Method and system for loading and unloading cargo assembly onto and from an aircraft

An aircraft comprising:

• a forward fairing;
• an aft fairing;
• a spine disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing, the spine defining an upper external surface of the aircraft and a lower coupling surface;
• a cargo container comprising a plurality of laterally-oriented modular bays;
• a plurality of mounts to structurally engage the cargo assembly to the lower coupling surface of the spine;
• side fairing panels disposed on opposing sides of the cargo container, the side fairing panels comprising a plurality of retractable subpanels corresponding to the plurality of laterally-oriented modular bays, the subpanels retracting to expose the contents of the laterally-oriented modular bays.

An aircraft comprising:

• a forward fairing;
• an aft fairing;
• a spine disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing, the spine defining an upper external surface of the aircraft and a lower coupling surface;
• a cargo container comprising a plurality of laterally-oriented modular bays;
• a plurality of mounts to structurally engage the cargo assembly to the lower coupling surface of the spine;
• and
• lower fairing doors which may be pivotally opened and closed.