The dimensions of the first aircraft with an engine were more than modest. Its length was 6.4 meters and its height was 2.7 meters. Flyer 1, designed and built back in 1903 by the Wright brothers, was capable of lifting only one person into the air. The wingspan of the first aircraft was just over 12 meters, and the wing area was 47 square meters. Of course, aviation has come a long way since then. Modern airliners amaze with their dimensions, power, and carrying capacity. The largest aircraft in the world are capable of carrying several hundred tons of cargo, and passenger giants carry more than 800 passengers per flight. Let's talk about the heavyweights of modern aviation.
Leader in wing length
Before moving on to the giants, let's remember the unique Hughes H-4 Hercules. It is he who has held the lead in wingspan for more than 70 years, and only the modern Airbus A380-800 has equaled it in height.
The aircraft has a complicated history. At the beginning of World War II, the US government ordered Hughes Aircraft to build an amphibious aircraft for cargo and passenger transportation. Yes, he had to not only fly, but also be able to swim. The main goal stated by the customer is to spend a minimum of strategic raw materials, that is, to make it not from metal, but from wood.
The "flying boat" was intended to be the largest of all existing aircraft. But the search for an ideal solution dragged on, and the amphibious aircraft was built only two years after the end of the war. The device, which received the famous nickname “Spruce Goose,” was made entirely of plywood. It is estimated that the development and construction of the aircraft required $22 million from the US budget, and another $18 million was invested by company owner Howard Hughes.
The dimensions of the Hercules were seven times greater than those of any aircraft. The length was 66.45 meters, height - 24 meters, and wingspan - 97.5 meters. It weighed 136 tons, the carrying capacity was 59 tons. The flying boat was capable of carrying more than 700 soldiers.
According to the project, the aircraft could reach speeds of up to 378 km/h, gain an altitude of more than seven thousand meters and fly 5.6 thousand km. But it was never possible to test its extreme capabilities. The Hercules made its first and only experimental flight in November 1947 in Los Angeles Harbor. After making several passes around the harbor, the amphibious aircraft took off from the water and flew about two kilometers at an altitude of 21 meters and a speed of about 120 km/h. After a perfectly perfect landing, the Hercules returned to its hangar, where it was maintained in working order until 1976. Today you can see the wooden giant at the Oregon State Museum in the USA.
Passenger transportation record holders
Among the largest modern airliners in the passenger air transportation segment, two competing aircraft models stand out: the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380. The first holds the palm in terms of length, the second has become the undisputed leader in capacity.
Leader in size
The longest passenger airliner today is the Boeing 747-8. It is also the largest commercial aircraft ever built in the United States.
The wide-body, double-deck Boeing 747-8 is almost a meter longer than the previous leader, the Airbus A340-600. The fuselage length is 76 meters, height - more than 19 meters. The wingspan of this giant is almost 68.5 meters.
The airliner was announced in 2005, and the first flight took place five years later. Its key differences from previous Boeing 747 models were the extended fuselage, new wing, engines and on-board systems. Significant improvements have led to it becoming the quietest and most economical airliner in the family. Boeing's calling card, the hump at the front of the hull, remains; this is where the upper deck is located.
The ship can accommodate up to 581 passengers. The airliner is capable of traveling up to 14.1 thousand kilometers at a speed of 917 km/h. The maximum speed of the Boeing 747-8 reaches 950 km/h, which makes it the leader among subsonic passenger airliners.
The Boeing 747-8 is available in three versions: cargo, passenger and presidential. Today the longest airplanes in the world are in use, Air China, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, UPS Airlines and others. It is he who holds the lead in orders for VIP versions of the aircraft, intended for flights of top officials of the state, statesmen and politicians.
Record holder for passenger capacity
For 37 years, the leadership in three parameters: size, weight and capacity was held by the passenger Boeing 747. Everything changed in 2005, when the Airbus A380 took off into the sky. Since then, it has held the lead in passenger capacity.
The aircraft can carry up to 853 passengers at a time, while the Boeing 747 can accommodate up to 600 people.
It took about ten years and 12 billion euros to develop the airliner. As stated by Airbus S.A.S, in order to recoup the project, 420 aircraft need to be sold. At the end of 2017, 317 aircraft were ordered, more than 220 of them are already operated by airlines.
The A380 made its first commercial flight in 2007 from Singapore to Sydney under the flag Singapore Airlines. In honor of this event, passengers were treated to champagne and presented with memorable certificates.
The record holder’s dimensions are no less impressive: height 24 meters, length almost 73 meters, wingspan almost 80 meters. It weighs 280 tons, and can lift the same amount. The most difficult question, according to the developers, was how to make such a giant as light as possible. To solve the problem during construction, lightweight composite materials were used.
Despite its size, the A380 is the most economical among the giants, fuel consumption is 20% lower than the Boeing 747. It can travel up to 15.4 thousand kilometers without landing at a speed of 1020 km/h.
Heavyweights in the world of aviation
Let's move on to the largest and heaviest cargo aircraft. The line of leaders here has not changed since the 80s of the last century, when the An-225 entered the “pedestal”. Among the production versions of cargo models, its prototype, the An-124, holds the lead. Although American aircraft designers are already catching up with the leaders with their latest developments.
Record holder for cargo transportation
The An-225, called “Mriya” (“Dream”), is officially recognized as the most load-lifting aircraft in the world. The pinnacle of thought of Soviet designers set about 250 world records, many of which have not been surpassed to this day.
The An-225 was designed and built at the Antonov Design Bureau. The aircraft was intended to solve specific problems during the implementation of the Soviet space program "Buran". In particular, it was supposed to transport heavy components of the spacecraft and launch vehicle, and also be used as the first stage of the spacecraft launch system.
The designers took the An-124 as a basis, this gave it the qualities of a universal cargo plane. And fundamental improvements have made it possible to achieve record carrying capacity: Mriya can transport up to 250 tons over a distance of up to four thousand kilometers.
The An-225 made its first flight in 1988, and a year later the demonstration of its capabilities created a sensation at the Paris Air Exhibition.
The An-225 is amazing in size. Its length is 84 meters, its height is more than 18 meters (the height of a five-story building), and its wingspan exceeds 88 meters. The empty weight of the aircraft is 250 tons.
"Mriya" is capable of transporting super-heavy loads both in a sealed cabin and outside on the fuselage. The length of the cargo compartment is 43 meters, width - 6.4 meters, height - 4.4 meters. This area will freely accommodate 50 cars. The second deck accommodates 6 crew members and 88 passengers.
Today, “Mriya” exists in a single copy. The aircraft is used to transport cargo and carry out rescue operations. The second aircraft was planned for release, but remained in a half-assembled state. Due to the lack of a customer, the completion and modernization of the second An-225 is still in question.
Largest serial heavyweight
Among the mass-produced heavyweights, another development of the Design Bureau named after them is considered the most load-lifting in the world. Antonov An-124, or "Ruslan". Before the advent of the Airbus A380, its size was second only to the Boeing 747.
"Ruslan" was originally created for military purposes. With its help they planned to transport ballistic missile launch systems, heavy military equipment and military personnel. The first test of Ruslan took place in 1982. For three years it was used exclusively in the interests of the army. The heavyweight was capable of transporting up to 120 tons of cargo, up to 440 paratroopers or 880 soldiers with equipment.
Since 1985, Ruslan switched to servicing civil transportation, making the first “delivery” of a 152-ton mining dump truck from Vladivostok to Yakutia. Among the unusual “orders”, it is worth noting the delivery of 140 tons of equipment from the legendary Pink Floyd from London to Moscow, and the transportation of more than 50 tons of gold from the UAE to Switzerland. Michael Jackson also took advantage of the Ruslans' capabilities, transporting 310 tons of his cargo on three aircraft.
In terms of size, the An-124 is somewhat shorter than the Mriya (69 meters), but taller (21 meters). The wingspan exceeds 73 meters. The empty weight of the aircraft is 178 tons.
On the upper deck there are crew cabins (for 8 people) and two passenger cabins (7+21 people). The lower deck is a sealed cargo compartment that is shorter in length than the An-225 and is 36.5 meters.
Production of Ruslans was stopped in 2004. A total of 55 aircraft of this model were produced. Afterwards, some of them were modernized: the fuselage and wing were updated, some systems and units were replaced, and the carrying capacity was increased.
“Ruslans” can transport cargo up to 120 tons over a distance of 4.8 thousand kilometers. If the load is three times lighter, the flight range will be up to 12 thousand kilometers. The maximum speed that the liner can reach is 865 km/h.
Western analogue of An-124
The closest competitor to the Russian serial heavyweight considered to be the American military transport aircraft Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. This is the third largest air transportation giant in the world in terms of cargo capacity after Mriya and Ruslan.
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy made its first flight in 1968. Quite soon it became the main means for transporting military forces and equipment to places of military operations. In total, several modifications of the aircraft were produced. The latest - C-5M Super Galaxy - is capable of transporting almost 130 tons of cargo (for comparison, this is how much 150 Volkswagen Beetle cars weigh in total).
The height of the hull here is almost 20 meters, the length is 75.5 meters, and the wingspan is 67.9 meters.
The size of the aircraft is no less impressive than its capabilities. The length of the aircraft is 75.5 meters, height - almost 20 meters, wingspan - just under 68 meters. The cargo compartment, 37 meters long and 5.8 meters in diameter, can accommodate 270 soldiers and another 118 tons of payload. On the upper deck there is a crew cabin for five people and seats for passengers. The flight range with maximum load is 5.5 thousand kilometers at a speed of up to 888 km/h.
Promising giant
Aircraft designers never tire of competing to produce giants. Thus, in 2011, the largest twin-fuselage transport aircraft, the Stratolaunch Model 351, developed by Scaled Composites, was announced and six years later presented. The new “titan”, with a wingspan of 117 meters, surpasses both “Mriya” and even the famous “Hercules”.
The length of the aircraft is more than 72 meters with a height of 15 meters. According to the project, it will be able to lift up to 250 tons of cargo on an external sling. The Stratolaunch Model 351 is intended to be a platform for air-launched missiles.
The aircraft is currently undergoing the necessary testing. Its commissioning is planned for 2019.
These giants plow the skies with ease and grace, and, looking at them from the ground, no one would think that these steel birds represent such a huge structure that the height of the tail of one of these airliners - the A-380 - is five giraffes, set Each other. The Airbus A-380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but this article will not only talk about it.
"Boeing 747"
Among passenger aircraft the maximum size is Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. These are airliners capable of simultaneously carrying more than five hundred passengers. In particular, the A380 is capable of lifting 853 passengers into the air. Before the advent of this giant, the Boeing 747 with a length of 70.6 meters and the Boeing 747-8 with a length of 76.25 meters (the longest passenger aircraft) were the most spacious airliners in the world (the maximum number of simultaneously transported passengers reached 600 people). The Boeing 747-8 is more fuel efficient than the Boeing 747, which first flew on February 9, 1969. The designers originally planned a double-deck aircraft design, but the upper deck was shortened due to technical problems. The Boeing 747 was the first airliner in the world to have two aisles between seats. This aircraft is certified to fly on three engines, and if one of the four fails, the aircraft can fully take off, fly and land on the remaining three engines. At the same time, the cruising speed of the Boeing 747 passenger aircraft is 913 km/h.
Giant A-380
The giant double-deck “French” airliner A380, the first copy of which rolled off the production line in 2005, is the largest passenger aircraft in the history of world aviation. Indeed, its creators have something to be proud of - the cabin of the Airbus A380 can accommodate 853 passengers. To date, more than 110 machines have already been built and put into operation. The monthly production volume of these aircraft is 2.5 aircraft. Today, these giants are used by 20 airlines, with Emirates airline having the largest fleet.
The cruising speed of the A380 passenger aircraft reaches 1020 km/h. Each airliner consists of about four million individual parts and components, which are manufactured in thirty countries around the world by one and a half thousand manufacturing companies and delivered using a unique logistics system developed by Airbus, which includes travel by water, as well as by air and road transport. Each landing gear can withstand a load of about 260 tons (200 passenger cars). For comparison with its predecessor, the wing area of the A380 aircraft is equal to one and a half wing areas of the Boeing 747-400 and is 845 square meters.
The world's largest passenger aircraft can be powered by two types of low-noise engines: either the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or the Engine Alliance GP7000. At the same time, the A380 is the most economical airliner in its segment - fuel consumption for transporting a passenger per 100 km with a cabin layout of 525 seats does not exceed three liters.
The dimensions of passenger aircraft are impressive; the A380 cabin area is 554 square meters. The liner has two decks - the main one, the width of which is a record high - 6.5 meters, and the upper one with a width of 5.8 meters.
An air volume of 1,500 cubic meters is replaced every three minutes by the air conditioning system; during the flight, there is a pleasant silence in the aircraft cabin, the hum of the turbines is practically inaudible.
Russia is proud of them
What does the domestic aviation industry offer us? The largest turboprop aircraft in the world is the Antonov An-22. Its length is about 60 meters, flight speed is 580 km/h. The first airliner was released in 1965.
"That"
The legendary Tu-134 is a passenger airliner for medium-distance flights, up to 2800 meters. It is designed for a maximum of 96 seats, its cruising speed is 850 km/h at an altitude of 11,000 m. The Tu-154 is a larger capacity aircraft, 158 people can be accommodated in the cabin of three classes, 180 in economy class. The maximum flight speed of this airliner is 950 km/ h, and the Tu-154M modification is capable of covering distances of up to 5200 km.
The Tu-204 can accommodate 214 passengers, and the cruising speed is slightly lower than its previous “brother” - 850 km/h.
"Su"
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is not the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but it is famous for being the first Russian airliner designed using digital technologies. It is designed for flights up to 3,000 kilometers on lightly loaded airlines. The maximum number of passengers is 98 people.
"Il"
Speaking about domestic aircraft, one cannot fail to mention the Ilyushintsy. Russian passenger aircraft, presented by this design bureau, have several main types that are well known to us. Let's talk about each of them in more detail.
Let's start with the simplest one - the IL-62, an airliner that has been produced since 1971 and is designed for medium-distance flights - up to 10,000 kilometers. This aircraft accommodates 198 passengers and five crew members. Its maximum speed at cruising altitude is 850 km/h.
As for the Il-86 aircraft, it is also designed for medium-distance flights; the cabin, containing two classes, can accommodate 234 passengers; if the aircraft is three-class, then 314 people. At the same time, 11 flight attendants serve customers. The aircraft are equipped with twelve emergency slides and all the necessary modern rescue systems. The cruising speed of the Il-86 is 950 km/h, the distances over which it flies do not exceed 5,000 kilometers with a maximum flight duration of eight hours.
IL-96
Now about the largest representative of the Ilyushin family - the Il-96 airbus. It is designed for long distance flights. Three hundred people in economy class and 262 passengers in three classes - this figure is practically no different from the previous described model of this family. The airliner flies at a maximum cruising speed of 900 km/h and is capable of covering a distance of up to 12,100 km. Its improved “model” - Il-96M - can accommodate a larger number of passengers - up to 435 people in the charter version.
Near term, or domestic developments
Today, the largest Russian aircraft project is the Irkut MS-21. Within its framework, it is planned to produce short- and medium-haul passenger airliners. Now the Irkut company is carrying out development and construction, the first copies of the aircraft according to the plan will be certified in 2016, and flight tests will begin at the same time. The start of serial production of MS-21 is expected in 2017-2018. On the Russian passenger aircraft market, these airliners should replace the Tu-154 and Tu-204 and will be operated on domestic and international routes.
The project is not developing the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but the family of airliners being created will include various aircraft of three types in length and passenger capacity - with 150, 180 and 210 seats. The lineup will contain aircraft with increased flight range. The vessel's cruising altitude will be 11,600 kilometers, the speed that the liner will develop will be 870 km/h, and the maximum fuselage length will be 39.5 meters. The crew will consist of two people.
As for the progress of work, the base of the project is the Yak-242. The development of the new wing belongs to the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company, fuselage work is carried out directly by the Irkut corporation and the Yakovlev Design Bureau.
It is expected that the new airliners will be more economical due to the use of modern composite materials, as well as new generation engines. The aircraft will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines; in the future, it is possible to install domestic Perm PD-14 engines.
Ever since people learned to design flying vehicles, they began to be used to transport heavy and bulky cargo. During the history of aeronautics, many transport aircraft, which impress with their enormous size.
1. Antonov An-225 “Mriya”.
An-225 on this moment is the largest aircraft in the world, it has an ultra-high payload capacity and can lift about 250 tons into the air. The An-225 was originally designed and built to transport components of the Energia launch vehicle and the Buran reusable spacecraft.
2. Boeing 747 Dreamlifter.
This transport aircraft is a modified version of the Boeing 747, it was built and used exclusively to transport parts of the Boeing 787 aircraft. What makes the Dreamlifter special is its unusual appearance.
3. Aero Spacelines Super Guppy.
The Super Guppy cargo plane was produced in five copies and today only one of them is in use. It is owned by NASA and is used to deliver large cargo and spacecraft parts.
4. Antonov An-124 “Ruslan”.
An-124 is a heavy military transport aircraft for long-distance transport, the world's largest production commercial cargo aircraft. It was developed primarily for air transportation launchers of intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as for transporting heavy military equipment. The carrying capacity of the An-124 is 120 tons. .
5. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.
American military transport aircraft, second in terms of payload capacity after the An-124. The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is capable of carrying cargo compartment six helicopters or two large tanks. The total weight that the aircraft can transport is more than 118 tons.
6. Airbus A300-600ST Beluga.
A jet cargo aircraft for transporting large cargo, which was developed on the basis of the Airbus A300 series. The main purpose of the A300-600ST is to replace the Super Guppy transport aircraft. Beluga owes its name to its body shape, which resembles a beluga whale. The Beluga's carrying capacity is 47 tons.
7. Antonov An-22 “Antey”.
Soviet-made heavy transport aircraft, the largest turboprop aircraft in the world. Currently, the aircraft is used by the Russian Air Force and the Ukrainian cargo airline Antonov Airlines. The carrying capacity of the An-22 is 60 tons.
8. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.
The C-17 Globemaster III is one of the most common military transport aircraft of the US Air Force and is still in use today. The aircraft is designed to transport military equipment and troops, as well as perform tactical missions. The C-17's carrying capacity is more than 76 tons.
9. Airbus A400M Atlas.
The A400M Atlas was designed and built as an international project for the air forces of France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain and several other countries. It is a four-engine turboprop aircraft with a payload capacity of up to 37 tons.
It’s one thing when an ordinary plane, even one designed for a couple of hundred passengers, takes off into the air, and quite another thing when a creation of the human mind tens of meters long, capable of transporting hundreds of tons of cargo over thousands of kilometers, appears in the sky.
IN different time honorary title The largest aircraft in the world was carried by different winged machines. For example, among them in the 1930s was the unique 8-engine propaganda aircraft ANT-20 “Maxim Gorky”. Today there are other leaders in this field, although the records they set many decades ago still hold. Around the World invites you to meet some of these record-breakers.
The very best: AN-225 “Mriya”
This is the aircraft with the world's largest payload capacity (can carry cargo with a total weight of 250 tons) and the largest take-off weight (more than 640 tons), as well as the largest in length and wing span that entered service. First, let’s look at the dimensions: the length of “Mriya” (in Ukrainian “Dream”) is 84 meters, and its wingspan is 88.4 meters. As an example, we point out here that a football field that complies with FIFA recommendations has dimensions of 105x68 meters, and Red Square in Moscow has dimensions of 330x75 meters.
The cargo compartment of the Mriya is a sealed space 43 meters long, 6.4 meters wide and 4.4 meters high (that is, approximately the size of a two-story house); for example, 50 cars can fit into it. The aircraft was invented and built in 1984–1988 at the Kiev Mechanical Plant to transport parts of the Buran spacecraft and launch vehicle from the production site to the launch site, as well as, if necessary, the entire Buran - it was supposed to be placed on the “back” of the “ Mriya."
AN-225 at the Swedish airport Stockholm-Arlanda
However, this giant did not perform its main duties for long: by 1990, all work within the framework of the Energia-Buran program was curtailed, and the AN-225 stood half-disassembled from 1994 to 2001. It was restored by 2001 and has since been regularly used to transport heavy loads, including record-breaking transport operations.
"Mriya" has already made flights with the longest (42.1-meter wind turbine blades) and heaviest monocargo (a generator weighing 174 tons), as well as with cargo with the largest total weight - 253.8 tons. In total, Mriya has more than 200 world records of this kind. The plane exists in a single copy, it is operated by a Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines, however, it is possible that in a year or two, with the help of the Kyiv Antonov Design Bureau and the Chinese company AICC a second one will be completed.
Giant flying boat: Hughes H-4 Hercules
In the previous part, we mentioned that the AN-225 Mriya is an aircraft with the largest wingspan among all those that entered service. This reservation is not accidental: in the history of aviation there was an even larger aircraft, but it made only one test flight at an altitude of 21 meters and a length of about 1.5 km. It's about Hughes H-4 Hercules, a giant flying boat built by 1947 by the brilliant (and crazy) American aviator and businessman Howard Hughes.
Created by Hughes, the 8-engine monster, 66.6 meters long with a wingspan of 97.5 meters, was conceived as a means of transporting cargo, military equipment (with a total weight of about 70 tons) and up to 750 soldiers across the Atlantic from the United States to Europe. The project started in 1942 with money from the American government, but its implementation dragged on for five long years. Now the Second World War is over, but the mega-boat still hasn’t taken off.
In the end, this alerted the American government and Congress, under whose pressure Howard Hughes nevertheless made a test flight on November 2, 1947, near the Californian city of San Pedro. First and last flight. Until Hughes' death in 1976, the Hercules was maintained in flying condition, and then passed from hand to hand until it finally ended up in the aviation museum in McMinnville, Oregon, where it remains to this day - you'll be in Oregon , be sure to check it out.
Hughes H-4 Hercules during testing
The most remarkable thing about this plane is not even the largest wingspan of any aircraft ever flown, but the fact that the machine was built from birch, or rather, from birch plywood: the shortage of aluminum during the war had an impact. Despite this, the plane received the nickname "spruce goose" (Spruce Goose)- it has become synonymous with the expression “white elephant”. Let us also add that Hughes H-4 Hercules- also the largest seaplane in the history of aviation.
Largest passenger: Airbus A380
First place in this category Airbus A380 in modification 800. This is generally the largest production airliner in the world: height - 24.1 meters, length - 72.8 meters, wingspan - 79.8 meters, on its two decks it can carry a total of up to 853 people (in a one-class configuration ) over a distance of 15,700 km.
It is on this aircraft that the second and third longest commercial flights are operated today - from Auckland, New Zealand to Dubai (about 17 hours) and from Dallas, Texas, to Sydney, Australia (about 16 hours). During this time, aircraft cover approximately a third of the length of the equator (first place in the length of a commercial flight since February 2017). Qatar Airways from Oakland to Doha by Boeing 777-200LR).
A380 towed to the runway
In the plans Airbus creating larger versions of this airliner - even more spacious A380-900 for 900 passengers (all in economy class), as well as a cargo version A380F, which will be second after Mriya in terms of carrying capacity. And both of them, presumably, will be even larger in length and wingspan. So far, however, not a single such aircraft has been built: there are no required number of orders for them.
Longest passenger: Boeing 747-8
Interestingly, the gigantic size and record capacity Airbus A380- not the longest passenger aircraft in the world. This title is held by the former number one among airliners. Boeing 747 in version 8. Boeing 747-8 is the third generation of the double-deck 747, which made its first flight back in 1969 and entered commercial service about a year later.
The record for this aircraft in terms of size, weight and capacity among passenger airliners lasted 36 years - just before the advent of Airbus A380. At the same time, some of his records have not yet been broken. Yes, exactly Boeing 747-400 in 1989, made the longest non-stop flight for a commercial airliner, covering a distance of more than 18,000 km from London to Sydney in 20 hours 9 minutes. There was no cargo or passengers on board.
Boeing 747-8I German airline Lufthansa
Boeing 747-8 It is produced in two versions - passenger (747-8I) and cargo (747 -8F). And in the near future, another highly specialized one will probably appear: the US Air Force is eyeing the 747-8 as the future “Air Force One” - for the President of the United States. Now this role is played by the 747-200, which was heavily redesigned in comparison with the production version, and was put into operation in the late 1980s. It is noteworthy that a Russian trace appears here: they are going to convert it into a presidential aircraft. Boeing 747-8I, ordered by the bankrupt Russian company Transaero and now in storage in the Mojave Desert in the USA (thanks to climatic conditions aircraft stored there at a special training ground are practically not subject to corrosion).
The most voluminous: Boeing 747 Dreamlifter
Surprisingly, the giant Mriya was not omnipotent. When companies Boeing it was necessary to establish supply chains for parts for the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner, its capabilities were not enough to transport parts of the Dreamliner's wings and fuselage from Japan and Europe to a plant in Washington state. Moreover, none of the then existing aircraft (the Soviet AN-124 and Boeing's own 747 -400F) were suitable for the company, and transporting components by sea would have taken too long. Then the engineers Boeing developed (note, not without the participation of the company’s Moscow bureau) a modified version Boeing 747 by calling her Dreamlifter.
Boeing Dreamlifter V International airport Chubu (Japan)
The difference between this, frankly, rather ugly aircraft (President of Commercial Division Boeing Scott Carson even had to jokingly apologize to the creator of the 747, Joe Sutter, “for what [they] did to his plane”) visible to the naked eye: the 747 is noticeably swollen - the diameter of the plane’s body has been significantly increased, and it opens for loading sideways tail section.
As a result, engineers managed to achieve a record volume inside of 1840 cubic meters. notice, that Dreamlifter not unique. Previously, the American Aero Spacelines Super Guppy(it was and is used to transport spacecraft parts) and the European Airbus Beluga, which delivers aircraft parts to the Toulouse plant. Both of them, however, have a smaller usable volume.
Potential Champion: Scaled Composites Model 351
May 31, 2017 in the Mojave Desert from a hangar with a crowd of public and journalists Scaled Composites Model 351- double-fuselage, 6-engine aircraft, element of the aerospace air launch system Stratolaunch, designed to lift rockets to a height of 11 kilometers Pegasus XL, from where they will be able to launch into space, spending significantly less fuel and, therefore, having more payload on board.
This launch scheme is not new - for the first time, launching aircraft from other aircraft was invented in the first half of the last century: in the 1930s, two airships were built in the USA, from which they were supposed to send small aircraft into flight. And after World War II, first in the 1970s in the USA (project Convoy Virtus), and then in the 1990s in our country (project “Molniya-1000”, also known as “Hercules”), projects were developed for launching spacecraft from superplanes. So far, however, none of them, including the one described Startolaunch, didn't take off.
But a much smaller one took off White Knight Two, a similar design twin-fuselage carrier aircraft built by the same Scaled Composites for the air launch of a tourist spaceplane SpaceShipTwo billionaire Richard Branson. In 2010 SpaceShipTwo made its first flight, separating from the carrier in the air White Knight.
SpaceShipTwo(center) and carrier aircraft White Knight Two, analog Scaled Composites Model 351
If the flight Scaled Composites Model 351 will happen someday aircraft will break the record Hughes H-4 Hercules by wingspan of any aircraft ever flown: with a length of 71 meters, the wing length Startolaunch(and technically it has one solid wing connecting both fuselages) is 117 meters.
Photo: Larske / commons.wikimedia.org, commons.wikimedia.org, Monty Rakusen / Getty Images, Kiefer / commons.wikimedia.org, Muroi 8210 / commons.wikimedia.org, Virgin Galactic / Mark Greenberg / commons.wikimedia.org
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, "Maxim Gorky" lazily cut through air space over Red Square, striking the imagination of 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 in a very wide range of areas: from broadcasting (and not only) propaganda to entertainment 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
"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 still took off, but further development of 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
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 laser-guided missiles. 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
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 continues to be used by the American armed forces at this time. 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 to any point globe. At the 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
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
Each of us has seen this plane at least once in our lives. Since its first flight in 1969, the 747 has remained the largest passenger airliner for a full 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 spacecraft of the Space Shuttle program 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
"Beluga" - modification Airbus family, stands out for its unique body shape. 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
