this A300-600F is configured as a freighter with palletized cargo handling, offering typical A300-600F capacity described as 15 (21) pallet positions and a high-volume cargo hold suited for express parcels and bulk freight. Avionics and specific onboard systems follow the A300-600F freighter standard fit consistent with airline upgrade paths; there are no unique cabin amenities beyond the cargo handling fittings associated with UPS operations. Typical mission profiles include short- to medium-haul overnight express routes within the airline’s continental network, leveraging the aircraft’s cruise speed and range to serve hub-and-spoke operations from Louisville. Maintenance follows operator and manufacturer schedules for the PW4000 series engines and airframe, with logistics and component support organized through the corporate maintenance program.

Model & Market Context

The A300-600F family occupies a niche for high-volume medium-range freighter roles, balancing payload and runway performance against larger widebodies. Competing types for similar missions include older derivatives of the Boeing 767 freighter and derivative conversions of other widebodies. Demand among integrators and cargo operators favors airframes with established maintenance support and commonality with fleet types; resale considerations for this model hinge on engine maintenance status, structural checks, and remaining regulatory life limits. The aircraft’s PW4158 engines and 4,050 nm range make it well-suited to the express cargo market served by its current operator.