Top 10 of the world’s largest aircraft
When the weirdly designed Stratolaunch take off for the first time as it is expected to do so in 2019, it will break the record which has been standing for more than 71 years. No other aircraft in the world has the massive wingspan like the Howard Hughes’ H-4 Hercules.
However, these are not the means to measure the size of an aircraft. Some other parameters to measure the size of an aircraft include weight, length, or even their volume.
Today we have decided to present to our readers, after taking into consideration various size measurement parameters for aircraft, the Top 10 largest aircraft in the world.
So scroll down to look at this list of Top 10 of the world’s largest aircraft.
Stratolaunch
This is undoubtedly the world’s largest aircraft with its wingspan of 117 meters but it has yet to take its first flight. The length of this aircraft is about 73 meters while it weighs about 226796 kg.
This aircraft’s design is one of the most awkward ones as it was built by combining the two fuselages together to meet the need of the private space industry. This aircraft will be used as a flying launch pad to put payloads into the orbit of the earth.
Hughes H-4 Hercules aka “Spruce Goose”
The total length of this aircraft is about 66.65 meters while its wingspan is about 97.54 meters. The aircraft in its entirety weighs around 113399 kg and took its maiden flight back in 1947.
This aircraft is made from wood and then fitted with engines during World War II for the sake of heavy transport needs. This aircraft however only ever flew once and it was only for 26 seconds. The prototype of this aircraft is preserved at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum located in McMinnville, Oregon.
Antonov An-225 Mriya
The total length of this aircraft is about 84 meters while the wingspan of it is measured at about 88.4 meters. The aircraft which weighs about 285000 kg took its first flight back in 1988.
This aircraft is in a class of its own as it is not only the heaviest aircraft ever built but also the one with the largest wingspan serving in military service.
In fact, only one of this aircraft has been ever built. The construction of the second one was underway but the Soviet Union collapsed and the uncompleted model was stored in a facility at Kiev.
Airbus A380-800
The total length of this aircraft is 72.72 meters while its wingspan is measured at 79.75 meters. The aircraft which weighs about 277000 kg took its first flight back in 2005.
This double Decker aircraft was built to meet the increasing demands of air traffic. The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 850 passengers. However, the current layout on this aircraft is for 450 to 550 passengers for the easier travel experience.
Boeing 747-8
The length of this aircraft is about 76.3 meters while its wingspan is measured at about 68.4 meters. The aircraft weighs about 220180 kg and took its first flight in 2010.
This aircraft is instantly recognizable in the skies due to its unique forward hump. The aircraft has also been nicknamed as the “Queen of the Skies”.
Antonov An-124
This aircraft has a length of about 68.96 meters while its wingspan is measured at about 73.3 meters. The aircraft weighs about 175000 kg and took its maiden flight back in 1982.
This aircraft is in the Russian Air Force’s service along with serving for many cargo operators who need to move heavy and oversized objects. This aircraft was most notably used in the cargo service of the American and European space programs.
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
The total length of Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is about 75.31 meters while its wingspan is measured to be about 67.89 meters. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy which weighs about 172371 kg took its first flight back in 1968.
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy in its entirety is capable of lifting about six Apache gunship helicopters or two M1 main battle tanks and cover the distance of about 11000 kilometers. The aircraft is one of the major members of the US Strategic Airlift Command and has been serving the purpose of deploying the military troops for many decades.
Tupolev Tu-160
The strategic bomber aircraft is measured at a length of about 54.10 meters while the wingspan of it is measured at about 55.70 meters. The aircraft weighs about 110,000 kg and took its first flight back in 1981.
Tu-160 is a strategic air bomber which is serving in the Russian Air Force and can boast to have following titles.
- largest combat aircraft
- largest supersonic aircraft
- largest swept wing aircraft
Russian president Vladimir Putin has also commented this aircraft to be the potential base for the supersonic civilian aircraft of the future.
HAV Airlander 10
HAV Airlander 10 is measured at a length of about 92 meters whit its wingspan measuring at a length of about 43.5 meters. HAV Airlander 10 weighs about 20000 kg and first flew back in 2012.
HAV Airlander 10 is actually a hybrid helium airship and has the title of being the World’s largest Flying machine.
The airship was initially designed for US military but later the project was canceled. The British manufacturers developing it are still making further development in its design.
Mil Mi-26
Mil Mi-26 is a military helicopter with a total length of about 40 meters with the wingspan being 32 meters. The aircraft weighs about 28200kg and first flew back in 1977.
Mil Mi-26 might not have the title of being the largest helicopter to be ever built but the honor for that also goes to a Soviet-built Mil V-12. However, Mil Mi-26 helicopter is also the largest helicopter to have gone in serial production and is still serving in many air forces as well as the cargo operators of the world.
The aircraft is able to transport either 90 troops or cargo of 20 tons. The aircraft has been used to even transport the woolly mammoths encased in frozen tundra soil out of the Russian Arctic.
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