An - 225

An-225 aircrafttoday, is the largest aircraft for the transport of goods in the world, both in terms of dimensions and in terms of carrying capacity (payload).

The history of the creation of the An-225 aircraft

The space program at Baikonur in 1970-1980 required the creation of an air transport vehicle for transporting structures of considerable weight and size. Initially, the task of transporting some of the space objects was solved by the VM-T "Atlant" aircraft, but it could take on board cargo weighing up to 50 tons, modification projects for this aircraft were created, but the maximum payload was 200 tons.
In the late 70s, the design bureau. Antonov (Ukraine) was tasked to develop a fundamentally new aircraft with the highest possible payload.
The An-124 transport aircraft was taken as the basis. The design bureau managed to create a unique aircraft with a carrying capacity of 250 tons.
On December 21, 1988, the AN-225 made its first flight. It was shown to the world community at the Le Bourget air show in 1989.

In 1980, the construction of the second An-225 aircraft began, but in 1994 it was stopped.
Currently, this is the only vehicle that can carry out transcontinental transportation of oversized cargo.

Photo of the 2nd unfinished aircraft AN-225:

According to statements in the press by the head of the OKB. Antonov, about $300,000,000 is needed to complete the construction of the second AN-225 aircraft

Appointment of the An-225 aircraft

The main purpose of the aircraft was to deliver space shuttles to an altitude of up to 11,000 meters, thereby replacing the first upper stages. The mass of the shuttle (Buran), according to calculations, was up to 60. The shuttle was fixed at the top above the aircraft on the fuselage. I must say that this is why the keel of the aircraft is double. For this, the Buran space shuttle and a number of Energia booster components were created. Currently, the aircraft is used to transport oversized and massive cargo by air in various parts of the world.

Aircraft specifications:

Release year 1988
- load capacity 225 t.
- wingspan 88.4 meters
- aircraft length 84 meters
- height 18.1 meters
- cruising speed 800 km/h
- maximum speed 850 km / h
- flight range 15,400 km.
- flight range with a maximum load of 4500 km.
- service ceiling 10,000 m.
- the weight of the empty aircraft is 250 tons.
— maximum takeoff weight 640 t.
- capacity of fuel tanks 300 tons.
- crew of 7 people

The cargo compartment has the following dimensions: length 43 meters, width 6.4 meters, height 4.4 meters.
The cargo compartment is sealed.
Above the cargo compartment, there is a cabin for passengers, accommodating 70 people.

In 2000, the An-225 aircraft was upgraded, navigation equipment was installed that meets international safety standards.

In the old days, a person could only look into the expanses of heaven and dream of ascending to them. Nowadays, thanks to modern technologies that have made it possible to invent aircraft, a seemingly impossible dream has become a reality. Since the invention of the first aircraft model, the human mind has been trying to create more advanced and high-tech models, so real air giants appear.

The largest aircraft in Russia and the world is the Airbus A380. Its design provides for the presence of 2 decks, and the dimensions of the liner are as follows:

1. Height reaches 24 m.
2. 80 m - wingspan.
3. 73 m - the length of the air giant.

On board the airliner are placed 555 people, and the charter model can accommodate up to 853 passengers. Without forced landing air transport can cover about 15.5 thousand km, while fuel is consumed by it very economically, 3.5 liters per 100 km. After the creation of the Airbus A380, the Boeing 747 was removed from the podium, which for more than 30 years has confidently held the leadership position as the most great view air transport.

Boeing 747

The largest passenger aircraft in Russia, which has held the lead for more than 30 years, is the Boeing 747, whose services our compatriots continue to use. It was this type of air vehicle that was the first to overcome a huge distance without a transfer along the London-Sydney route. The airliner spent 20.5 hours in the sky, during this period he was able to cover a distance of 18.5 thousand km.

An-225 "Mriya"

An-225 or "Mriya"

The largest Russian aircraft, for transporting large loads, was created in the late 80s of the last century by Ukrainian scientists (as part of the USSR). The design of this giant provides for the presence of a turbojet six-engine high-wing aircraft, in a 2-keel version. The wings of the air giant resemble the outlines of an arrow.

When developing the airliner, a program called "Buran" was involved, according to which the Soviet government needed the strongest air transport capable of transporting the heaviest cargo. The main cargo for transporting a new powerful aircraft were launch vehicles. They were supposed to be transported from the Soviet cosmodrome to the places where the rockets were assembled. To do this, the engineers needed to create such an air giant that could easily transport more than 200 tons of cargo. As a result, the An-225 was created.

Characteristics of the cargo giant:

• 6.6 m - the width of air transport;
• 4.6 m - the height of the airliner;
• 44 m - the length of the vessel.

For those who accompany the cargo on board the An-225 there are 88 seats. The crew cabin is designed for 6 crew members. Each system responsible for control is equipped with a quadruple redundancy.

The height of the aircraft reaches 18.5 meters, that is, it is equal to the height of a house of five floors.

The size of air transport is so large that for landing it needs a runway, the length of which will be at least 2500 meters. The chassis of the famous airliner is the largest in the world, the number of wheels is 32. So many wheels can easily withstand a significant weight of 650 tons, and that is how much a loaded aircraft weighs. To make it easier to brake, pilots can switch the aircraft engines to reverse thrust.

To facilitate the loading process, it is possible to press the front of the vessel to the ground, using reinforced power jacks for this. This process makes it easy to load the heaviest cargo that needs to be transported on board.

Currently, there is only one analogue of such an airliner in the world. According to the plans of engineers, in the near future, the creation of a similar model. According to some reports, the development of the "twin brother" An-25 is going well, work has already been completed by about 75%.

An-124 "Ruslan"

"Ruslan" or An-124

The largest Ruslan aircraft was created a little earlier than the An-225. Air transport was created to transport ballistic, intercontinental missiles. But after the transport was created, the result surprised even the creators. The capacious Ruslan was also used for other purposes, for example, for transporting both military and landing equipment. The cost of one such aircraft is equal to 300 million dollars.

The air giant first saw the sky at the end of 1982, and it was put into operation by the end of 1987.

Airliner characteristics:

• 69.5 m - its length;
• 21.5 m - the height of the vessel;
• 73.5 m - span of one wing;
• 174 tons - the mass of unloaded vehicles;
• 866 km / h - speed;
• The flight lasts 14500 km.

The design of the airliner is made as a high-wing aircraft, the wings of the aircraft are swept, with single-keel plumage. The design of air transport provides 2 decks. The first one has a main and interchangeable cabins for crew members, and a cabin for those who accompany the cargo, designed for 21 people. The cargo is transported on the second deck, the volume of which is 1060 cubic meters. m.

To make the process of loading or loading easier and more convenient, the aircraft has a special system that helps tilt the cabin in the right direction. The presence of 24 wheels allows the air giant to land on a dirt road, if necessary.

On Ruslan, engineers installed 4 turbojet engines, the thrust of each is equal to 23450 kg / cm. Such power allows you to lift cargo weighing up to 155 tons into the sky.

The aircraft has:

• automatic system EDSU;
• automated steering wheel control;
• hydraulic complex of four-channel execution;
• a reliable system for the life support of crew members and power supply.

35 modern computer systems are used to control the air giant. The largest Russian aircraft "Ruslan" was able to return the leading position of the USSR regarding the creation of heavy air transport. It set 21 world records in 1985 for carrying heavy loads over long distances.

In contact with

Airbus A380 is the largest aircraft in the world. More precisely, a passenger plane.

The height of this giant is 24 meters (~ 8th floor of a residential building), the length and wingspan are almost 80 meters each. On 2 decks in the cabin of three classes, 525 passengers are freely accommodated, in a single-class configuration - 853!

The development of the Airbus A380 spent 12 billion euros. It can make non-stop flights over a distance of up to 15,400 km, and the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft is amazing - 560 tons.

welcome aboard the biggest passenger aircraft in the world!

At the beginning of October, another dream related to aviation came true. Lufthansa has invited you on a press tour to show one of its new Airbus aircraft A380. The demonstration flight took place as part of the promotional campaign for the A380 show in European capitals.

It was possible not only to board the scheduled A380, but also to make a circular trip on a giant plane on the route Frankfurt - Prague - Budapest - Frankfurt, to stay with the pilots in the cockpit and film the work of the pilots during takeoff, flight and landing.

In ordinary life, these giants will not land at any such airport, so many people were waiting for the arrival of the A380 in the capitals of the Czech Republic and Hungary. Looking ahead, I will say that I did not even expect such solemn meetings and such a large number of spectators.

"Our" A380 had just arrived from Johannesburg and while the cleaning team was putting the salons in order. At this time, the co-pilot walked with a flashlight and examined the engine blades:

The sun came up, it was time for us to fly:

The first floor of the aircraft modification A380-800- these are three economy class cabins for 420 passengers. In total, such an A380 takes on board 526 passengers. By the end of the year, Lufthansa will already have 8 of the 18 ordered aircraft of these aircraft. The company invests about five billion euros in aircraft and airport infrastructure, maintenance, and crew training.

passenger seats for the economy class "Lufthansa" was developed by the famous German company Recaro. To be honest, I didn’t really like them - the backs are too thin and any movement in front of the seated passenger affects the comfort of the seated one.

Well done design portholes. With their standard external size inside the aircraft, they look large due to the enlarged internal frame. This large oval gives the impression of an open space inside the cabin.

The plane is very "quiet", the engines are almost inaudible. I was surprised by the short takeoff run - I followed the takeoff in Budapest, I thought that we would run for a long time along the runway, and the plane took off almost immediately.

The multimedia center with a 9″ screen is very good. In addition to the standard set with music, movies and games, the monitor displays a picture from three external cameras and full information about the flight. Seat spacing 79 cm, seat width 52 cm:

For the duration of the flight, the aircraft cabins were completely at our disposal - it was possible to walk everywhere, sit, lie down, press buttons, climb into all holes.

Standard sets for breakfast and lunch were demonstrated. Special thanks for the metal appliances in Lufthansa economy class, of course. It would be high time for Aeroflot to switch to them.

For the convenience of photographing, he asked the flight attendant to turn on full lighting in the cabins. Not much better, but still:

On the second floor- two business class lounges. They say that these seats do not really like the company's management and they will be changed. There are 98 of them here - incredible amount for private passenger liner. The set of options is standard for a modern business class - almost horizontal unfolding, individual light, socket and USB port for each:

Business class monitors size 10.6″, distance between chairs from 145 to 152 cm, seat width 67 cm:

Between the business class and first class cabins there is a huge vestibule with a kitchen and seats for flight attendants:

The subject of special pride of any serious airline - first class cabin. In the A380 Lufthansa, it is designed for eight passengers. Here everything is done practically, but without frills, like separate cabins. Eight chairs transforming into beds, each seat has a 17″ monitor. Seat spacing 213 cm, seat width 80 cm:

Lufthansa calls these chairs the best in their class:

Each first class passenger has his own wardrobe for clothes and belongings:

First class passengers have two such toilet rooms. There is no soul here, the Germans consider it superfluous, according to their experience, few people use a shower cabin during a flight.

A flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo and back will cost a first-class passenger 10,000 euros:

So we fly to Prague. They are already ready for the solemn meeting of the A380 megaliner:

Lufthansa chief pilot Werner Knorr:

The cockpit equipment resembles that installed in the A330 or A321 - in front of the pilots there is only a keyboard and a joystick on the side:

There are hundreds of people below, along the entire landing route - people are standing on the field, on the hillocks, on the roofs of houses:

I asked one of the Czech photographers at the airport to send me a couple of shots of our flight. Thank you Vojtech.

The cost of one A380 is $345 million.

To the right of the entrance to the cockpit is the crew cabin:

On the second floor you can climb two stairs - in front and behind the economy class:

A380 at Budapest Airport:

People are always attracted to some kind of record - record planes always get a lot of attention

3rd place: Airbus A380

Airbus A380 is a wide-body double-deck jet passenger aircraft, created by Airbus S.A.S. (formerly Airbus Industrie) is the largest production airliner in the world.

The height of the aircraft is 24.08 meters, the length is 72.75 (80.65) meters, the wingspan is 79.75 meters. A380 can make non-stop flights at a distance of up to 15,400 km. Capacity - 525 passengers in the cabin of three classes; 853 passengers in single class configuration. A cargo modification of the A380F is also provided with the ability to carry cargo up to 150 tons over a distance of up to 10,370 km.

The development of the Airbus A380 took about 10 years, the cost of the entire program amounted to about 12 billion euros. Airbus says it needs to sell 420 aircraft to recoup its costs, although some analysts estimate the figure should be much higher.
According to the developers, the most difficult part in the creation of the A380 was the problem of reducing its weight. It was possible to solve it through the widespread use of composite materials both in load-bearing structural elements and in auxiliary units, interiors, etc.

Advanced technologies and improved aluminum alloys were also used to reduce the weight of the aircraft. So, 11-ton center section for 40% of its mass consists of carbon fiber. The top and side panels of the fuselage are made from Glare hybrid material. On the lower fuselage panels, laser welding of stringers and skin was used, which significantly reduced the number of fasteners.
According to Airbus, per passenger, the Airbus A380 burns 17% less fuel than the "largest aircraft today" (apparently referring to the Boeing 747). The less fuel burned, the less carbon dioxide emissions. For an aircraft, CO2 emissions per passenger are only 75 grams per kilometer. This is almost half the CO2 emission limit set by the European Union for cars manufactured in 2008.

The first A320 aircraft sold was handed over to the customer on October 15, 2007 after a lengthy acceptance testing phase and entered service on October 25, 2007 on a commercial flight between Singapore and Sydney. Two months later, the president of the company Singapore Airlines Chiu Chong Seng said the Airbus A380 performs better than expected and consumes 20% less fuel per passenger than the company's existing Boeing 747-400s.

The upper and lower decks of the aircraft are connected by two ladders, at the fore and aft of the aircraft, wide enough to accommodate two passengers shoulder to shoulder. In a 555-passenger configuration, the A380 has 33% more passenger space than a Boeing 747-400 in a standard three-class configuration, but has 50% more cabin space and volume, resulting in a per-passenger more space.

The maximum certified capacity of the aircraft is 853 passengers when configured with a single economy class. The announced configurations range from 450 seats (for Qantas Airways) to 644 (for Emirates Airline, with two comfort classes).

2nd place: Hughes H-4 Hercules

Hughes H-4 Hercules (eng. Hughes H-4 Hercules) is a transport wooden flying boat developed by the American company Hughes Aircraft under the direction of Howard Hughes. This 136-ton aircraft, originally designated as NK-1 and given the unofficial nickname Spruce Goose ("Goldfinch, Dude", literally "Spruce Goose"), was the largest flying boat ever built, and its wingspan still remains a record - 98 meters. It was designed to transport 750 soldiers fully equipped.

At the beginning of World War II, the US government allocated $ 13 million to Hughes for the manufacture of a prototype flying ship, but by the end of hostilities aircraft was not ready, due to the lack of aluminum, as well as the stubbornness of Hughes, who sought to create a flawless car.

Specifications

Crew: 3 people
Length: 66.45 m
Wingspan: 97.54 m
Height: 24.08 m
Fuselage height: 9.1 m
Wing area: 1061.88 m?
Maximum takeoff weight: 180 tons
Payload weight: up to 59,000 kg
Fuel capacity: 52,996 l
Engines: 8? air-cooled Pratt&Whitney R-4360-4A, 3000 hp each With. (2240 ​​kW) each
Propellers: 8? four-bladed Hamilton Standard, 5.23 m in diameter

Flight characteristics

Top speed: 351 mph (565.11 km/h)
Cruise speed: 250 mph (407.98 km/h)
Flight range: 5634 km
Practical ceiling: 7165 m.

Despite its nickname, the aircraft is built almost entirely from birch, more precisely from birch plywood glued to a pattern.

The Hercules aircraft, piloted by Howard Hughes himself, made its first and only flight only on November 2, 1947, when it took off to a height of 21 meters and covered approximately two kilometers in a straight line over Los Angeles Harbor.

After a long period of storage (Hughes kept the aircraft in working order until his death in 1976, spending up to 1 million US dollars a year on this), the aircraft was sent to the Long Beach Museum, California.

The aircraft is visited annually by about 300,000 tourists. The biography of the creator of the aircraft Howard Hughes and the testing of the aircraft are shown in Martin Scorsese's film The Aviator.

It is currently on display at the Evergreen International Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, where it was moved in 1993.

1st place: AN-225 This is a plane! Of course he's Russian!

This machine was designed and built in a very short time: the first drawings began to be created in 1985, and in 1988 the transport aircraft was already built. The reason for such a short time can be quite easily explained: the fact is that the Mriya was created on the basis of well-developed components and assemblies of the An-124 Ruslan. So, for example, the fuselage of the Mriya has the same transverse dimensions as the An-124, but longer than it, the wingspan and area have increased. The same structure as that of Ruslan has a wing, but additional sections have been added to it. The An-225 has two additional engines. The landing gear of the aircraft is similar to the chassis of the Ruslan, but it has seven instead of five racks. The cargo compartment has been changed quite seriously. Initially, two aircraft were laid down, but only one An-225 was completed. The second copy of the unique aircraft is about 70% ready and can be completed at any time, subject to proper funding. For its completion, an amount of 100-120 million dollars is needed.

On February 1, 1989, the aircraft was shown to the general public, and in May of the same year, the An-225 made a non-stop flight from Baikonur to Kiev, carrying a Buran weighing sixty tons on its back. In the same month, the An-225 delivered the Buran spacecraft to the Paris air show and made a splash there. In total, the aircraft has 240 world records, including the transport of the heaviest cargo (253 tons), the heaviest monolithic cargo (188 tons) and the longest cargo.

The An-225 Mriya aircraft was originally designed for the needs of the Soviet space industry. In those years, the Soviet Union was building the Buran, its first reusable ship, an analogue of the American shuttle. To implement this project, it was necessary transport system, with which it was possible to transport large loads. It was for these purposes that Mriya was conceived. In addition to the components and assemblies of the spacecraft itself, it was necessary to deliver parts of the Energia rocket, which also had colossal dimensions. All this was delivered from the place of production to the points of final assembly. The units and components of Energia and Buran were manufactured in the central regions of the USSR, and the final assembly took place in Kazakhstan, at the Baikonur cosmodrome. In addition, the An-225 was originally designed so that in the future it could carry the completed Buran spacecraft. Also, the An-225 could carry bulky cargo for the needs of the national economy, for example, equipment for the mining, oil and gas industries.

In addition to participating in the Soviet space program, the aircraft was to be used to transport oversized cargo over long distances. This work An-225 "Mriya" will perform today.

The general functions and tasks of the machine can be described as follows:

transportation of general-purpose cargo (oversized, heavy) with a total weight of up to 250 tons;
intracontinental non-stop transportation of goods weighing 180–200 tons;
intercontinental transportation of goods weighing up to 150 tons;
transportation of heavy oversized cargo on an external sling with a total weight of up to 200 tons;
use of aircraft for air launch of spacecraft.

Other, even more ambitious tasks were set before the unique aircraft, and they were also associated with space. The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft was supposed to become a kind of flying cosmodrome, a platform from which spaceships and rockets would be launched into orbit. "Mriya", as conceived by the designers, was to become the first step for the launch of reusable spacecraft of the "Buran" type. Therefore, initially the designers were faced with the task of making an aircraft with a carrying capacity of at least 250 tons.

The Soviet shuttle was supposed to start from the "back" of the aircraft. This method of launching vehicles into near-Earth orbit has many serious advantages. Firstly, there is no need to build very expensive ground-based launch complexes, and secondly, launching a rocket or spacecraft from an aircraft saves fuel significantly and allows increasing the payload of a spacecraft. In some cases, this may allow you to completely abandon the first stage of the rocket.

Various air launch options are being developed at the present time. The United States is especially active in this direction; there are also Russian developments.

Alas, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the "air launch" project, with the participation of the An-225, was practically buried. This aircraft was an active participant in the Energia-Buran program. An-225 carried out fourteen flights with Buran on the top of the fuselage, hundreds of tons of various cargoes were transported under this program.

After 1991, funding for the Energia-Buran program ceased, and the An-225 was left without work. Only in 2000 did the modernization of the machine begin for commercial use. The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft has unique technical characteristics, a huge carrying capacity and can carry bulky cargo on its fuselage - all this makes the aircraft very popular for commercial transportation.

Since that time, the An-225 has performed many flights and transported hundreds of tons of various cargoes. Some transport operations can be safely called unique and unparalleled in the history of aviation. The plane took part in humanitarian operations several times. After the devastating tsunami, he delivered power generators to Samoa, transported construction equipment to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, and helped clean up the aftermath of an earthquake in Japan.

In 2009, the An-225 aircraft was upgraded and its service life was extended.

The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft is made according to the classical scheme, with high-raised wings of small sweep. The cabin is located in front of the aircraft, the cargo hatch is also located in the nose of the machine. The aircraft is made according to the two-keel scheme. Such a decision is associated with the need to transport goods on the fuselage of the aircraft. The glider of the An-225 aircraft has very high aerodynamic properties, the value of the aerodynamic quality of this machine is 19, which is an excellent indicator not only for transport, but also for passenger aircraft. This, in turn, greatly improved the performance of the aircraft and reduced fuel consumption.

Almost the entire internal space of the fuselage is occupied by the cargo compartment. Compared to the An-124, it has grown by 10% (by seven meters). At the same time, the wingspan increased by only 20%, two more engines were added, and the aircraft's carrying capacity increased by one and a half times. During the construction of the An-225, drawings, components and assemblies of the An-124 were actively used, thanks to which the aircraft was able to be created in such a short time. Here are the main differences between the An-225 and the An-124 Ruslan:

New center section;
increased fuselage length;
single-keel tail unit replaced with two-keel;
lack of a tail cargo hatch;
the number of main landing gear racks has been increased from five to seven;
system of fastening and pressurization of external loads;
two additional D-18T engines were installed.

Unlike Ruslan, Mriya has only one cargo hatch, which is located in the nose of the aircraft. Like its predecessor, "Mriya" can change the clearance and angle of the fuselage, which is extremely convenient for loading and unloading. The chassis has three supports: a front two-column and two main ones, each of which consists of seven pillars. At the same time, all racks are independent of each other and are produced separately.

To take off without cargo, an aircraft needs runway 2400 meters long, with a load - 3500 meters.

An-225 has six D-18T engines suspended under the wings, as well as two auxiliary power units located inside the fuselage.

The cargo compartment is sealed and equipped with all the necessary equipment for loading operations. Inside the fuselage, the An-225 can carry up to sixteen standard air containers (each weighing ten tons), fifty cars or any cargo weighing up to two hundred tons (turbines, extra large trucks, generators). On top of the fuselage, special fastenings are provided for the transportation of bulky cargo.D

Specifications An-225 "Mriya"

Wingspan, m 88.4
Length, m 84.0
Height, m ​​18.2
Weight, kg

Empty 250000
Maximum takeoff 600000
Fuel mass 300000
Engine 6*TRDD D-18T
Specific fuel consumption, kg/kgf h 0.57-0.63
Cruising speed, km/h 850
Practical range, km 15600
Range, km 4500
Practical ceiling, m 11000
Crew of six people
Payload, kg 250000-450000.

An-225 is a Soviet transport jet aircraft of extra-large payload developed by OKB im. O.K. Antonov, is the largest aircraft in the world.

In the world there are many models of aircraft, different in size, technical specifications, purpose and other parameters, some can carry thousands of kilograms of payload, others only one pilot.

Some of the aircraft below were well ahead of their time of construction and their colossal size made them virtually unavailable for everyday use.

1. An-225 "Mriya"

The An-225, the world's largest and most lifting aircraft, began to be developed in the Soviet Union in 1984; in 1988, the first experimental flight took place. Currently, there is only one copy of the aircraft, named Mriya, operated by Antonov Airlines.

An-225 cargo cabin can accommodate 50 cars or cargo with a total weight of 250 tons. The fuselage length is 84 meters with a wingspan of just over 88 m. The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 850 km / h, while the flight range is limited to 15.4 thousand kilometers.

2. Airbus A300-600ST "Beluga"

The Airbus A300-600ST cargo aircraft, which made its first flight in 1994, was produced in the amount of five copies. The aircraft is intended for the carriage of goods with large overall parameters. The aircraft is 56 meters long and has a wingspan of just under 45 meters.

With a dead weight of 86 tons, it can lift up to 47 tons of payload. Airbus A300-600ST speed reaches 750 km/h. The flight distance does not exceed 4632 km when transporting 20 tons of cargo. It is currently operated to transport parts of other Airbus aircraft, including the A380.

3. Boeing 747-8I

The construction of the Boeing 747-8I passenger aircraft began in 2008, the first flight tests took place in 2009-2010. The aircraft became the longest passenger aircraft in the world. The length of its fuselage is 76.4 m, with a wingspan of 68.5 m. The aircraft can carry up to 605 passengers at a time. The maximum speed during flights reaches 102 km / h. Takeoff weight is 448 tons. The maximum flight distance of the aircraft does not exceed 14.1 thousand kilometers.

4. Airbus A-380-800

The Airbus A-380-800 airliner, which made its first experimental flight in 2007, can carry 853 passengers. On the market passenger air transportation became the main competitor of the Boeing 747. With a maximum takeoff weight of 575 tons, it has a length of just over 73 m, while the wingspan is 79.75 m. The cruising speed of the aircraft reaches 900 km / h, and the flight range is 15.2 thousand km . In total, during the operation in 2017, 215 aircraft were delivered to customers, with 317 units ordered.

5. An-124 "Ruslan"

Developed by Soviet aircraft designers, the An-124 made its first flight in 1982 and was put into service in the USSR in 1987. A total of 56 cars were produced. With a maximum takeoff weight of the aircraft of 392 tons, the flight range of the aircraft is 16,500 km. The maximum speed is 865 km/h. The wingspan reaches 73.3 m with a fuselage length of just over 69 meters. In 2006, a project was launched to restore the production of aircraft of this model, but remained unrealized, despite interest from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

6Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

The American C-5 Galaxy first took to the skies in 1968. For all time, 131 units were produced. In terms of carrying capacity, this is the third cargo aircraft, while both of its predecessors are represented by OKB im. Antonova. Representing the aircraft for military transport purposes, it can carry up to 345 passengers or up to 210 tons of payload. The wingspan is almost 68 m, the fuselage length is 75.53 m. The maximum flight range is 11.7 thousand kilometers, at a speed of 922 km / h. A new modified version of the C-5M Super Galaxy is currently being produced.

7 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

The Boeing B-52 entered service with the US Air Force in 1955. The aircraft is an ultra-long-range strategic aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 220 tons. In the absence of load, it is able to overcome the maximum distance of 16.2 thousand km. 744 units have been produced throughout history. The length of the aircraft is 48.5 m with a wingspan of 56.4 m. In flight, it can reach a maximum speed of 1047 km / h. The most common modification is the Boeing B-52H. Repeatedly used in nuclear testing.

8. An-22 "Antey"

In 1965, the first flight of the An-22, a turboprop transport aircraft, showed excellent flight qualities and the ability to transfer over long distances live military force and technology. In just ten years of the project's existence, 68 units were created. The flight range was 8500 kilometers, the maximum speed was 650 km/h. The length of the aircraft is 57.31 m, the wingspan is 64.4 m. The An-22 is in service with the RF Ministry of Defense. During production, there were several modifications, including an amphibious and low-altitude aircraft with a nuclear power plant.

9 Hughes H-4 Hercules

The Hughes H-4 Hercules seaplane, developed in 1946, was also of impressive size; it made its only experimental flight in 1947. It was assumed that the aircraft would carry out regular Passenger Transportation accommodating up to 750 people. Its wingspan until 2017, with a figure of 97.54 m, was considered a record. The fuselage length was 66.45 meters. A distinctive feature of the aircraft was that its first sample was made of wood. Conceived as a transatlantic seaplane, it never made it across the Atlantic.

10. ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky"

Soviet passenger aircraft ANT-20 was built in 1934. As conceived by aircraft designers, it was developed as a propaganda aircraft. Only two examples were built.

The wingspan was 63 meters, the length of the fuselage reached 33 meters. Without load, the weight of the aircraft was 28.5 tons, the maximum weight of the cargo was 23.5 tons. The flight range was calculated at the level of 1000-1200 kilometers. Cruising speed reached 275 km / h.