Okay, so how'd you do? These are all strictly cargo operators, meaning that none of these is the cargo division of a better-known scheduled passenger carrier. Unless you're in the industry, I'd be willing to be that some of these, maybe even most, are not familiar names.
You've probably heard of Airborne Express, which now goes by the moniker ABX Air. This is a B762, parked next to Hangar One: the original hangar from Mines Field (now known as Los Angeles International), which dates to 1929 and is on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Based in Mexico City, AeroUnion can only be seen in this country at LAX and Chicago's O'Hare airports. Not as large as the others listed here, they have a fleet of three Airbus A300's.
Little Rock-based Air Transport International, which is now owned by ABX. This is a DC8 which has had its original JT3D jet engines replaced with CFM-56 high-bypass turbofans. In the background is a United B763 just starting its departure roll on runway 25 right.
Atlas Air (callsign: Giant) B744. Unlike some of the others here, Atlas often leases their planes/crews to other carriers. Quite often when these guys show up they're using callsigns like 'Qantas Cargo' or 'Lufthansa Cargo'.
Cargolux, from Luxembourg, operates exclusively B747's like this one. Currently they are all -400 models, but Cargolux has orders for the new B747-8F, which should be out in 2010.
Kalitta Air (callsign: Connie) operates various models of the B747, and is based in Ypsilanti, Michigan. This is a -100 or -200 (I don't remember which) arriving on runway 24 right.
Polar Air Cargo, owned by Atlas Air and DHL, also operates B744's. This one is about to touch down on runway 24 left, while a United (Skywest) CRJ-200 waits to depart.
Southern Air, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, is another operator with various models of the B747. Sorry about the lousy shot, but I don't get to see these guys that much, especially during the day. Seen here crossing the threshhold for arrival on runway 24 left.
World Airways has two B744 freighters; the rest of its fleet consists of DC-10's and MD-11's, in both cargo and passenger configurations. In addition to providing cargo service for airlines who don't have their own cargo fleet, World does a lot of military charter work for the US government. That's a Delta B738 in the foreground, rolling out on runway 25 left.
China Airlines (callsign: Dynasty) is the flag carrier from Taiwan, and serves LAX from Taipei. Their cargo flights also leave here for DFW. The logo on the tail, which I thought was a hibiscus, is actually a plum blossom.
Air Tahiti offers service between L.A. and Papieti, Tahiti, as well as Paris. These routes are also served by Air France.
I know these look like two shots of the same airplane, but they're really not: Air China in the first, and Air China Cargo ( callsign: Air China Freight), the cargo subsidiary, in the second. These are from mainland China, and are based in Beijing.
Singapore, and its subsidiary Singapore Cargo: the world's third-largest cargo airline. The Los Angeles to Singapore flight is one of the longest scheduled airline flights in the world. Singapore also flies the record holding flight, from Singapore to Newark. Both of these routes are served with Airbus 340-500's, not shown here. Singapore, the first operator of the Airbus 380, is expected to be the next carrier to bring the Airbus 380 to LAX, perhaps later this year - although I haven't been able to find any mention of it on their website.
Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's flag carrier. Besides B744's, some passenger service here uses B773's, although I the only ones I've seen have been well after dark, so no good photos for you. Instead, you get an extra freighter shot, since some are painted and some are not.
