the present invention , in its preferred embodiment shown in fig2 - 4 , is directed to an enclosed cargo pod 2 which is attached to light aircraft through the use of over center latches 8 on the pod 2 . the self - contained pod 2 is manufactured from a body component 4 and a lid component 6 which are preferably permanently sealed together to form the pod 2 . the interior of the pod 2 is accessed by a door 10 on the side of the body 4 . skids 12 , as shown in fig6 are preferably formed on the bottom of the cargo pod 2 to provide protection to the pod 2 when disconnected from the aircraft . the over center latch 8 , shown in fig8 and 9 , preferably comprises a base 36 which is permanently attached to the pod 2 , a lever 38 fixed about a pivot 40 for moving the hook 18 from an open to a closed position . a hook 18 for engaging the retention member 16 is movable between an extended position and a fixed position when the lever 38 is moved from the open to the closed position . the throw of the hook 18 can preferably be adjusted by adjustment means 34 such as a threaded rod on which the hook means travels . the pod 2 is properly positioned on the aircraft by use of a positioning member 14 , shown in fig7 which is at least semi - permanently attached to the underside of the aircraft . preferably , the positioning member 14 protrudes from the aircraft skin and is maintained by a backing plate 20 under the aircraft skin . when properly positioned , the over center latches 8 align with cooperating retention members 16 . the retention members 16 , shown in fig1 and 10a , are at least semi - permanently attached to the aircraft . preferably , attachment of the retention member 16 to the aircraft is through the use of a bolt 22 which passes through an aperture 24 in the retention member 16 and engages a nut 26 and washer 28 on a backing plate 30 . the retention member 16 preferably has a slot 32 to receive cooperating hook means 18 of the latch 8 . preferably , the slot 32 is on a portion of the retention member 16 which angles away from the aircraft ( see fig1 - 11 ). to ensure that the latch 8 stays closed during flight , locking means 42 are preferably incorporated therewith . in the most preferred embodiment , a tab 44 extends from the base through an opening 46 in the lever 38 . the tab 44 is preferably spring loaded so that a catch 48 is forced over the edge of the opening 46 thereby preventing the lever 38 from moving into its open position . additionally , the tab 44 also includes an aperture 50 for receiving a pin , lock or the like to ensure that the lever cannot be opened . as shown in fig1 , the floor of the body 6 of the pod 2 is preferably made of a fiberglass laminate having a 4 . 016 divinyl cell foam 60 , as used in aircraft construction , between fiberglass layers . the walls of the body 4 of the pod 2 , as shown in fig1 , is preferably made of a fiberglass laminates . the materials allow for a very strong structure with a minimum of weight . the structural rigidity is further enhanced by the use of only a single access door 10 . in the area of the skid 12 , as shown in fig6 the fiberglass is reinforced with an aluminum rod 58 which runs the length of the skid 12 . resin layers cover the rod 58 which is set in an adhesive filler material . the door 10 is preferably a &# 34 ; plug type &# 34 ; door having a foam layer for strength and rigidity , wherein no hinges are used . rather , an extended bearing surface 52 slips into the interior of the pod 2 at the edge of the door opening 54 and rests upon the interior wall of the body 4 . the door 10 is then pushed onto the opening 54 , with the door 10 overlapping the exterior sides of the opening 54 . fastening members 56 along the bottom of the door 10 maintain the door 10 in the closed position . most preferably , the fastening members 56 are cam lock fasteners such as zeus type fasteners which securely maintain the door 10 in a closed position . it is preferred that the door 10 be made as large as possible to ease loading and unloading and provide for bulk cargo . the pod 2 of the present invention as installed on an aircraft is shown in fig1 . as can be seen , the positioning member 14 aligns the pod 2 on the aircraft and the latches 8 engage the retention members 16 which are mounted on the aircraft . preferably a felt , rubber or other similar material is placed between the lid portion 6 of the pod 2 and the aircraft to avoid scratching and noise when attached . tie - down lugs , rings or the like , including d - rings and / or split rings , etc . 62 are preferably attached on the interior floor of the pod 2 to secure the contents of the pod 2 . the lid 6 of the pod 2 preferably conforms substantially to the contour of the belly of the aircraft . the body portion 4 of the pod 2 preferably conforms to an aerodynamical shape for reduced drag , as shown in the figures . a preferred pod 2 for a cessna 185 is preferably about 33 inches wide , about 114 inches long and about 18 inches high . the access door 10 is preferably about 36 inches long by about 11 inches high . fuel drains and / or antennas which may be located on the belly of the plane in the area of attachment of the pod may be moved forward , back or to the side of the pod , as appropriate . an example of the preferred manufacturing process of the pod 2 to be mounted externally on the belly of a cessna 185 aircraft follows . three molds are contemplated , the main body mold , the lid mold and the access door mold . the molds are conditioned and finished , to provide an appropriate surface , as known in the art . a suitable release material , such as a paste mold release wax , is applied to the mold prior to use . the following composite materials are utilized during the manufacturing ( lay - up process ) of the luggage pod : ______________________________________item manufacturer spec . no . ______________________________________1 . 5 oz . chopped strand vetrotex certainteed m127mat ( s - glass ) 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth hexcel style 7725 ( e - glass ) sandwich core ( 4 . 0 lb . divinycell ) barracuda tech h - 60 ( 5 . 0 lb . divinymat ) barracuda tech h - 80resin ( polyester ) cargill products 287 - 8655resin thickener cabot corp . cabosiladhesive ( epoxy ) jeffco products 1308adhesive hardener jeffco products 1109adhesive filler ciba - geigy corp . rp - 1258 ( epoxy / alum . paste ) white gel coat neste polyester inc . ug - 0509black gel coat neste polyester inc . bg - 3700parting agent t . r . industries tr - 102 ( mold release paste ) adhesive caulk any major brand silicone______________________________________ when fabricating the composite portion of the luggage pod the working temperature range should be limited between 65 ° f . and 85 ° f . in order to maintain quality assurance , careful visual examinations are employed to all components of the luggage pod during and at the conclusion of each manufacturing process . crazing , scratches , blisters , resin - starved areas , wrinkles , voids and delaminations are all considered defects during inspection . a detailed example of the preferred steps for the production of the various sections contemplated in manufacture of a pod 2 of the present invention follows . 1 . apply three coats of parting agent to entire mold surface . this may be reduced to one coat when mold is seasoned . 2 . apply white gel coat with a spray gun to complete mold surface . check with gel coat wet thickness gage ( max . thickness = 0 . 010 inches ). 3 . apply black gel coat with a spray gun to mold initially coated with white gel coat . check with gel coat gage ( combined thickness of white and black gel coat should be between 0 . 015 and 0 . 020 inches ). let cure for a minimum of two hours . 4 . fill strake cavity sections defined using adhesive filler with the aluminum rod 58 embedded as shown in fig6 . 5 . close off top of each strake cavity even with inside surface of pod bottom using two layers ( 2 inch wide strips ) of 1 . 5 oz . chopped strand mat and general purpose resin . 6 . lay up on thickness of 1 . 5 oz . chopped strand mat over entire inside bottom surface of main pod mold using general purpose resin . 7 . lay up one thickness of 1 . 5 oz . chopped strand mat on each inside side surface of main pod mold overlapping the bottom mat by 3 inches . use general purpose resin and cut shape ( s ) prior to lay - up . 8 . lay up one thickness of 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth on top of the chopped strand mat in bottom of pod using general purpose resin . overlap the side layer of chopped strand mat by 3 inches . 9 . perform the following lay - up sequences at the four latch 8 attachment locations : 1 . lay up five thicknesses of 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth using general purpose resin . 10 . lay up one thickness of 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth over existing mat on each side surface of mold overlapping the bottom cloth by 3 inches . use general purpose resin and cut shapes prior to lay - up . 11 . lay up a 3 inch wide strip of 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth around pod door opening 46 using general purpose resin . 12 . perform the following lay - up sequences at the four latch attachment locations : 1 . lay up five thicknesses of 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth using general purpose resin . cut out shapes prior to lay - up . 13 . attach the nine aluminum tie - down lugs as shown in fig1 to the surface of the woven cloth using general purpose resin . let cure for a minimum of two hours . 14 . cut out shape of sandwich core for pod floor . apply general purpose resin mixed with resin thickener to surface of woven cloth and lay up sandwich core into position . 15 . use the adhesive paste system to fill the discontinuity around the perimeter of the sandwich core thus creating a flush surface for laying up the inner laminate . 16 . lay up one thickness of 1 . 5 oz . chopped strand mat over the entire inside floor area of the pod . this mat should match the footprint of the outer laminate including the 3 inch overlap with the side laminate . 17 . lay up one thickness of 9 . 0 oz . woven cloth on top of the chopped strand mat using general purpose resin . cloth should be identical in shape to the adjoining mat . ______________________________________1 . side walls 0 . 080 ± . 010 inches2 . floor 0 . 68 ± . 03 inches3 . latch area 0 . 220 ± . 010 inches4 . door recess 0 . 090 ± . 005 inches______________________________________ 1 . apply three coats of parting agent to entire mold surface . this may be reduced to one coat when mold is seasoned . 2 . apply white gel coat with a spray gun to complete mold surface . check with gel coat wet thickness gage ( max . thickness = 0 . 010 inches ). 3 . apply black gel coat with a spray gun to complete mold surface initially coated with white gel coat . check with gel coat wet thickness gage ( combined thickness of white and black gel coat should be between 0 . 015 and 0 . 020 inches ). let cure for a minimum of two hours . 4 . cut out shape of chopped strand mat for pod lid 6 . lay up in mold using general purpose resin . 5 . cut out shape of woven cloth for pod lid 6 . lay up in mold using general purpose resin . 6 . finished thickness of pod lid 6 should be between 0 . 090 and 0 . 110 inches . 1 . apply three coats of parting agent to entire mold surface . this may be reduced to one coat when mold is seasoned . 2 . apply white gel coat with a spray gun to complete mold surface . check with gel coat wet thickness gage ( max . thickness = 0 . 010 inches ). 3 . apply black gel coat with a spray gun to complete mold surface initially coated with white gel coat . check with gel coat wet thickness gage ( combined thickness of white and black gel coat should be between 0 . 015 and 0 . 020 inches ). let cure for a minimum of two hours . 4 . cut out shape of chopped strand mat for access door 10 using template . lay up in mold using general purpose resin . 5 . cut out shape of woven cloth for access door 10 using template . lay up in mold using general purpose resin . allow to cure for a minimum of two hours . 6 . cut out shape of sandwich core for access door 10 using template . 7 . apply general purpose resin mixed with resin thickener to surface of woven cloth and lay up sandwich core into position . 8 . cut out shape of woven cloth for access door 10 using template . lay up in mold using general purpose resin . ______________________________________1 . core area 0 . 20 ± . 03 inches2 . edges ( solid laminate ) 0 . 090 ± . 010 inches______________________________________ 1 . from trim edge on lid 6 abrade ( sand ) 1 . 75 to 2 . 00 inches of laminate surface to prepare for bonding . 2 . from trim edge of body 4 abrade ( sand ) 1 . 75 to 2 . 00 inches of laminate surface to prepare for bonding . 3 . prepare an adhesive from mix jeffco laminating epoxy with hardener , adding cabosil to mixture for thickening to paste consistency . 4 . bond 0 . 060 aluminum spacer to aft edge of the body 4 using adhesive prepared in step 3 . 5 . apply a 1 / 8 inch thick ribbon of adhesive to the one inch wide bond surface of the body 4 and over the top surface of the aluminum spacer . 6 . invert body mold with body 4 included and mate to lid 6 in lid mold . molds should be on flat surface to insure no distortion . 7 . check for good squeeze out of excess adhesive while clamping frames together . clean squeezed out adhesive from trim edges and fill any gaps . 8 . smooth out adhesive along bond line on inside of pod 2 using a one inch brush screwed to a stick . 9 . allow 24 hours for complete cure of epoxy adhesive bond . of course , obvious variations of the above described invention are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of this invention , to be limited solely by the appended claims . prior art referred to herein is incorporated by reference .