Russian plane loaded with North Chinese pottery (4)
I believe the answer is:
ming
'chinese pottery' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'russian plane loaded with north' is the wordplay.
'russian plane' becomes 'MiG' (MiG is a Russian aircraft manufacturer).
'loaded with' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'mig' enclosing 'n' is 'MING'.
(Other definitions for ming that I've seen before include "Chinese dynasty 14th-17th centuries, or porcelain" , "Porcelain named after ancient Chinese dynasty" , "Chinese dynasty from 1300s to 1600s" , "Chinese dynasty - Flash Gordon's foe" , "Chinese dynasty and Roscommon TD" .)