Hi, Dan here and welcome to Fun Kids Science Weekly Reach for the Sky Special,

the podcast that explores the future of aviation, from the design and sustainability of future planes

to the people who keep them flying and make sure our experience is top-notch.

Something we don't always think about is how planes don't just carry passengers in snazzy seats,

munching on snacks.

They also carry stuff.

So in this episode, we'll find out all about how our luggage is checked and delivered to the right planes

so they end up safely at our destination.

And we're also looking into the world of freight.

That's the cargo and the goods that zoom across the skies.

And where better to do that than here are East Midlands Airport,

as well as a bustling hub for commercial flights,

taking passengers and their luggage all over the world.

It's also the UK's busiest pure cargo airport.

This place is huge for freight. We're talking over 394,000 tons of cargo every year. That's like

moving more than 75,000 elephants. And as we'll find out, animals are just one of the types of unusual loads

that the airport manages every day. It's a major hub for giants like DHL, UPS, FedEx and Royal Mail,

connecting the UK to the world's most important markets. And here's a fancy stat. The UK air freight sector puts £7.2 billion into the

economy. It supports over 151,000 jobs. And while it might be small by weight compared to other freight,

air cargo is big on value. Things like electronics, fresh food, and even life-saving medicines

fly through here every single day. In fact, more stats, 41% of all UK-made pharmaceutical products

leave the country by air. So, get ready. We're taking a peek behind the scenes and seeing how

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