People are always attracted by some kind of record - record-breaking aircraft always receive great attention
3rd place: Airbus A380
The 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, length is 72.75 (80.65) meters, wingspan is 79.75 meters. The A380 can fly non-stop over distances of up to 15,400 km. Capacity - 525 passengers in three classes; 853 passengers in single-class configuration. There is also a cargo modification of the A380F with the ability to transport 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 was about 12 billion euros. Airbus says it needs to sell 420 planes to recoup its costs, although some analysts estimate the figure could be much higher.
According to the developers, the most the hard part The creation of the A380 became a problem of reducing its weight. It was solved by wide application composite materials both in power structural elements and in auxiliary units, interiors, etc.
To reduce the weight of the aircraft, advanced technologies and improved aluminum alloys were also used. Thus, the 11-ton center section consists of 40% of its mass from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The fuselage top and side panels are made from Glare hybrid material. Laser welding of stringers and skin was used on the lower fuselage panels, which significantly reduced the number of fasteners.
Airbus claims that the Airbus A380 burns 17% less fuel per passenger than “the current largest aircraft” (presumably referring to the Boeing 747). The less fuel is burned, the lower the carbon dioxide emissions. For an airplane, CO2 emissions per passenger are only 75 grams per kilometer traveled. This is almost half the carbon dioxide emissions limit set by the European Union for cars produced in 2008.
The first A320 aircraft sold was delivered to the customer on October 15, 2007 after a long acceptance testing phase and entered service on October 25, 2007, making a commercial flight between Singapore and Sydney. Two months later, Singapore Airlines President Chew Chong Seng said the Airbus A380 was performing better than expected and was consuming 20% less fuel per passenger than the company's existing Boeing 747-400s.
The aircraft's upper and lower decks are connected by two staircases at the bow and tail, wide enough to accommodate two passengers shoulder to shoulder. In the 555-passenger configuration, the A380 has 33% more passenger seats than the Boeing 747–400 in its standard three-class configuration, but the cabin has 50% more space and volume, resulting in more space per passenger.
The maximum certified capacity of the aircraft is 853 passengers when configured with a single economy class. The announced configurations have a number of passenger seats from 450 (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 leadership of Howard Hughes. This 136-ton aircraft, originally designated the NK-1 and informally nicknamed the Spruce Goose, was the largest flying boat ever built, and its wingspan remains a record to this day. - 98 meters. It was designed to transport 750 soldiers when fully equipped.
At the beginning of World War II, the US government allocated $13 million to Hughes to produce a prototype of a flying ship, but the aircraft was not ready by the end of hostilities, which was explained by a shortage of aluminum, as well as Hughes’s stubbornness in creating a flawless machine.
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 take-off weight: 180 tons
Payload weight: up to 59,000 kg
Fuel capacity: 52,996 l
Engines: 8? air cooling Pratt&Whitney R-4360-4A 3000 l. With. (2240 kW) each
Propellers: 8? four-bladed Hamilton Standard, diameter 5.23 m
Flight characteristics
Top speed: 351 mph (565.11 km/h)
Cruising speed: 250 mph (407.98 km/h)
Flight range: 5634 km
Service ceiling: 7165 m.
Despite its nickname, the plane is built almost entirely from birch, or more precisely from birch plywood glued to a pattern.
The Hercules aircraft, piloted by Howard Hughes himself, made its first and only flight on November 2, 1947, when it rose 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 maintained the aircraft in operational condition until his death in 1976, spending up to $1 million a year on this), the aircraft was sent to a museum in Long Beach, California.
The plane is visited by about 300,000 tourists annually. The biography of the aircraft's creator, Howard Hughes, and the aircraft's testing 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 What 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 deadline 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. For example, the fuselage of the Mriya has the same transverse dimensions as the An-124, but is longer; the span and area of the wings have increased. The wing has the same structure as the Ruslan, but additional sections have been added to it. The An-225 now has two additional engines. The aircraft's landing gear is similar to that of the Ruslan, but it has seven instead of five struts. 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 approximately 70% complete and can be completed at any time, subject to proper funding. To complete its construction, 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 Kyiv, carrying a Buran weighing sixty tons on its back. That same month, the An-225 delivered the Buran spacecraft to the Paris Air Show and created a real sensation there. In total, the aircraft holds 240 world records, including the transportation of the heaviest cargo (253 tons), the heaviest monolithic cargo (188 tons) and the longest cargo.
The An-225 Mriya aircraft was originally created for the needs of the Soviet space industry. In those years, the Soviet Union was building Buran, its first reusable spacecraft, an analogue of the American shuttle. To implement this project, a transport system was needed that could be used 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 were also colossal in size. All this was delivered from the production site to the final assembly points. The units and components of Energia and Buran were manufactured in the central regions of the USSR, and final assembly took place in Kazakhstan, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. In addition, the An-225 was initially designed so that in the future it could transport the finished Buran spacecraft. Also, the An-225 could transport large cargo for the needs 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. The An-225 Mriya will carry out this work today.
General Features and the tasks of the machine can be described as follows:
transportation of general purpose cargo (large, heavy) with a total weight of up to 250 tons;
intracontinental non-stop transportation of cargo weighing 180–200 tons;
intercontinental transportation of goods weighing up to 150 tons;
transportation of heavy bulky cargo on an external sling with a total weight of up to 200 tons;
use of aircraft for air launch of spacecraft.
The unique aircraft was given other, even more ambitious tasks, and they were also related to 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", according to the designers, was supposed to be the first step for the launch of reusable spaceships"Buran" type. Therefore, initially the designers were faced with the task of making an aircraft with a payload capacity of at least 250 tons.
The Soviet shuttle was supposed to launch from the “back” of the plane. This method of launching vehicles into low-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 ship from an airplane seriously saves fuel and allows you to increase the payload spacecraft. In some cases, this may make it possible to completely abandon the first stage of the rocket.
Various options air launch systems are still being developed. They are working especially actively in this direction in the United States, and 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. The An-225 carried out fourteen flights with Buran on the top of the fuselage, and hundreds of tons of various cargo were transported as part of 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 use for commercial purposes. The An-225 Mriya aircraft has unique technical characteristics, enormous payload capacity and can transport large 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 cargo. Some transport operations can be safely called unique and have no analogues in the history of aviation. The aircraft 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 eliminate the consequences of the earthquake in Japan.
In 2009, the An-225 aircraft was modernized and its service life was extended.
The An-225 Mriya aircraft is designed according to the classical design, with high-raised, slightly swept wings. The cabin is located in the front of the aircraft, the cargo hatch is also located in the nose of the vehicle. The aircraft is made according to a two-fin design. This decision is related to the need to transport cargo on the fuselage of the aircraft. The An-225 airframe has very high aerodynamic properties; the lift-to-drag ratio of this aircraft is 19, which is an excellent indicator not only for transport aircraft, but also for passenger aircraft. This, in turn, significantly improved the aircraft's performance 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 become 10% larger (by seven meters). At the same time, the wing span 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 term. Here are the main differences between the An-225 and the An-124 “Ruslan”:
New center section;
fuselage length increased;
the single-fin tail was replaced with a double-fin;
lack of a tail cargo hatch;
the number of main landing gear struts has been increased from five to seven;
external cargo fastening and pressurization system;
two additional D-18T engines were installed.
Unlike the Ruslan, the Mriya has only one cargo hatch, which is located in the bow of the aircraft. Like its predecessor, Mriya can change the ground clearance and angle of the fuselage, which is extremely convenient during loading and unloading operations. The chassis has three supports: a front two-post and two main ones, each of which consists of seven posts. Moreover, all racks are independent of each other and are produced separately.
To take off without cargo, the plane needs a runway 2400 meters long, with cargo - 3500 meters.
The An-225 has six D-18T engines suspended under the wings, as well as two auxiliary engines power plants 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 transport up to sixteen standard aviation containers (each weighing ten tons), fifty passenger cars, or any cargo weighing up to two hundred tons (turbines, especially large cargo vehicles, generators). On top of the fuselage there are special fastenings for transporting large cargo.D
Technical characteristics of An-225 "Mriya"
Wingspan, m 88.4
Length, m 84.0
Height, m 18.2
Weight, kg
Empty 250000
Maximum takeoff 600000
Fuel weight 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 with an ultra-high payload developed by the Design Bureau named after. O.K. Antonov, is the largest aircraft in the world.
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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 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
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 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
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 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
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 to anywhere in the world.
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
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, distinguished by its unique hull 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
In the old days, a person could only look into the heavenly expanses and dream of rising to them. Currently thanks to modern technologies, which made it possible to invent airplanes, a seemingly impossible dream became a reality. Since the invention of the first aircraft model, the human mind has been trying to create more advanced and high-tech models, which is why real air giants appear.
The largest aircraft in Russia and the world is the Airbus A380. Its design provides for the presence of two decks, and the dimensions of the liner are as follows:
- The height reaches 24 m.
- 80 m – wingspan.
- 73 m is the length of the air giant.
The aircraft can accommodate 555 people, while the charter model can accommodate up to 853 passengers. Without a forced landing, air transport can cover approximately 15.5 thousand km, while it consumes fuel 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 confidently held its leadership position as the most great view air transport.
Boeing 747
The largest passenger aircraft in Russia, which has held the championship for more than 30 years, is the Boeing 747, the services of which continue to be used by our compatriots. It is this type of air vehicle was the first to cover a huge distance without a change on the London-Sydney route. The airliner spent 20.5 hours in the sky, during which time it 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 a turbojet six-engine high-wing aircraft, in a two-keel design. The wings of the air giant resemble the outline 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 loads. The main cargo for transporting the new powerful aircraft was launch vehicles. They had to be transported from the Soviet cosmodrome to the places where the rockets were being assembled. To do this, engineers needed to create 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 – width of air transport;
- 4.6 m – height of the airliner;
- 44 m is the length of the vessel.
For those accompanying cargo on board the An-225 there are 88 seats. The crew cabin is designed for 6 crew members. Each control system is equipped with quadruple redundancy.
The height of the aircraft reaches 18.5 meters, that 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 whose length will be at least 2500 meters. The chassis of the famous airliner is the largest in the world, the number of wheels is 32. This number of wheels allows it to easily withstand a significant weight of 650 tons, which is exactly how much a loaded aircraft weighs. To make braking more convenient, pilots can switch the aircraft's engines to reverse thrust.
To facilitate the loading process, it is possible to press the front part of the vessel to the ground using high-power jacks. 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 progressing successfully, with approximately 75% of the work already completed.
An-124 "Ruslan"
"Ruslan" or An-124
The largest aircraft, Ruslan, was created a little earlier than the An-225. Air transport was created for the purpose of transporting ballistic and intercontinental missiles. But after the transport was created, the result surprised even the creators. The roomy “Ruslan” began to be used for other purposes, for example, for transporting both combat 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 was put into operation by the end of 1987.
Airliner characteristics:
- 69.5 m – its length;
- 21.5 m – height of the vessel;
- 73.5 m – span of one wing;
- 174 tons – weight of unloaded transport;
- 866 km/h – speed;
- The flight lasts 14,500 km.
The design of the airliner is made as a high-wing aircraft, the wings of the aircraft are swept, with a single-fin tail. The aircraft design has 2 decks. The first has a main and interchangeable cabin for crew members, and a cabin for those accompanying 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 loading or loading process easier and more convenient, the aircraft has a special system that helps tilt the cabin in the desired direction. The presence of 24 wheels allows the air giant to land on a dirt road, if necessary.
On the Ruslan, engineers installed 4 turbojet engines, the thrust of each is equal to 23,450 kg/cm. Such power allows you to lift cargo weighing up to 155 tons into the sky.
The aircraft has:
- automatic EDSU system;
- automated helm control;
- four-channel hydraulic complex;
- a reliable system for life support for crew members and power supply.
To control the air giant, 35 modern computer systems are used. The largest Russian aircraft, the Ruslan, was able to regain the USSR's leading position in the creation of heavy air transport. It set 21 world records in 1985 for transporting heavy loads over long distances.
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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.
A distinctive feature of the Airbus A380 is that it can fly 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 aircraft are also worthy of respect. Thus, more than 12 billion euros were spent to create the Airbus A380.
Interestingly, this model was first developed as an alternative version of 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 large representative of 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 launch vehicle parts 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.
The main characteristics of the An-225 Mriya cargo compartment are as follows:
- 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. To develop this hypersonic aircraft it took almost 10 years. 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. Also 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.
