Top 10 Biggest Airplanes In the World
The aircraft are wonders of modern engineering. The aircraft industry never stops to amaze. There are aircraft that are longer than football fields and these aircraft can even get off the ground. The US Federal Aviation Administration defines a large aircraft as any aircraft with a certificated maximum takeoff weight of more than 5,700 kg. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) defines a large aircraft as either "an aeroplane with a maximum take-off mass of more than 5,700 kilograms.
Airlines have found that smaller aircraft are more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Nowadays, even Airlines prefer more flights with smaller aircraft, instead of bigger planes. However, the world's biggest planes won't disappear anytime soon. Even bigger cargo planes, purpose-built commercial aircraft, and military transport jets are all still flying to move shipments around the world.
Airlines have found that smaller aircraft are more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Nowadays, even Airlines prefer more flights with smaller aircraft, instead of bigger planes. However, the world's biggest planes won't disappear anytime soon. Even bigger cargo planes, purpose-built commercial aircraft, and military transport jets are all still flying to move shipments around the world.
Scroll through to see all Top 10 Biggest Airplanes In the World :-
10. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress :-
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing in 1948, it was first flown in 1952 and first delivered to the military in 1955. However initially planned to be an atomic-bomb carrier capable of entering the Soviet Union, it has proved flexible to several missions. It is the tenth-largest air aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 219,600 kg.
The B-52 has a wingspan of 56 metres and a length of 49 metres. It is powered by eight jet engines mounted under the wings in four twin pods. It is also recognized as “Big Ugly Fat Fellow” (BUFF). The plane was retrofitted with highly complicated navigational, weapons-control, and electronic countermeasures systems.
The Airbus BelugaXL is a large transport aircraft based on the Airbus A330-200 Freighter airliner. It is built by Airbus to displace the original Airbus Beluga to transfer gargantuan gear from various production factories in Europa e to assembly lines in France, Germany, and China. It is the ninth-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 227,000 kg.
The aircraft first flew on 19 July 2018 and was inaugurated in January 2020. The XL is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Trent 700 turbofan engines and features a lowered cockpit and colossal cargo bay. It has a length of 63 meters and a wingspan of 60.3 m meters, it has the largest cross-section of any cargo aircraft in the world.
The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed, deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. It was to be the ultimate high-altitude, high-speed manned strategic bomber. It is the eighth largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 245,847 kg. It was first flown on 21 September 1964.
It has a length of 56.39 m and a wingspan of 32.00 m with height of 9.14 m. The XB-70 is powered by six General Electric YJ93-GE-3 turbojet engines. It was designed by North American Aviation in the late 1950s. Valkyrie was capable of flying at Mach 3+ while operating at 21,000 m.
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter is a wide-body cargo aircraft modified extensively from the Boeing 747-400 airliner. It was first flown on September 9, 2006. Boeing constructed this mammoth aircraft to transport Boeing 787 Dreamliner parts between Italy, U.S. and Japan.
It is the seventh-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight ranging from 364,235 kg to 396,890 kg. The Dreamlifter can hold three times that of a 747-400F freighter, with a volume of 1,840 m³. It has a length of 71.68 m and a wingspan of 64.4 m.
The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner and cargo aircraft. It is manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States. The first flight took place on February 9, 1969. The 747 was the first aeroplane called a "Jumbo Jet", the first wide-body airliner. As of June 2020, 1,556 aircraft had been constructed.
It is the sixth-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight ranging from 333,400 kg to 439,985 kg. It has a length ranging from 56.3 m to 76.25 m and a wingspan varying from 59.6 m to 68.4 m. The 747 is originally powered by JT9D turbofan engines, then GE CF6 and Rolls-Royce RB211 engines for the original variants.
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed. The C-5 is among the largest military aircraft in the world. It is the fifth-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 417,305 kg.
The cargo compartment is 37 m long, 4.1 m high, and 5.8 m wide. The C-5 Galaxy can hold more cargo farther distances than any other aircraft. It can bring six Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles or up to five helicopters, the C-5 can haul double as much cargo as any other airlifter. It has a length of 75.31 m and a wingspan of 67.89 m. The aircraft is powered by 4 General Electric F138-100 turbofan engines.
The KM also known as the Caspian Sea Monster, was an experimental ground effect vehicle operated by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It was developed by Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau. The KM started operation in 1966 and was continuously tested by the Soviet Navy until 1980 when it smashed into the Caspian Sea. The KM was the largest and heaviest aircraft in the world from 1966 to 1988. It is the fourth largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 544,000 kg.
It has a length of 92.00 m and a wingspan of 37.60 m. It was powered by a 10 Dobrynin VD-7 turbojet. It was the craft, that was capable of sliding 4 metres above the surface of the water propelled at 550 kilometres per hour by eight Kuznetsov jet engines. It had silos of anti-shipping missiles fixed to the back – adding to its strange profile. Its intended mission was to perform lightning sea-borne raids with the six anti-ship missiles it carried in launch tubes at the top of its hull.
The Airbus A380 is a wide-body aircraft manufactured by Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner. Airbus researches began in 1988 and the project was declared in 1990. The full-length double-deck aircraft, sometimes nicknamed the superjumbo, has a seating capacity of 525. It is the third-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 575,000 kg.
It has a length of 72.72 m and a wingspan of 79.75 m. It is powered by four Engine Alliance GP7200 or Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbofans giving a range of 14,800 km. The 555 seat Airbus A380-800, with a non-stop range of 8,000nm, was inaugurated in December 2000. The aircraft began production in January 2002. The first flight took place from Blagnac Airport, Toulouse, in April 2005.
The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch is an aircraft built for Stratolaunch Systems by Scaled Composites to carry air-launch-to-orbit rockets. It was declared in December 2011 and rolled out in May 2017. It is the second-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 589,670 kg.
It has a length of 73 m and a wingspan of 117 m, the longest wingspan flew, exceeding the Hughes H-4. Its operational range is 1,850km. The Stratolaunch is planned to carry a 250,000 kg payload and has a 590,000 kg maximum takeoff weight.
The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. ADB assembled two An-225 Mriya prototypes. The development of the prototype started in early 1984 and its maiden flight took place in December 1988. It entered into service in 1989. It is the heaviest aircraft ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes. It also has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service. It is the largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 640,000 kg.
The airlifter holds the world record for an airlifted single-item payload of 189,980 kg and an airlifted total payload of 253,820 kg. The An-225 is designed to fulfil both military and civil operations even in terrible weather conditions. It is designed primarily to deliver Energia rocket’s boosters and the Buran space shuttle from its service area to the launch site as part of the Buran Space Shuttle Program. It has a length of 84 m and a wingspan of 88.4 m. It is powered by 6 Progress D-18T turbofans, which generates 229.5 kN thrust each. The An-225 Mriya can fly at a maximum speed of 850km/h. The range of the aircraft varies between 4,000km and 15,400km.
The B-52 has a wingspan of 56 metres and a length of 49 metres. It is powered by eight jet engines mounted under the wings in four twin pods. It is also recognized as “Big Ugly Fat Fellow” (BUFF). The plane was retrofitted with highly complicated navigational, weapons-control, and electronic countermeasures systems.
9. Airbus Beluga XL :-
The Airbus BelugaXL is a large transport aircraft based on the Airbus A330-200 Freighter airliner. It is built by Airbus to displace the original Airbus Beluga to transfer gargantuan gear from various production factories in Europa e to assembly lines in France, Germany, and China. It is the ninth-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 227,000 kg.
The aircraft first flew on 19 July 2018 and was inaugurated in January 2020. The XL is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Trent 700 turbofan engines and features a lowered cockpit and colossal cargo bay. It has a length of 63 meters and a wingspan of 60.3 m meters, it has the largest cross-section of any cargo aircraft in the world.
8. North American XB-70 :-
The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed, deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. It was to be the ultimate high-altitude, high-speed manned strategic bomber. It is the eighth largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 245,847 kg. It was first flown on 21 September 1964.
It has a length of 56.39 m and a wingspan of 32.00 m with height of 9.14 m. The XB-70 is powered by six General Electric YJ93-GE-3 turbojet engines. It was designed by North American Aviation in the late 1950s. Valkyrie was capable of flying at Mach 3+ while operating at 21,000 m.
7. Boeing Dreamlifter :-
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter is a wide-body cargo aircraft modified extensively from the Boeing 747-400 airliner. It was first flown on September 9, 2006. Boeing constructed this mammoth aircraft to transport Boeing 787 Dreamliner parts between Italy, U.S. and Japan.
It is the seventh-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight ranging from 364,235 kg to 396,890 kg. The Dreamlifter can hold three times that of a 747-400F freighter, with a volume of 1,840 m³. It has a length of 71.68 m and a wingspan of 64.4 m.
6. Boeing 747 :-
The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner and cargo aircraft. It is manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States. The first flight took place on February 9, 1969. The 747 was the first aeroplane called a "Jumbo Jet", the first wide-body airliner. As of June 2020, 1,556 aircraft had been constructed.
It is the sixth-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight ranging from 333,400 kg to 439,985 kg. It has a length ranging from 56.3 m to 76.25 m and a wingspan varying from 59.6 m to 68.4 m. The 747 is originally powered by JT9D turbofan engines, then GE CF6 and Rolls-Royce RB211 engines for the original variants.
5. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy :-
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed. The C-5 is among the largest military aircraft in the world. It is the fifth-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 417,305 kg.
The cargo compartment is 37 m long, 4.1 m high, and 5.8 m wide. The C-5 Galaxy can hold more cargo farther distances than any other aircraft. It can bring six Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles or up to five helicopters, the C-5 can haul double as much cargo as any other airlifter. It has a length of 75.31 m and a wingspan of 67.89 m. The aircraft is powered by 4 General Electric F138-100 turbofan engines.
4. Caspian Sea Monster :-
The KM also known as the Caspian Sea Monster, was an experimental ground effect vehicle operated by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It was developed by Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau. The KM started operation in 1966 and was continuously tested by the Soviet Navy until 1980 when it smashed into the Caspian Sea. The KM was the largest and heaviest aircraft in the world from 1966 to 1988. It is the fourth largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 544,000 kg.
It has a length of 92.00 m and a wingspan of 37.60 m. It was powered by a 10 Dobrynin VD-7 turbojet. It was the craft, that was capable of sliding 4 metres above the surface of the water propelled at 550 kilometres per hour by eight Kuznetsov jet engines. It had silos of anti-shipping missiles fixed to the back – adding to its strange profile. Its intended mission was to perform lightning sea-borne raids with the six anti-ship missiles it carried in launch tubes at the top of its hull.
3. Airbus A380 :-
The Airbus A380 is a wide-body aircraft manufactured by Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner. Airbus researches began in 1988 and the project was declared in 1990. The full-length double-deck aircraft, sometimes nicknamed the superjumbo, has a seating capacity of 525. It is the third-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 575,000 kg.
It has a length of 72.72 m and a wingspan of 79.75 m. It is powered by four Engine Alliance GP7200 or Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbofans giving a range of 14,800 km. The 555 seat Airbus A380-800, with a non-stop range of 8,000nm, was inaugurated in December 2000. The aircraft began production in January 2002. The first flight took place from Blagnac Airport, Toulouse, in April 2005.
2. Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch :-
The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch is an aircraft built for Stratolaunch Systems by Scaled Composites to carry air-launch-to-orbit rockets. It was declared in December 2011 and rolled out in May 2017. It is the second-largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 589,670 kg.
It has a length of 73 m and a wingspan of 117 m, the longest wingspan flew, exceeding the Hughes H-4. Its operational range is 1,850km. The Stratolaunch is planned to carry a 250,000 kg payload and has a 590,000 kg maximum takeoff weight.
1. Antonov An-225 mriya :-
The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. ADB assembled two An-225 Mriya prototypes. The development of the prototype started in early 1984 and its maiden flight took place in December 1988. It entered into service in 1989. It is the heaviest aircraft ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes. It also has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service. It is the largest aeroplane with a max takeoff weight of 640,000 kg.
The airlifter holds the world record for an airlifted single-item payload of 189,980 kg and an airlifted total payload of 253,820 kg. The An-225 is designed to fulfil both military and civil operations even in terrible weather conditions. It is designed primarily to deliver Energia rocket’s boosters and the Buran space shuttle from its service area to the launch site as part of the Buran Space Shuttle Program. It has a length of 84 m and a wingspan of 88.4 m. It is powered by 6 Progress D-18T turbofans, which generates 229.5 kN thrust each. The An-225 Mriya can fly at a maximum speed of 850km/h. The range of the aircraft varies between 4,000km and 15,400km.
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