The largest transport aircraft in the world. Big Ten: The World's Largest Military Aircraft

Air travel is considered a safe and affordable means of travel. To lift one airliner into the air, a decent amount of fuel is required, so designers are constantly fighting to reduce fuel consumption. Large-capacity airliners have proven themselves to be an effective means of transporting large volumes of cargo and serving large passenger traffic.

Largest passenger aircraft

The largest passenger aircraft in the world is the Airbus A380. The airliner is produced by a group of European companies in several EU countries. The wingspan of this giant is 80 meters, which frees up space for large fuel reserves and makes it possible for long non-stop flights.

The A380 has incredible technical characteristics:

Number of passengers: 850 people.
Max. flight speed: 1020 km/h.
Max. flight distance: 15,200 km, more than any representative of this class.
Max. take-off weight: 575 t.

The use of composite materials allows the aircraft to weigh significantly less, which helps to gain the desired altitude with minimal acceleration.

In the aircraft project, engineers managed to combine knowledge in the field of engineering and aerodynamics.

Aircraft capacity

The model has a large number of modifications, but on average an Airbus can accommodate about 555 people. The aircraft features the highest level of comfort. The liner is operated on all continents. Airbus is famous for its good handling and almost zero accident rate.

Not every engine is suitable for lifting such a colossus into the air, because in addition to passenger seats, the airliner has:

Recreation areas.
Sleeping cabins.
Bars and more.

Only 4 Rolls-Royce engines, manufactured to special order, are capable of lifting this mass to heights.

In Russia, the largest passenger aircraft is actively operated by the country's main airline, Aeroflot. The A380 has a significant share in the carrier's fleet.

The largest cargo plane

An 225 - “Mriya” rightfully holds the title of the largest aircraft in the world. The length of the aircraft is 73 meters, and the wingspan is an incredible 88 meters! The plane exists in a single copy and is operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. In theory, this aircraft can be classified as a transport aircraft, but its original purpose was to transport the Buran reusable spacecraft.

After the collapse of the USSR, the largest cargo aircraft in the world went to Ukraine, but was not used for a long time. The engines and all valuable equipment were removed from the liner. It was only in the early 2000s that the need for such an “air truck” arose and the aircraft was modernized to meet international aviation standards.

Now the largest An aircraft has been adapted for commercial transportation. The aircraft's carrying capacity is about 250 tons.

Important: in fact, there is a second copy of Mriya, but it is not completed. The project readiness is estimated at 70%. To complete the construction, about $100 million is required, which no investor is yet ready to provide.

Liner records

An-225 broke many load-carrying records. The largest cargo plane in the world has an absolute record for lifting cargo into the air - 253.5 tons. The air record holder has been included in the Guinness Book of Records more than once.

In the next ten years, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to build a project of this scale, so the airliner will hold the palm in the categories “largest aircraft in the world” and “heaviest aircraft” for the next ten to fifteen years.

The largest military aircraft in the world

The world's largest aircraft is used only for peaceful purposes, but many of its smaller brothers are used to transport military cargo. The most successful countries in this area are Russia and the USA. The Cold War spurred an arms race and a flood of government funding into the defense industry.

The production of one model required huge amounts of money, so each project was thoroughly tested before flights. The commissioning time for this type of equipment is about 5 years from the start of design.

An 124 "Ruslan"

This military transport aircraft is one of the few representatives of aircraft manufacturing giants in Russia. The development of the project and the first flights were carried out back in the era of the Soviet Union, but the technological solutions of the designers were really ahead of their time and therefore remain relevant to this day.

The name “Ruslan” was given to the airliner by combat pilots, but journalists liked it so much that it appears in all the tops and ratings with this abbreviation. The nickname became an integral part of the aircraft.

The aircraft has a wingspan of about 80 meters and a length of 73 meters. The maximum flight range is more than 15 thousand kilometers. More than once, during their flights, these airliners circled the globe with a minimum number of refuelings.

The Ruslan is operated in Russia and Ukraine, and not only for military cargo transportation.

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

The Lockheed C – 5 Galaxy model is the American response to domestic projects of super-lift aircraft. The scale of this monster is impressive: in military configuration it is capable of carrying 275 fully equipped soldiers, and when used in civil aviation it carries 75 passengers. The initial design assumed that the aircraft was capable of carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles.

10 largest planes in the world

Since the birth of aviation, aircraft have become more reliable and increased in size. In every era there has been an aircraft that is a technological breakthrough. For you, we present the top 10 aircraft that influenced the development of world aviation.

Tupolev ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky"

Built in honor of a significant event in the biography of M. Gorky - the 40th anniversary of the beginning of his literary career, the plane was striking in size. This eight-engine giant housed a printing house, laboratory and library. For full use, a flight staff of 20 people was required.

The fate of the only released copy was tragic - on May 18, 1935, an accident occurred that led to disaster. However, this aircraft became the prototype for the creation of heavy domestic aircraft, such as Ruslan and Mriya.

Important: in the mid-30s of the 20th century it could rightfully be called not only the largest Russian aircraft, but also the largest cargo aircraft in the world.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

It is no coincidence that “Hercules” occupies a place in our top. To this day, it is the largest transport aircraft with the ability to take off and land on water.

The project was financed by the American tycoon Howard Hughes, but was completed only in a wooden version. This is due to the fact that the period of construction occurred during the Second World War, so all the metal was used for military needs. Its estimated capacity of 750 people would make it the largest passenger aircraft ever built.

Boeing 747

Each of us has seen this plane in one way or another: live, in photos or on video. For 37 years, the Boeing 747 held the title of the largest civil aircraft, until the Airbus A380 appeared. Used all over the world. Used to deliver the space shuttle from its production site.

Characteristics:

Length from nose to tail: 76.4.
Wingspan: 68.5.
Crew: 2 pilots.
Number of passengers: 600 people.
Max. flight speed: 1100 km/h.
Flight range: about 14,000 km.
Max. take-off weight: 448 tons.

The following models are also included in the top 10 largest aircraft in the world, but their place on the list is earned primarily by their reliability and performance.

Boeing 777-300ER

Boeing's largest aircraft. The device has a wide space inside the casing and is capable of transporting up to 70,000 tons of commercial cargo.

Airbus A340-600

It was produced in the amount of 97 copies, which allows it to be called one of the most popular aircraft, capable of carrying 450 passengers. Discontinued in 2011, but continues to be used everywhere.

Boeing 747-8

The extended version of the airliner tops the honorary list of the longest aircraft (76.4 meters). In the international classification it is called “Intercontinental”.

Tu-134

A medium-passenger long-haul airliner, which is rightfully considered one of the best in Russia. This model attracts not with its huge volume inside, but with its decent speed for its size - it can reach up to 950 km/h.

Sukhoi Superjet-100

The Russian aircraft is the forefront of the domestic aircraft industry. It has the latest digital technology and is capable of transporting 100 people. It is actively purchased in Asia, and the Sukhoi company plans to enter the US market.

Irkut MS-21

This airliner is not yet in production and receives a place on our list in advance. Despite the not-so-large dimensions of the project (length - up to 40 meters), which will not allow it to displace the largest aircraft in the West from the top positions, it is capable of ridding Russia of the dominance of foreign manufacturers.

Concorde

The plane marked the beginning of a sharp surge in the construction of supersonic passenger airliners. The recognizable silhouette with a pointed nose can be easily recognized in photos and videos. It was used for 27 years, which allowed it to become a record holder for transporting passengers - 3 million people.

Every manufacturer wants to be called an industry giant. In the aircraft industry, Airbus has no equal yet with the A380 model. The largest passenger aircraft in the world has been in production for several years and is constantly being modified. The time is not far off when one plane will carry more than 1,000 people.

The Russian heavy aircraft market is going through hard times. Old Soviet models are in use. Russian manufacturers are gradually trying to catch up with their colleagues from Europe and America, but this takes time.

Each of the described liners can weigh tens of tons, but the efficiency factor is estimated using the formula: 1 kg of dead weight per amount of weight lifted.

The world's largest aircraft June 5th, 2017

So the leaders in our selection of THE MOST are changing. Just recently, the Soviet An-225 Mriya with a wingspan of 88.4 meters was considered the largest aircraft. And now the plane, produced by the aerospace firm Allen Stratolaunch Systems, has the largest wingspan of any aircraft ever built - 385 feet, which is 117.3 m.

It was this indicator that allowed the new aircraft to become a record holder.

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A few days ago, the plane was taken out of the hangar for the first time to conduct refueling tests. In addition, for the first time the plane rested entirely on its 28 wheels. This made it possible for the first time to fully weigh the finished apparatus. The mass turned out to be approximately 226.8 tons. After this, the company will move on to the ground and flight testing phase. It is said that this will happen in the coming weeks and months.

At the same time, the length reaches 72.5 m, and the height - 15.2 m. The maximum take-off weight reaches 590 tons. The device is lifted into the air by six Boeing 747-400 engines.

Photo 3.

Recall that Stratolaunch is the brainchild of Stratolaunch Systems, founded by Paul Allen and Burt Rutan.

Paul Allen founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975 and left the company in 1983, selling most of his shares and now investing in space projects.

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As for the first demonstration flight, it is planned for 2019. Let us remind you that the aircraft will be used to launch rockets intended to launch satellites into orbit.

Photo 5.

It took 6 years to build the plane. In 2011, the cost of the project was estimated at $300 million.

Paul Allen has been investing in space projects for a long time. One of the most famous is the suborbital manned reusable spacecraft SpaceShipOne, which was built as part of the space tourism program. The ship was first launched in 2003.

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This is a new approach to spaceflight that is reminiscent of the X-plane testing in the 1950s and 1960s.

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And what do you think? How potentially survivable is this launch option for missiles?

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The largest aircraft in the world is the An-225. They built the plane in Ukraine and use it to transport huge amounts of cargo. The An-225 is also called a military transport aircraft. The height of this aircraft is 24.1 meters, the length is also amazing - 73 meters. The wingspan is 88.4 meters. The weight of the aircraft is 250 thousand kg, and it can take off with a total weight of 600,000 kg. It was built back in 1988. The plane is equipped with six engines. There is only one An-225 in the whole world, which belongs to Antonov Airlines. Construction of the second An-225 is also underway, but it is not completely finished.

The Hughes H-4 Hercules, or as it is also called the NK-1 Goose, is the second largest aircraft. This wooden plane was built back in 1947, the project was developed by Hughes Aircraft, from America. As conceived, the aircraft was designed to transport 750 soldiers, plus their equipment. To this day, the aircraft's wingspan is the largest in the world - 98 meters. The length of the aircraft is 66.45 meters, height - 24 meters, maximum take-off weight is 180,000 kg. The maximum speed of the aircraft is 351 miles per hour, and the distance that the aircraft could cover is 5634 kilometers. About $13 million was allocated for its production. Nowadays, the plane is located in an exhibit museum in the state of Oregon, which is located in the northwestern United States.

The Airbus A380 is a passenger aircraft capable of carrying up to 525 people. It was created by the company "Airbus S.A.S", the height of this aircraft is 24 meters, length - 73 meters, wingspan - 79.75 meters. The maximum flight range without refueling is 15,400 km. The maximum take-off weight is 560,000 kg, and the weight of the aircraft itself is 280,000 kg. This aircraft is currently the largest passenger airliner in the world. It is also the most economical in terms of fuel combustion, for 1 passenger - 3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. The entire development of the A380 construction program cost about 12 billion euros.

The An-124 or Ruslan is one of the largest cargo-lifting aircraft in the world. Its main and initial purpose when created was: transportation of intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, transportation of paratroopers, and heavy military equipment. The An-124 was used in military operations in Afghanistan in 1987, a total of 56 aircraft were involved. A film was also made about this plane called “Ruslan, who united the world.” The An-124 is currently in service with the Russian Air Force and is also used for NATO military transport in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. The length of the aircraft is 69.1 meters, the wingspan is 73.3 meters, the height is 21.1 meters, the weight is 173,000 kg.

We continue to look at the largest aircraft in the world. Fifth on the list is an aircraft called the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. It is one of the American heavy-duty military transport aircraft. Until 1982 - the largest production cargo aircraft in the world. Capable of carrying up to 270 soldiers on board, 118,300 kg of additional weight. Maximum take-off weight - 348,300 kg, maximum speed - 920 km/h, flight range - 5,600 km, maximum climbed altitude - 10,100 meters.

The Boeing 777-300ER is a large passenger aircraft that can fly a record distance of 21,601 km without refueling. Used for long-haul airlines. It was developed in 1990, had a test flight in 1994, and began operating in 1995. Can accommodate from 305 to 550 passengers. It is also the world's largest twin-engine passenger jet. The engines that are installed on it are also record holders; they are the largest and most powerful in the history of aviation.

The Airbus A340 is a four-engine passenger aircraft developed by Airbus S.A.S. To date, about 389 of these aircraft have been ordered. The development program began back in 1987. The A340 is a new four-engine aircraft designed for intercontinental flights. Previously, all aircraft below the A340 class had two engines, and were forced to stay at a minimum distance from the emergency airfield in case of breakdown. They had to spend more fuel, and it was inconvenient. In 1991, a significant error was noticed, the wing of the A330 and A340 was no different, and this was a problem, since the A330 used only two engines, while the A340 used four. The length of the aircraft is 75.3 meters, height - 17.3 meters, wingspan - 63.5 meters, maximum flight with passengers without refueling is 14,600 km.

At the time of its creation, the Boeing 747 was the largest, heaviest and most spacious passenger aircraft in the world, and it held the record for 37 years until the A380 appeared. The plane has two decks where passengers are seated - upper and lower. The top one is much smaller than the bottom one. The record set by one of the Boeings is a flight from London to Sydney, which is 18,000 kilometers and took 20 hours and 9 minutes from takeoff and landing. Also, the Boeing 747 is one of the most common aircraft in the world. From the inception of the aircraft until September 2010, 1,527 units were ordered. Its length is 70.6 meters, wingspan is 64.4 meters, maximum take-off weight is 412,770 kg, height is 19.4 meters.

It is the ninth largest of all aircraft in the world. Boeing 777-200ER is nothing more than a modification of the Boeing 777. Compared to the Boeing 777, the Boeing 777 200ER class has increased its take-off weight and fuel capacity. Designed for international transport, it holds the record for an emergency flight on one engine - 177 minutes, with 255 passengers on board. The first purchase was made by British Airways in 1997. As of September 2010, 415 of these aircraft were sold.

The Airbus A330-300 closes the list of the largest aircraft in the world. It was designed to replace the A300 aircraft. This aircraft can carry up to 295 passengers. The maximum flight distance is 10,800 km. The plane can also be used as a cargo carrier; its volume is equal to that of a Boeing 747. The plane has two engines, so it is forced to fly close to emergency airfields, spending a lot of fuel.

The brightest representatives

The largest aircraft in the world, of course, is not a combat vehicle, fighter or attack aircraft, but a transport one. Its task is to deliver by air large and heavy cargo, or a sufficiently large number of passengers. Among the dozens of giants there are both military aircraft and huge passenger airliners. In the top there are cars that have remained only in history, but most of the places are occupied by modern aircraft that successfully plow the airspace.

It is the largest aircraft built before World War II. It was made by Soviet aircraft manufacturers. Its wingspan was 63 m, and the length of the vessel was 33 m. The release of ANT-20 was timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the literary career of the famous writer. Its crew consisted of 20 people, and the largest number of passengers was 70 people. This passenger plane first saw the sky on June 17, 1934 during a test flight.

The interior of the ship included not only ordinary passenger seats, but also such delights as a library, laboratory, printing house, and sleeping places inside the wings of the giant. The aircraft was powered by 8 engines capable of accelerating it to 275 km/h and providing a flight of up to 1 thousand km. Its maximum take-off weight was 53 tons.

The main areas of its use were:

Passenger Transportation;
propaganda flights;
entertainment flights.

The fate of the ANT-20, produced in a single copy, is tragic - in 1935 it crashed, killing all passengers and crew.

In terms of wingspan (98 m), this seaplane, made mostly of wood, still holds the record. This 136-ton colossus was adapted to transport an entire army over long distances - 750 soldiers with full equipment. It owes its creation in the 40s to the eccentric tycoon Howard Hughes. The use of wood was caused by a shortage of aluminum. The seaplane made its first flight in 1947. Currently, its only copy has turned into a museum, which is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year.

For the American army, this military aircraft has long become a living legend. The US Air Force's Stratospheric Fortress first flew in 1952, but the aircraft is planned to be removed from service only in 2040. The B-52 was originally designed as a strategic nuclear bomber. It was subsequently modified and turned into a multifunctional aircraft. Its maximum take-off weight is 220 tons, and its wingspan is 56.4 m.

This is one of the air combat vehicles made in Russia that is included in the list of the most prominent representatives of military aviation. Currently, the Tu-160 or “White Swan” is considered the most powerful and largest supersonic aircraft. It is also the largest bomber. This is the largest aircraft with variable wing geometry. This military giant has a record take-off weight for this class of aircraft - 275 tons, and its wingspan is 55 m.

In total, there are 16 Tu-160s in service with the Russian air force. The main armament of the White Swan is long-range cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. It is also possible to equip the vehicle with free-falling bombs. The maximum flight range without refueling is also impressive - almost 14 thousand km.

This is the largest passenger aircraft (serial), the capacity of this colossus is 853 passengers for cars with one class of service and 525 passengers for aircraft with three classes of service. Its maximum take-off weight is 575 tons. This huge airliner, 73 m long with a wingspan of about 80 m, made its first flight in 2007.

To reduce the weight of an aircraft, parts made of composite materials are widely used during its manufacture. It is considered the most economical large airliner, as it consumes 3 liters per 100 km per passenger. The Airbus A-380-800 is capable of non-stop flights of up to 15 thousand km.

Before the advent of the Airbus A-380, it was the largest double-deck wide-body passenger airliner. The aircraft of its latest, longest modification, 747-8 (76.3 m), can accommodate up to 581 passengers, making it the longest passenger airliner in the world. Boeing 747s have been flying for 45 years.

The maximum take-off weight of the Boeing 747-8 is 442 tons. Due to its size and shape, the aircraft received the unofficial name Jumbo Jet. The flight range of the aircraft with a maximum load is about 14 thousand km. The giant's wingspan is 68 m.

The An-22 Antey turboprop wide-body cargo aircraft still remains the largest in its class, despite the fact that it made its first flight back in 1965. Its wingspan is 64 m, the maximum take-off weight is 225 tons. The aircraft is designed to transport cargo (including airborne military equipment) with accompanying specialists, the wounded, paratroopers, and soldiers.

Until the giants of the Antonov Design Bureau appeared, the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy was the largest cargo aircraft. The military transport aircraft made its first flight in 1968. Currently, the Americans are in service with 19 transport aircraft of the C-5M Super Galaxy modification, by 2018 their number is expected to increase to 53. The wingspan of the aircraft is 67.9 m, and the length of the vessel is 75.5 m. Its maximum take-off weight is 381 T.

The answer to the question of which aircraft was able to take the palm from the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy lies on the surface. Of course, this is a machine designed by a competitor on the world stage at the time. In 1982, the American record was broken by the brainchild of the Soviet military-industrial complex, the An-124 Ruslan. Its maximum take-off weight is 392 tons, and its wingspan is 73 m. Currently, it is the largest military aircraft.

10. An-225 “Mriya” (Dream)

Today it is the largest transport aircraft and the largest aircraft in the world. The wingspan of the giant “Dream” is 88.4 m, and the length is 84 m. It was built to transport the Buran space shuttles at the end of the USSR’s existence. The maximum take-off weight of this colossus is 640 tons, which is significantly higher than that of all previous TOP-10 models. True, at present only one operational copy of the An-225 is in operation, and not for its intended purpose, but for commercial purposes.

Video about An-225:

As can be seen from the above list of the largest aircraft, most of them appeared as a result of competition or confrontation between states. There will probably be new flying monsters in the future.