N421UP

This airframe, registered N421UP, is a Boeing-built freighter completed in 1991 with manufacturer serial number 25281. It is a dedicated main-deck freighter conversion of the Boeing 757-24A(PF) and is registered in the US. Ownership is held by UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO, a corporation based in Louisville, KY, US, which operates the type in its integrated air cargo network; the registration and ownership reflect its role within UPS’s fleet and home base operations. The airframe is configured and maintained for package freight service and carries the corporate operator identity as its principal registry action.

The aircraft is outfitted as a main-deck freighter (package freighter) with a large forward cargo door and has no passenger cabin, reflecting its exclusive cargo mission and modification status. Typical mission profiles for this airframe include medium- to long-range cargo sectors within UPS’s network, leveraging its 3,900 nm range and 458 kts cruise speed to connect major hubs and regional centers from its Louisville base. The twin Pratt & Whitney PW2040 engines providing 40,900 lbf each support operations up to a service ceiling of 42,000 ft, enabling efficient enroute altitudes for air freight. Maintenance considerations focus on freighter-specific systems and main-deck cargo handling equipment, with attention to structural and door systems associated with the large forward cargo door.

The Boeing 757-24A(PF) represented in this airframe occupies a performance niche as a narrow-body, medium-range freighter capable of carrying palletized and bulk parcel traffic efficiently over transcontinental and some transoceanic legs within its 3,900 nm capability. Competing airframes in cargo conversion roles have included other narrow-body types, but the 757’s combination of payload, range, and the PW2040 engine option has sustained demand among integrators. For operators and buyers, considerations include lifecycle maintenance of the airframe and engines, the condition of freighter conversion elements such as the forward cargo door, and fleet commonality benefits for an operator-sized entity like UNITED PARCEL SERVICE CO.