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Aviation, like many areas of engineering, is no stranger to gigantism.
Today we've rounded up some of the largest and most impressive aircraft ever to fly. Not only the dry dimensions were considered, but also the significance for world aviation, as well as the originality of the design and purpose.
Tupolev ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky"
Built in honor of the 40th anniversary of the literary activity of Maxim Gorky, the ANT-20 with 8 engines and a wingspan of 61 meters was the largest aircraft of its time. After a successful test flight on June 17, 1934, the Maxim Gorky was lazily cutting through the airspace over Red Square just two days later, striking the imagination of the residents of the then young Soviet state with its dimensions.
Inside the wings there were places equipped for sleeping, and in the central part one could find a printing house, a laboratory and even a library. It was assumed that the aircraft would be used for very wide range directions: from broadcasting (and not only) propaganda to entertaining passenger flights.
However, the further history of the ANT-20 is tragic: on May 18, 1935, an accident occurred, as a result of which the only copy of the aircraft crashed and the entire crew with 35 passengers on board died. Neither the ANT-20 nor its modifications ever entered mass production.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 33 m
Wingspan: 63 m
Crew: 20 people.
Number of passengers: 60-70 people.
Max. flight speed: 275 km/h
Flight range: 1000 km
Max. take-off weight: 53 t
Hughes H-4
Hercules “Hercules” still retains the high-profile status of the largest seaplane in history and the owner of the largest wingspan (98 meters), although it was created under the leadership of the American tycoon Howard Hughes during the Second World War.
Several circumstances spoil the picture: intended to transport 750 soldiers in full equipment across the Atlantic, “Hercules” never crossed the ocean and remained in a single copy, and a wooden one at that.
Such an exotic material for aviation was chosen due to the restrictions imposed by the martial law in which the US economy found itself - there was a shortage of metals, especially aluminum. In 1947, the wooden Hercules did take off, but from further development the project was abandoned.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 66.45 m
Wingspan: 97.54 m
Crew: 3 people
Number of passengers: 750 people. (intended for metal version)
Max. flight speed: 565 km/h
Flight range: 5634 km
Max. take-off weight: 180 t
An-22 "Antey"
The first Soviet wide-body aircraft, however, it is still the largest in the world in the category of aircraft with turboprop engines. The first flight was in 1965, and is still used today in Russia and Ukraine.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 57.31 m
Wingspan: 64.40 m
Crew: 5-7 people.
Number of passengers: 28 people accompanying the cargo/290 soldiers/202 wounded/150 paratroopers
Max. flight speed: 650 km/h
Flight range: 8500 km (no load)
Max. take-off weight: 225 t
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
The legendary "Stratospheric Fortress" first took to the skies in 1952 and still serves the needs of the US Air Force. One of the largest strategic missile-carrying bombers, the B-52 was intended to deliver thermonuclear bombs anywhere in the USSR, but over time it underwent several modifications and became multi-functional.
After the start of operation, it was used in almost all US military campaigns, and was often involved in nuclear testing. In addition to bombs, it has missile weapons with laser guidance. The most common modification is the B-52H.
Features and Dimensions (Model B-52H):
Length: 48.5 m
Wingspan: 56.4 m
Crew: 5 people
Number of passengers: crew only
Max. flight speed: 1047 km/h
Flight range: 16232 km (no load)
Max. take-off weight: 220 t
Lockheed
The pride of the American Air Force, developed by the aerospace company Lockheed. Having made its first flight in 1968, the C-5 strategic military transport aircraft in various modifications has survived to this day and into given time continues to be used by the US military.
It was used in many military conflicts: in Vietnam, in Yugoslavia, in both wars in Iraq, and also in Afghanistan. Until 1982, it was the largest cargo aircraft in mass production. Purpose – transportation of military equipment and personnel anywhere in the world.
On this moment The US Air Force already has 19 aircraft of the latest high-tech modification, the C-5M Super Galaxy (beginning of operation in February 2014). By 2018 it is planned to increase their number to 52.
Features and Dimensions (Model C-5M Super Galaxy):
Length: 75.53 m
Wingspan: 67.91 m
Crew: 7 people
Number of passengers: no data
Max. flight speed: 922 km/h
Flight range: 11711 km
Max. take-off weight: 381 t
An-124 "Ruslan"
The largest operational military aircraft in the world at the moment. Designed to transport both military equipment and personnel. Developed by the Antonov Design Bureau, the first flight took place in 1982. Now it is used both in Russia and Ukraine, and for civilian purposes - for example, for the transportation of non-standard and large-sized cargo. So, in 2011, Ruslan transported an entire locomotive weighing 109 tons from Canada to Ireland.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 69.1 m
Wingspan: 73.3 m
Crew: 8 people
Number of passengers: 28 people.
Max. flight speed: 865 km/h
Flight range: 16500 km (no load)
Max. take-off weight: 392 t
Airbus A-380-800
The largest production passenger aircraft (airliner) in the world. The wingspan is almost 80 meters, with a capacity of up to 853 passengers. Developed by the European concern Airbus S.A.S., made its first flight in 2007, and is actively used by airlines. The design makes extensive use of composite materials to reduce the weight of the aircraft. With its appearance on the market, it became a worthy competitor to the aging Boeing 747.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 73.1 m
Wingspan: 79.75 m
Crew: 2 people
Number of passengers: 853 people. (in single-class configuration)
Max. flight speed: 1020 km/h
Flight range: 15200 km
Max. take-off weight: 575 t
Boeing 747
Each of us has seen this plane at least once in our lives. Since its first flight in 1969, the 747 remained the world's largest passenger airliner for 37 years until the arrival of the Airbus A380. Used by airlines around the world. The legendary nature of this aircraft is proven, however, not only by the long and successful “life” of its modifications. In 1991, the Boeing 747 set a world record for the transportation of passengers: during the military operation “Solomon” to transport Ethiopian Jews to Israel, 1,112 passengers managed to fit on board the 747 and reach their destination at once. Among other things, this aircraft was also used to transport Space Shuttle program spacecraft from the production site to the spaceport. The 747-8I modification is the world's longest passenger aircraft.
Features and Dimensions (Model 747-8I):
Length: 76.4 m
Wingspan: 68.5 m
Crew: 2 people
Max. flight speed: 1102 km/h
Flight range: 14100 km
Max. take-off weight: 448 t
Airbus A300-600ST
Beluga “Beluga” is a modification of the Airbus family, stands out unique shape housings. This aircraft is not as large compared to the others, but its purpose is to transport the largest cargo. In particular, parts of other Airbus aircraft. The first flight took place in 1994.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 56.15 m
Wingspan: 44.84 m
Crew: 2 people
Number of passengers: 605 people. (in single-class configuration)
Max. flight speed: 1000 km/h
Flight range: 4632 km (with a load of 26 tons)
Max. take-off weight: 155 t
An-225 "Mriya" (Dream)
This giant needs even less introduction than the Boeing 747. The legendary An-225 is objectively recognized as the largest (wing span - almost 88.5 meters, total length - 84 meters, or 25 floors of a residential building) and heaviest (capable of lifting into the air from with a total weight of up to 640 tons) aircraft ever created by man.
The An-225 made its first flight in December 1988. Initially, it was supposed to be used to transport Buran spacecraft, but after the collapse of the USSR, the need for it disappeared. In the early 2000s, the Mriya was restored by combining the capabilities of several Ukrainian enterprises, and the only working copy of the An-225 is now operated by Ukraine for commercial purposes.
Characteristics and dimensions:
Length: 84 m
Wingspan: 88.4 m
Crew: 6 people
Number of passengers: 88 people accompanying the cargo
Max. flight speed: 850 km/h
Flight range: 15400 km
Max. take-off weight: 640 t
Once upon a time, a person could only dream of conquering heights and flying like a bird. With the invention of airplanes, the dream of learning to fly became feasible. Moreover, modern aircraft are so amazing and high-tech that sometimes it seems that there are no limits to human thought. That is why this material will be devoted to the story of the largest and fastest aircraft in the world.
The largest passenger planes in the world
Airbus A380 - a flying giant
It is believed that the largest aircraft for passenger transportation is the Airbus A380. This double-decker giant has the following dimensions:
- The height of the liner is 24 meters;
- the giant's wingspan reaches almost 80 meters;
- The length of this flying giant is 73 meters.
It is also worth noting that this flying giant can accommodate 555 passengers on board. Moreover, the charter type of such aircraft can accommodate 853 passengers.
Distinctive feature The Airbus A380 is also capable of flying 15 thousand kilometers without landing. It is also worth noting that this passenger aircraft is very economical compared to aircraft of its class. Fuel consumption per 3 passengers and 100 kilometers is only 3 liters.
The developers of this model spent 10 years creating it. The costs of implementing the idea of creating a large passenger plane also worthy of respect. Thus, more than 12 billion euros were spent to create the Airbus A380.
Interestingly, this model was first developed as alternative version The Boeing 747, which was considered the largest passenger aircraft for 35 years before the advent of the Airbus A-380. However, the appearance of the Airbus A380 immediately “moved” Boeing from the winner’s podium. So, if we compare these two giants, the Airbus A380 is more economical, since the Boeing can seat no more than 400 passengers, and its cost is about 15 percent more expensive.
It is noteworthy that the developers of the largest airliner also managed to significantly reduce the weight of the aircraft. Interestingly, the Airbus A380 consists of almost 40 percent graphite. Thus, the fuselage and wings of the aircraft are made from this material. The cost of this flying giant is 390 million dollars (!).
Other large passenger aircraft also include:
- Boeing 747-8
This airliner is a new product from one of the leading manufacturers of aircraft, military and space equipment. The advantages of this flying giant include an elongated fuselage, which makes it the longest passenger aircraft in the world. - Airbus A340-600
This flying "monster" is another major representative from the Airbus family of aircraft. The two-class configuration of such an airliner can accommodate about 420 people on board, and the three-class configuration can accommodate 380 passengers on board. - Boeing 747
This flying giant held the lead among the largest passenger airliners for 35 years (from 1969 to 2005). For the first time in the world, this aircraft was able to fly non-stop from London to the capital of Australia, Sydney. At the same time, he flew a distance of 18 thousand kilometers in just over 20 hours. - Boeing 777-300ER
This airliner is also a modification of its predecessor. In addition to its impressive size, this giant also has the most innovative modifications. This is what made this aircraft very economical among the largest airliners in the world. - Airbus A330
This large airliner also has a number of very successful modifications, but the sad statistics do not indicate its best feature. Thus, from 1994 to 2010, 6 crashes of such aircraft were registered.
The largest cargo planes in the world
Of course, the Ukrainian An-225 Mriya is considered the largest cargo-lifting aircraft in the world. This flying “monster” was developed during 1984-1988 at the Antonov Aviation Complex. The first flight of this aircraft took place on December 21, 1988.
This giant is equipped with a six-engine turbojet high-wing aircraft, which has a 2-fin “tail” and an arrow-shaped wing. The Mriya was based on its predecessor, the An-124. An interesting fact is that the development of "Mriya" was closely connected with the Soviet space program“Buran”, since a powerful lifting transport was required that could transport parts of launch vehicles from the assembly site to the cosmodrome itself. The task for the developers was to create an aerial lifting vehicle that could lift at least 250 tons into the sky at a time. This is exactly how the giant Mriya was created.
Main characteristics cargo compartment An-225 "Mriya" are the following:
- the width of this cargo airliner is almost 6.5 meters;
- the height of the giant reaches almost 4.5 meters;
- The length of the aircraft is 43 meters.
In addition to these characteristics, the Mriya can comfortably accommodate 88 people to accompany the cargo, and the crew cabin is designed for 6 people.
It is noteworthy that all control systems have 4-fold duplication.
General characteristics of the aircraft:
- the width from one wing to the other is almost 89 (!) meters;
- the height of this giant reaches 18 meters, which is equal to the height of a five-story building.
Today there is only one such aircraft in the world. The designer of the aviation complex plans to complete the construction of Antonov’s twin brother “Mriya”. It is believed that its readiness is already 70 percent.
Other large cargo aircraft also include:
1. An-124 “Ruslan”
This aircraft is the predecessor of the Mriya. Initially, this aircraft was created to transport intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, the result obtained significantly exceeded all the designers' expectations. This giant began to be actively used to transport large-scale landing and military equipment. One such aircraft is estimated at $300 million.
2. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
This aircraft was developed by American designers for the military transport system back in 1968. At one time, this cargo giant is capable of transporting 6 Apache helicopters, 4 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 tanks and 6 armored personnel carriers. Until 1982, this flying giant was considered the largest cargo airliner in the world.
3. Hughes H-4 Hercules
This cargo aircraft is something of a rarity, as it was developed back in 1947. This aircraft is considered the record holder for its wingspan, which is 98 meters. This record has not yet been surpassed. This 136-ton giant was created to transport 750 soldiers who would be in full equipment. It is worth noting that only one unit of this cargo aircraft was manufactured. Today this flying giant is a museum aircraft.
2. Boeing 747-8I
This model is a cargo-passenger aircraft that began to be produced relatively recently, namely in 2008. In terms of its parameters, it is inferior to the Ukrainian An-225 Mriya aircraft, but it differs in that it is the largest cargo aircraft in the world that was able to enter mass production. So, to date, about 76 such models have been produced. The parameters of this lifting giant include:
- the length of this aircraft is almost 76 meters;
- its height is almost 20 meters, which is higher than a five-story building;
- The wingspan of this aircraft is almost 69 meters.
The empty weight of such an aircraft is approximately 213 thousand kilograms, and the maximum weight at which a successful takeoff is possible is 442 thousand kilograms.
In addition to cargo, this aircraft can accommodate 581 passengers in a two-class configuration, and 467 in a three-class configuration.
The fastest planes in the world
They are fast, like a bullet, as they can develop incredible speed. The fastest aircraft in the world are the following models:
- Boeing X-43
This hypersonic aircraft is the fastest aircraft in the world. This drone shows simply stunning results. So, this plane can fly at a speed of 11,230 km per hour. If you imagine, this figure is almost 10 times the speed of sound.
This supermachine was designed by NASA specialists. It took almost 10 years to develop this hypersonic aircraft. The wingspan of this “nimble” is only 3.6 meters. The fuel that powers this aircraft consists of hydrogen and oxygen. At the same time, the aircraft consumes oxygen directly from the atmosphere, which made it possible to “save” on the weight of this super-fast aircraft. - Orbital Sciences Corporation X-34
This plane is also super-fast, as it is capable of reaching a speed of 12,144 kilometers per hour. However, in the ranking of the fastest aircraft in the world, it occupies second position, since during experiments its speed did not exceed the previous Boeing X-43. It is worth noting that the development of this aircraft took a quarter of a billion dollars and about 7 years. Another interesting fact is that this high-speed airliner weighs 1270 kilograms, but this does not allow it to rise to a height of more than 75 kilometers. - North American X-15
This aircraft is capable of reaching a speed of 7274 km per hour. Interestingly, the altitude record among supersonic aircraft held by this model from 1963 to 2004. This “nimble” can rise to a height of 110 kilometers, and it weighs about 15 tons. - SR-71 ("Blackbird")
This supersonic aircraft is a reconnaissance aircraft subordinate to the US Air Force. It can reach a speed of 3,715 kilometers per hour. It weighs impressively, namely 77 tons. However, the aircraft weighs only 27 tons without fuel. - Mig-25 ("Bat")
This supersonic aircraft is the fastest military jet model. Almost 30 world records were set on this aircraft. The speed at which this record holder can fly is 3395 kilometers per hour. The weight of this airliner reaches almost 41 tons during takeoff, and only 18.8 tons during landing.
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.
Photo 2. 
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 it in 1983, selling it. most its stake, and is now investing in space projects.
Photo 4. 
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.
Photo 6. 
This new approach to spaceflight, which 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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Aviation has long been part of our lives; air transportation, like airplanes, has already become something commonplace and familiar. However, there are planes whose appearance will impress anyone who sees them. These are the most large planes. Their apparent power, wingspan, and size are amazing.
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 greatest number passengers - 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 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 Russian-made air combat vehicles included in the list of the most prominent representatives 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. Main weapons " white swan» - 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. Aircraft flight range from maximum load 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 largest takeoff weight- 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.
Today, the airplane is considered one of the most common types of transport. Contrary to the opinion that flying it is dangerous, statistics in relation to road, rail and even sea transport indicate the opposite.
More than a thousand types of all kinds of aircraft have been developed in the world. The best of them are considered not only the fastest and most technically equipped, but also the largest and most spacious aircraft: cargo, military and passenger.
The top 15 includes those aircraft that are currently plying our skies, and those that were once created by ambitious engineers, but never found their application.
The list opens with one of the oldest, but nevertheless large aircraft. In 1929, a passenger aircraft - a boat - went into operation in Germany. Its first test became a record flight with 170 passengers on board. But due to low flight characteristics, in 1936. flights stopped. The length of the liner was 40m. wingspan width 48m, weight – 29t.
In 1952, English engineers created a seaplane - a flying boat. The two passenger decks accommodated 105 people. The aircraft had 10 Bristol Proteus engines. Of the three aircraft built, only one was operated, but it completed a total of 45 flights, which amounted to about 100 hours. Subsequently, all three aircraft were dismantled for scrap in 1967. LengthSR 45 was 42m., wingspan – 70m, aircraft weight – 87t.
Year of production 1949. The largest aircraft ever produced in England. It was originally designed as a new generation super-heavy bomber. The experiment turned out to be quite expensive and unsuccessful, so the copy in the amount of one piece was left without continuation. Aircraft length was 54m., wingspan 70m.
The list continues with the most original cargo plane in shape, reminiscent of the Beluga whale. The French aircraft did not commercially justify its existence, so after five aircraft were produced, production was curtailed. Aircraft length 56m., wing span width - 45 m, load capacity only 47 tons.
A Soviet aircraft with impressive dimensions. Bears the title of the largest propeller-driven aircraft. 57 meter giant with 64m. wingspan has been used in the Russian Air Force since 1968 and continues to this day. It has proven itself well in parachute landing of equipment and weapons. The machine is made with four turboprop engines, the power of each engine is 15 thousand l / s. The fuselage is equipped with two fins, and the tail section is equipped with a large cargo hatch. The original development of the An-22 aircraft later served as a model for many modifications. Over 47 years, 68 aircraft were produced, today only 6 are in operation, including 1 by Ukraine.
Another spacious and popular aircraft among airlines different countries. Operation began in 1995. The Boeing 777 can perform long intercontinental flights (17 thousand kilometers), about 18 hours. The modification of this aircraft was the first where traditional paper drawings replaced three-dimensional ones. computer graphics. The capacity of the civil airliner is 300 people, total length – 63m., wingspan – 65m.
Designed in 1947 in the USA in the amount of 1 piece. It has the longest wingspan - 98m. The flying wooden boat was produced for the purpose of transporting 750 paratroopers. At the end of 1947, he made his first and only flight, rising only 21m. and flying 2 km. Currently, Hercules is kept as a museum exhibit. The length of the failed aircraft is 66.5m. Interesting fact– the plane is almost entirely made of birch, for which it bears the nickname “wooden”.
The second name is “Ruslan”. In service Russian Federation. It is considered the largest production cargo aircraft. Created by joint efforts of engineers from Russia and Ukraine. The aircraft is unique for its endurance, lack of sensitivity to weather conditions, and also, due to its 24 wheelbase, its ability to accelerate and land on unpaved runways. An opening hatch is located both in the tail and in the bow. A feature of this development is the possibility of simultaneous, more convenient and faster unloading and loading processes. In addition to its large payload capacity, the aircraft can accommodate 800 soldiers with full equipment. total length wingspan - 73.3 m. The weight of the aircraft is 180 tons. To date, 55 devices have been produced. The plane achieved its greatest popularity when in 1989, with the help of Ruslan, 140 tons of musical equipment of the Pink Floyd group were transported. Aircraft length 69m.
Another representative of French developers. The four-engine passenger, and in some modifications, cargo aircraft has a wingspan of 80 m in length. The total length of the aircraft is 73m., height 24m. The passenger version of the aircraft is striking in its capacity - more than 850 people can simultaneously fly without a transfer over a distance of up to 15 tons. kilometers. This giant, weighing 280 tons, is rightfully included in the Guinness Book of Records for the number of people transported. One of the most expensive aircraft has an advantage in fuel consumption - 3 liters per passenger per 100 km. flight. By the way, developers from the Moscow Engineering Center took part in the latest, more improved modification; their task was to design on-board equipment and strengthen the fuselage parts. An interesting fact is that during the production of such a giant it is necessary to lay more than 530 km. electrical wires. Currently, 180 Airbus A380 aircraft have been produced, only 150 are in operation.
The largest twin-engine aircraft is designed for passenger flights over long distances (flight range ranges from 10 to 17 km). It differs from the previous version of the 777-200 in having a longer fuselage. The impressive capacity of the airliner (from 350 to 550 people) makes it one of the most commercially successful. The number of aircraft produced is 1,385 – an absolute record. The length of the aircraft is 74m., wingspan 71m, weight – 160t.
Pure American. Used in many military conflicts: Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The characteristics of the cargo military-strategic aircraft are impressive: total length – 75.5m., wingspan – 68m, height – 20m, load capacity more than 120t. Just like the An-124, it has the ability to load through the nose of the aircraft. Over the entire production period, more than 130 models were produced. There are currently 62 aircraft in operation.
The title of one of the largest passenger aircraft belongs to a French aircraft with total length more than 76m and a wingspan of 63.5 m. Based on the A330. A distinctive feature is the presence of four engines. The purpose of this innovation was the need for long-distance, intercontinental flights. The modified A340-200 is shortened by 5m, but the non-stop flight range is increased from 12t. kilometers up to 14t. The first record for the longest flight with one landing belongs to the A340 (the flight duration from one place to another was 49 hours). In total, about 400 A340 aircraft were produced. The initial version of the aircraft had a passenger capacity of 260 people; subsequent, more advanced and lengthened aircraft accommodate up to 400 people ( last series Airbus A340-600 has a length of 75 m.). Since 2010, due to high fuel prices and competing aircraft, production of the A340 has been suspended. Despite this, the aircraft is a great success among airlines.
The newest, more improved descendant of the Boeing 747, created in the USA. The longest passenger aircraft in the world, surpassed the Airbus A340-600 by only 125 cm, which is 76.25m. Also, unlike competing models, the developers latest version were able to reduce fuel consumption by 11%, which significantly reduces the cost of the flight. The Boeing 747-8 version of the cargo aircraft is the most commercially successful; more than half of all world flights are carried out on this model. The passenger aircraft can accommodate 470 people on board. Innovative developments on the latest units include private cabins with sliding curtains, entertainment equipment and even beds. Some orders for this assembly are from VIPs, including presidents of several states. The wingspan is 68.5 m. The weight of the cargo aircraft is 190 tons, the passenger one - 213. It ranks first in sales in the list of the largest aircraft. In more than five years, more than 40 aircraft have been put into operation.
The brainchild of Russian-Ukrainian engineers, the ultra-heavy-lift jet transport vehicle has the title of the largest and most spacious aircraft in the world. The prototype of the aircraft is the An-124, better known as “Ruslan”. The wingspan is 88.4 m. General aircraft length 84m. Today, only one copy is in constant use. A universal transport aircraft with the ability to attach external cargo, it was originally designed to transport parts of a spacecraft with special dimensions. The carrying capacity of this device was supposed to be about 250 tons. The length of the cargo compartment is 43 m, width – 6.5 m, height 4.5 m. The An-225 is also highly convenient for loading and unloading unique and oversized cargo. The giant's mass is 250 tons. Many world records for capacity and transportation of the largest and heaviest cargo belong to this aircraft.
KM "Caspian Monster"
An experimental ekranoplan was developed in Russia in 1966. The unique, largest aircraft in the world, received the name “Caspian Monster” after it was noticed by American satellites. Before the appearance of the An-225 aircraft, it had the title of not only the largest aircraft, but also the heaviest. The aircraft was intended for use by the Navy. In constant attempts to modernize and improve it, secret tests were carried out for 15 years, but in 1980. Due to a pilot error, the plane crashed and sank. After this, no attempts were made to recreate an exact copy. The length of the giant was 92m., wingspan – 38m, empty weight – 240t, total load capacity – 304t.
During the Soviet era, Soviet engineers designed and implemented many high-tech devices that one could be proud of. But even today, not wanting to lag behind foreign countries, in Russia a project is being developed for the production of the BE-2500 amphibious aircraft. According to the plan, the length of such an aircraft should be 115 m, the wingspan should be 125 m, and the load capacity should be over 500 tons.
The trends of recent developments are directed precisely in the direction where there is the prospect of the most spacious, economical and fast transport. For these purposes, a better invention than an airplane has not yet been invented. We can only hope that the main condition for the production of new giants will always remain safety.
2016.04.16 by
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