Biggest airplanes, largest aircraft, largest planes, largest airplanes,
throughout aviation history. Includes aircraft records, pictures,
accomplishments, specifications, and a guide to scale rc airplanes.
TO FIND YOUR FAVORITE BIG AIRPLANES ON THIS PAGE:Enter "Ctrl
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Big Airplanes:
The building of big airplanes has involved air forces, governments, and aviation companies
addressing the benefits vs. the risks involved. The shape of big airplanes, keeping drag to a minimum while increasing
payload,
and even the maneuverability of big airplanes, both on the
ground and in the air, factor into their design. In addition, big airplanes must be produced to meet the needs of the ultimate buyers, whether it is to deliver large payloads, weapons at
supersonic
speeds, parachute troops and their equipment behind enemy lines, or
comfortably transport passengers across an ocean. The space
that big airplanes occupy while on the ground is yet another
consideration. All of these factors must be considered before a
design turns into an aircraft.
Manufacturing big airplanes is no easy matter. Operating costs per mile per passenger or cargo weight may be lower if a
given aircraft can be made larger while maintaining near the efficiency of a smaller design. Modern construction materials and
methods
help bring costs down, while the challenges of incorporating the
materials into the construction of big airplanes may
offset any savings by adding to development costs.
Engineers have tried to develop big airplanes by using existing designs whenever possible. A fuselage or wing may be
made longer or wider, while the cockpit design and avionics can remain relatively unchanged. Advances in engine design and
efficiency
have helped to bring down the costs related to flying big
airplanes. Unfortunately, as aircraft grow in size, they
gain weight. The structure needed to incorporate the weight efficiently becomes more difficult to produce. At a given point it
may be more economical to produce smaller planes than big airplanes.
One of the questions most often asked of Aviation Trivia is to name all of the big airplanes. That brings
up
more questions. How do you determine what are the big airplanes?
Would they have the longest wingspan, the longest length, or the
heaviest weight? Should they be the biggest ever built, or the biggest during a certain era? Maybe they should be classified by the number of engines, or number of wings. Or, should we list them by their type, such as fighters, bombers, seaplanes, or transports? We have tried to answer all your possible questions in the following list. If we need to add a category, just let us know.
Don't hesitate to email
us if we left out your favorite big airplanes.
SPRUCE GOOSE
The Spruce Goose on its first and only flight.
If big airplanes are determined by wingspan, one is the Hughes H-4 Spruce Goose. Although current airplanes weigh more than the Hughes H-4 Hercules, more commonly known as the
Spruce Goose, no other seaplane or land based airplane produced has a longer wingspan.
300,000#, 320.1' wings
CONVAIR XC-99
Convair XC-99 above the clouds.
The Convair XC-99 was a one of a kind experimental cargo transport based on the B-36 and can certainly be counted among the big airplanes. It was the largest cargo airplane ever built, not as a
seaplane,
that was driven by propellers. Although very successful, the U.S.A.F.
felt that they didn't need such large cargo carriers at the
time and no other aircraft of its type were produced.
135,230#, 230' wings
The Saunders-Roe Princess qualifies for our list of big airplanes because it was the biggest all-metal seaplane ever built.
190,000#, 219.5' wings
ANTONOV AN-225
The Antonov AN-225 in a right turn.
The Antonov An-225 belongs on our list of big airplanes if you judge it by the heaviest weight.
1,179,500#, 291.1' wings
The Russian Caspian Sea Monster KM Ekranoplan is the second heaviest airplane to fly, and the heaviest and largest airplane to fly in ground effect.
839,594#, 141.1" wings
ANTONOV AN-124
The Antonov AN-124 in a landing approach.
Antonov An-124's are big airplanes. They are the second biggest airplanes ever mass produced after the A380.
However, unlike the A380 passenger jet, the An-124 is used for hauling cargo.
385,00#, 240.5' wings
BOEING 777
The Boeing 777 in its introductory colors.
Boeing 777's are big airplanes for twin jets. They are larger than three
jet engine powered airplanes as well. They are smaller than the largest Boeing 747 versions.
367,000#, 199.9' wings
ANTONOV AN-22
The Antonov An-22 landing.
Antonov An-22's are big airplanes for mass produced turboprops and one of the heaviest aircraft ever to fly.
251,350#, 211.3' wings
A-1 Douglas A-1 Skyraiders were propeller driven attack aircraft that are big airplanes in their class. In fact they are the biggest propeller driven attack aircraft ever produced.
Its huge ordnance payload made it a major ground support aircraft.
10,550#, 50.7' wings
AF-2
The anti submarine Grumman AF-2 Guardians were the U.S. Navy's one engine big airplanes.
14,580#, 60.7' wings
ANTONOV AN-2 COLT
The Antonov An-2 Colt climbing.
Antonov An-2 Colt single engine biplanes are big airplanes of their type, by weight. Popular with
bush
pilots, as parachuting aircraft, and as crop dusters, they have been in
production since 1947 and are still being produced to this date.
7,600#, 59.7' wings
Short Bombers are big airplanes for single engine biplanes when considering wingspan. They also had a longer wingspan than any single engine monoplanes. They were
deployed during World War I as both land based bombers and torpedo bomber seaplanes.
5,000#, 84'0" wings
Linke-Hofman R.II Big airplanes that are single
propeller driven biplanes according to wingspan. However, they are not the largest single engine
driven biplanes. Two bomber prototypes of the aircraft were produced during
WW1. They each had four engines linked together turning a single huge
propeller.
17,640#, 138.3' wings
Mars
The Martin Mars water bombers are big airplanes that are
active prop driven water bombers and the largest production seaplanes. The
aircraft, which was produced in 1945, are still going strong today.
76,600#, 202.5' wings
747 Supertanker
The
Boeing/Evergreen 747 Supertanker, a converted Boeing 747-200, is the biggest airplane uses as an air tanker. It has a capacity of 24,000
gallons.
358,000#, 195.7' wings
A-3
The Douglas A-3 Skywarriors, know as "the whale," are big airplanes ever to be US Navy carrier-based. Their original mission were as strategic bombers.
39,400#, 72.5' wings
AIRBUS A380
The Airbus A380 being readied for flight.
Airbus A380 Airbus A380's are big airplanes and commercial passenger airliners. They are the biggest now flying.
The Russian An-225 cargo aircraft is larger overall.
608,400#, 261.7' wings
Airbus A300 Airbus A300's are big airplanes. They are the first ever two engine wide cabin aircraft to fly.
198,500#, 147.1' wings
Boeing 747 Boeing 747's were big airplanes for carrying passengers from 1970 to 2005 when the
Airbus A380 first flew. The 747-8 is the world's longest mass produced aircraft.
472,900#, 224.6' wings
Airbus A340-600 Airbus A340-600's are big airplanes. They are the second longest mass produced aircraft.
392,000#, 208' wings
A-40 Beriev A-40's are big airplanes currently flying as seaplanes. Thus far two prototypes have been produced.
127,270#, 135.5' wings
P-47 Republic P-47 Thunderbolts were big airplanes with a
single engine flown as WW II fighters. Their missions included bomber escort and ground support.
9,500#, 40.8' wings
Felixstowe Fury
The Felixstowe Fury Triplane Seaplane.
The Felixstowe Fury
is the biggest triplane seaplane ever built. It performed well, flying
for seven hours without landing during its testing. The aircraft flew
from Nov. 11, 1918 to
Aug. 11, 1919 when it was damaged beyond repair during take off.
18,550#, 123' wings
P-61 Northrop P-61 Black Widows are big airplanes with twin engines flown as a USAAF WW II night fighters.
21,000#, 66.1' wings
B-29 Boeing B-29 Superfortresses are big airplanes. They were the largest airplanes flown as U.S. World War II bombers.
70,000#, 141.2' wings
B-36 Convair B-36 Peacemakers are big airplanes flown as a United States bombers. They are the world's biggest bombers that were ever produced.
171,000#, 230.1' wings
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Viking BV 222 Vikings were big airplanes that were mass produced and flew during WWII. They were the largest Luftwaffe production seaplanes deployed during the War.
67,575#, 151'
BRISTOL BRAEMER
The Bristol Braemer Triplane Bomber.
The Bristol Braemer is among the big airplanes as the largest triplane bomber ever built. Two were flown as prototypes during WWI. They had acceptable
speed and handling. However, the war ended before they could be deployed.
10,650#, 81.7' wings
XB-35 The Northrop XB-35's are big airplanes that were prop driven flying wings. They were the biggest ever manufactured. Two
prototypes were made, but they never went into production.
90,000#, 172.1' wings
B-52 Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses are big airplanes used as U.S.
jet bombers and the backbone of today's U.S. heavy bomber fleet.
185,000#, 184.9' wings
PZL M-15
The PZL M-15 flying over farmland.
PZL M-15 jet powered biplanes are big airplanes. They are the largest airplanes to be used as a dedicated agricultural aircraft ever produced.
6,812#, 73.5' wings
F-105 Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs are one of the big airplanes with a single seat, and a single engine. They were used
primarily as a bomber during the Vietnam war.
28,100#, 34.9' wings
Blohm & Voss BV 238 The BV 238 was a one of a kind Luftwaffe WW II seaplane. It was their biggest airplane ever built during World War II.
120,600#, 197.4' wings
AT-802 The Air Tractor AT-802 is one of the big airplanes as the largest airplane that is currently
produced as a dedicated single engine agricultural and fire fighting aircraft.
6,300#, 58' wings
Tarrant Tabor The Tarrant Tabor was the world's biggest airplane when built.
24,750#, 131.1' wings
Me-323 Messerschmidt Me-323's were essentially gliders fitted with motors. They were beg airplanes used as Luftwaffe WW II transports.
34,000#, 183.1' wings
The Sikorsky Russky Vityaz was the biggest airplane with four engines when first flown.
7,500#, 88.6' wings
CH-53 The Sikorsky CH-53 is the largest United States helicopter ever produced.
33,200#, 73.3' long
CH-37 The Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave was the largest U.S. military helicopter from 1953 through 1961.
20,830#, 64.2' long
Mi-12
The Mil Mi-12 is the largest helicopter ever to fly. Only two prototypes were produced.
152,000#, 121.3' long
Mi-26 The Mil Mi-26 is the largest helicopter now flying. It is currently in production.
62,170#, 131.4' long
C-46 Curtiss C-46 Commandos twin engine U.S. transports were big airplanes for their time. They were the largest airplanes to serve as transports during World War II.
33,000#, 108' wings
LOCKHEED R6V CONSTITUTION
Lockheed R6V Constitution side view.
Lockheed R6V Constitutions are big airplanes. They are the largest ever deployed by the
U.S. Navy. Two of the land based aircraft were built and flown
as passenger and cargo transports from 1948 to 1953.
113,780#, 189.1' wings
SA 321
The Aerospatial SA 321 Super Frelon is the biggest European production helicopter.
27,558#, 75' 6" long.
C-5
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is one of the big airplanes of the world as the largest airplane that is the main long
distance heavy lift transport of the United States Air Force.
338,000#, 222.8' wings
Ki-20 Mitsubishi Ki-20's were big airplanes. They were the largest that Japan produced as a WW II bombers.
32,875#, 144.3' wings
ANT-20 The Tupolev ANT-20 was the largest airplane
of its time and remains one of the big airplanes in the world.
62,700#, 206.7' wings
Tu-144 Tupolev Tu-144's were big airplanes as Russian supersonic airliners.
187,400#, 95.5' wings
G10N Nakajima G10N Fugakus were to be big airplanes. Japan intended to produce them as a long range heavy bombers
that would be able to attack the U.S. mainland from Japan. The war ended before they could be built.
96,600#, 206.7' wings
Ju 390 Junkers Ju 390's were big airplanes that Germany built as a long range WW II bombers.
87,100#, 165.1' wings
Z511 CANT Z511's were among Italy's big airplanes built as seaplanes during WW II.
45,000#, 130.8' wings
The Sikorsky Ilya Murometz still is among the world's big airplanes. It was Russia's largest four engine strategic bomber when first deployed.
6,930#, 97.8' wings
DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is still flying today as an airliner, water bomber, and USAF air-to-air refueling aircraft is one of the big airplanes in its class.
267,000#, 155.3' wings
The Pemberton-Billings P.B.31e Nighthawk was the biggest airplane quadraplane fighter ever built to intercept Zeppelins during WW1,
3,680#, 60' wings
ANT-4 Tupolev ANT-4's were big airplanes as Soviet all-metal bombers of their day.
9,965#, 94.1' wings
TB-3 Tupolev TB-3s were big airplanes. They were the first monoplane four engine heavy bombers of the Soviet Union
24,700#, 137.1' wings
Tu-160 Tupolev Tu-160's are big airplanes. They are the world's heaviest bombers.
242,500#, 182.8' wings
Bell 214ST biggest ever aircraft produced by Bell.
9,480#, 49.4' length
BIG AIRPLANES
