The air cargo transport in Brazil began with VARIG’s creation in 1927. In addition passengers, VARIG’s first route also transported cargo. The route was known as "Lagoon Line" and linked Porto Alegre, Pelotas and Rio Grande with aquatic aircraft Dornier Wal. With air transport medicines, food and machinery parts arrived at their destination faster.
The first cargo flight began in 1944, between Porto Alegre and Pelotas with Junkers F-13 and Electra L10. Both aircraft could carry 880kg of cargo. Shortly after the Second World War, this route began to be made with the DC-3.

VARIG’s first purely cargo plane was received on January 27, 1948, it was a DC-3/C-47. Also at this time, VARIG began to acquire convertible aircraft, ie, they could be easily adapted for transport cargo or passenger. Also "Combi" aircraft, with an exclusive part for passengers and another exclusive part for cargo. The freighter routes were extended to Curitiba, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and VARIG’s cargo stations were created in Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian cargo market underwent a revolution in 1960 when VARIG bought its first Boeing 707 jet aircraft. Thereafter, cargo began to be transported in half time, even to other countries like the USA. In 1965 arrived the first Boeing 707-300C (Convertible), which proved to be very versatile for the company, since it could be easily converted to carry more cargo or more passengers, according to demand.

In 1969 came into operation the first Boeing 707-300F (freighter), ie, exclusively for cargo transportation. With B707F, VARIG launched “Varig Cargo” livery.

In 1975, VARIG’s freighter fleet was complemented by Boeing 727-100F. Thus B727F ware designed for domestic flights to South America routes, while B707F were designed for international flights and domestic flights with high demand.

 

70s

Fleet:
4xBoeing 707-300F
2xBoeing 727-100F
TOTAL: 6

After start flights to Europe, in 1965, VARIG increased its international fleet with Boeing 707-320. The first two B707-341C (PP-VJR and PP-VJS) arrived in Brazil on December 28, 1966, while the third (PP-VJT) arrived on March 22, 1967. These three aircraft were directly ordered from Boeing by VARIG, that’s why they have the number "41" at the end. These Boeing 707-320 were Combi type (recognized by letter "C" at the end), ie, convertible to cargo or passengers. Thus, these aircraft allowed the flexibility to carry more passengers or more cargo, depending on demand.
In 1969 VARIG began operate with Boeing 707 freighter version, known as Boeing 707- 300F. It was VARIG’s first purely jet freighter and the only until 1975, with the introduction of Boeing 727F.

Constructor	The Boeing Company, USA
Engine	four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3, 18,000 pounds of thrust
Wingspread	145,74 feet
Length	152,92 feet
Height	42,42 feet
Cruising speed	546,83 miles/hr.
Flight reach	6,524 miles
Maximum flight altitude	41,996 feet
Cruising radius	12 h 45 min
Empty aircraft weight	143,353 pounds
Maximum take-off weight	331,722 pounds
Technical crew	05 (2 pilots, 1 flight mechanic, 1 navigator and 1 radio telegraph operator)
Maximum capacity of fuel tank	19,909 gallons
Normal consumption	1,300 gallons/hr.
Minimum runway length	10,039 feet
Minimum landing strip length	6,233 feet

To complement Boeing 707 and expand its network, VARIG began operating Boeing 727- 100F aircraft in 1975. The tri-jet Boeing 727 was widely used worldwide and is was the best-selling aircraft in the world at that time. B727 proved to be ideal for domestic and to South America freighter routes

 

In 1985 was inaugurated São Paulo’s TECA (cargo center distribution), which could even store perishable, valuable and dangerous cargo. In 1987 was inaugurated Rio de Janeiro’s TECA.

In 1986, VARIG received its first DC-10-30F, Brazil’s first freighter wide-body aircraft.

80s

Fleet:
5xBoeing 707-300F
3xBoeing 727-100F
2xDouglas DC-10-30F
TOTAL: 10

In July 1974 VARIG received its first two DC-10-30, prefixes PP-VMA and PP-VMB, ordered in November 1972, that began operating international VARIG’s routes. They were Brazil’s first wide-body jets. In 1986 VARIG started operating its first full cargo DC10, known as DC-10-30F. The DC-10 represented a new level for Brazilian air cargo market, enabling the transport of larger loads and for faraway destinations nonstop. DC-10-30F was defined as Boeing 707F replacement.

 

Finally, in 1993, Varig Cargo was officially established as VARIG’s cargo subsidiary. Varig Cargo's fleet consisted of five Boeing 727-100F and two Douglas DC-10-30F, besides using VARIG’s passenger aircraft. As VARIG, Varig Cargo adopted a new visual identity in 1997 and launched its online tracking service, the first in Brazil.

 

90s

Fleet:
5xBoeing 727-100F
2xDouglas DC-10-30F
TOTAL: 7

Domestic cargo destinations: Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Campinas, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, São Luis, Belém, Manaus.

International cargo destinations: Montevideo, Lima, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Amsterdam, Frankfurt.

 

  

In October 2000, Varig Cargo has become Varig Log, an independent company. Varig Log was born as the largest cargo airline in Latin America, with a fleet of eleven aircraft, a global network and distribution centers in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Miami, New York and Frankfurt.

Always thinking about the quality of its products, Varig Log started replacing the Boeing 727-100F by Boeing 727-200F and introduced the MD-11F in 2005, being the first airline in Latin America to operate this model in cargo version.

 

2000s

Fleet:
4xBoeing 727-100F
4xBoeing 727-200F
3xDouglas DC-10-30F
2xMD-11F
TOTAL: 13

Domestic cargo destinations: Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Campinas, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Cuiabá, Porto Velho, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, São Luis, Belém, Rio Branco, Manaus.

International cargo destinations: Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Caracas, Bogotá, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Amsterdam, Frankfurt.

In 2000, Varig Log received its first Boeing 727- 200F, a larger version of Boeing 727-100F. With B727-200F, Varig Log increased the offer in domestic market and flights to South America. The second arrived in 2001, the third in 2002 and fourth in 2003.

In 2005 Varig Log became the first airline in Latin America to operate the MD-11F, MD-11’s cargo version. This was the largest aircraft operated by Varig Log and was chosen to replace the DC-10-30F on long-haul routes.

MD-11
Manufacturer	MCDONNEL DOUGLAS Aircraft Company, United States
Engine	GE CF6-80C2 D1F
Wingspan	52meters
Lenght	61,40meters
Hight	17,93meters
Cruising Speed	890Km/h
Range	12.000Km
Maximum Flight Altitude	13.100meters
Range	14h 58min.
Aircraft Deadweight	133.500Kg
Maximum Take-off Weight	280.320Kg
Maximum Weight at Landing	199.581Kg
Maximum load capacity	44.673Kg