"They will live on as cargo planes for outsized loads" For outsized loads, you need an articulated nose or tail, like a cargo 747, a C-17, C5, A400M, AN124, et

"They will live on as cargo planes for outsized loads" For outsized loads, you need an articulated nose or tail, like a cargo 747, a C-17, C5, A400M, AN124, etc. It is generally economically unfeasible to modify an aircraft to add this kind of feature, although it has been done on a limited basis for specific missions, for example the Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter with an articulated tail, or the super guppies, or Airbus Beluga. Note that those modifications were all purpose built for a specific task, not general purpose cargo aircraft. The A380 does not have a side cargo door, reinforced floorbeams, or a cabin fire extinguisher system, so currently it cannot even take on palletized freight, much less outsized loads. It is not uncommon for aftermarket companies to modify retired passenger aircraft to add reinforced floorbeams, a side cargo door, etc, so this could happen, if some company decides that it is a profitable mod. IAI is doing this with older 777s right now. https://aviationweek.com/mro/aircraft-propulsion/iai-open-boeing-777-freighter-conversion-line-south-korea https://aviationweek.com/mro/aircraft-propulsion/iai-open-bo...