Largest airplane, largest aircraft, largest plane, biggest airplane,
throughout aviation history. Includes aircraft records, pictures,
accomplishments, specifications.
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Largest Airplane:
The building of the largest airplane has involved air forces, governments, and aviation companies
addressing the benefits vs. the risks involved. The shape of the largest airplane, keeping drag to a minimum while increasing
payload, and even the maneuverability of the largest airplane, both on the ground and in the air, factor into their design. In addition, the
largest airplane 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 the largest airplane occupies while on the ground is yet another consideration. All of these factors must be considered before a
design turns into an aircraft.
Manufacturing the largest airplane 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 the largest airplane may
offset any savings by adding to development costs.
Engineers have tried to develop the largest airplane 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 the largest 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 two smaller planes than the largest airplane.
One of the questions most often asked of Aviation Trivia is to name the largest airplane. That brings
up more questions. How do you determine what is the largest airplane? Would it have the longest wingspan, the longest length, or the heaviest weight?
Don't hesitate to email
us if we left out your favorite largest airplane.
SPRUCE GOOSE
The Spruce Goose on its first and only flight.
If the largest airplane is determined by wing span, it 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.
Convair XC-99 The XC-99 was a one of a kind experimental cargo transport based on the B-36. 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
ANTONOV AN-225
The Antonov AN-225 in a right turn.
The Antonov An-225 is the largest airplane flying today if you judge it by the heaviest.
1,179,500#., 291.1' wings
ANTONOV AN-124
The Antonov AN-124 in a landing approach.
The Antonov An-124 is the second largest airplane 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.
The Boeing 777 is the largest airplane for a twin jet. It is larger than three
jet engine powered airplanes as well. It is smaller than the largest Boeing 747 versions.
367,000#, 199.9' wings
ANTONOV AN-22
The Antonov An-22 landing.
The Antonov An-22 is the largest airplane for a mass produced turboprop and one of the heaviest aircraft ever to fly.
251,350#, 211.3' wings
A-1
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider is a propeller driven attack airplane that is the largest airplane in its class 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 Guardian was the U.S. Navy's one engine largest airplane.
14,580#, 60.7' wings
ANTONOV AN-2 COLT
The Antonov An-2 Colt climbing.
The Antonov An-2 Colt single engine biplane is the current largest airplane of its type, by weight. Popular with
bush pilots, as parachuting aircraft, and as crop dusters, it has been in production since 1947 and is still being produced to this date.
7,600#, 59.7' wings
The Short Bomber is the largest airplane for a single engine biplane when considering wingspan.
It also has a longer wingspan than any single engine monoplane. It was
deployed during World War I as both a land based bomber and a torpedo bomber seaplane.
5,000#, 84'0" wings
Linke-Hoffman R2 If you are looking for the largest airplane that is a single propeller driven biplane according to its wingspan, it is the Linke-Hoffman R2. However, it is not the largest single engine
driven biplane. 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 bomber is the largest airplane that is an
active prop driven water bomber and largest production seaplane. This
aircraft, which was produced in 1945, is still going strong today.
76,600#, 202.5' wings
747 Supertanker
The Boeing/Evergreen 747 Supertanker, a converted Boeing 747-200, is the largest 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 Skywarrior, know as "the whale," is the largest airplane ever to be US Navy carrier-based. Its original mission was as a strategic bomber.
39,400#, 72.5' wings
AIRBUS A380
The Airbus A380 being readied for flight.
The Airbus A380 is the largest airplane commercial passenger airliner now flying.
The Russian An-225 cargo aircraft is larger overall.
608,400#, 261.7' wings
Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 was the largest airplane 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 The Airbus A340-600 is the world's second longest mass produced aircraft, and one of the world's largest aircraft.
392,000#, 208' wings
A-40 The Beriev A-40 is the largest airplane currently flying as a seaplane. Thus far two prototypes have been produced.
127,270#, 135.5' wings
P-47
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was the largest airplane with a
single engine flown as a WW II fighter. Its missions included bomber escort and ground support.
9,500#, 40.8' wings
Felixstowe Fury
The Felixstowe Fury Triplane Seaplane.
The Felixstowe Fury is the largest 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 suffered irreparable damage during take off.
18,550#, 123' wings
P-61 The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is the largest airplane with twin engines flown as a USAAF WW II fighter.
21,000#, 66.1' wings
B-29 The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is the largest airplane flown as a U.S. World War II bomber.
70,000#, 141.2' wings
B-36 The Convair B-36 Peacemakers is the largest airplane flown as a United States bomber that was ever produced.
171,000#, 230.1' wings
Blohm & Voss BV 222 Viking The BV 222 Viking is the largest Luftwaffe production seaplane produced during WW II.
67,575#, 151'
BRISTOL BRAEMER
The Bristol Braemer Triplane Bomber.
The Bristol Braemer is the largest triplane bomber ever built. Two were flown as prototypes during WWI. They had acceptable
speed and handling. However, the war ended before any other aircraft could be produced.
10,650#, 81.7' wings
XB-35 The Northrop XB-35's is the largest airplane that was a prop driven flying wing ever manufactured. Two
prototypes were made, but it never went into production.
90,000#, 172.1' wings
B-52
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is the largest airplane used as a U.S. jet bomber 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.
The PZL M-15 jet powered biplane is the largest airplane to be used as a dedicated agricultural aircraft ever produced.
6,812#, 73.5' wings
F-105 The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is the largest airplane with a single seat, and a single engine. It was 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 largest aircraft ever built as a seaplane.
120,600#, 197.4' wings
AT-802
The Air Tractor AT-802 is the largest airplane that is currentently
produced as a dedicated single engine agricultural and fire fighting aircraft.
6,300#, 58' wings
Me-323
The Messerschmidt Me-323 was essentially a glider fitted with motors. It
was the largest land airplane to be used as a Luftwaffe WW II transport.
34,000#, 183.1' wings
Sikorsky Russky Vityaz S-21 The S-21 was the largest airplane with four engines when first flown.
7,500#, 88.6' wings
CH-53 The Sikorsky CH-53 is the largest airplane to be used as a United States helicopter ever produced.
33,200#, 73.3' long
S-56 The Sikorsky S-56 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 airplane to be used as a helicopter ever to fly. Only two prototypes were produced.
152,000#, 121.3' long
C-46
The Curtiss C-46 Commando twin engine U.S. transport was the largest airplane to serve in that mission during World War II.
33,000#, 108' wings
LOCKHEED R6V CONSTITUTION
Lockheed R6V Constitution side view.
The Lockheed R6V Constitution is the largest airplane 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.
6,812#, 73.5' wings
SA 321
The Aerospatial SA 321 Super Frelon is the largest airplane that is a European production helicopter.
27,558#, 75' 6" long.
C-5
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is 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 The Mitsubishi Ki-20 is the largest airplane Japan produced as a WW II bomber.
32,875#, 144.3' wings
ANT-20 The Tupolev ANT-20 was the largest airplane
of its time and remains one of the largest airplanes ever produced in the world.
62,700#, 206.7' wings
Tu-144
The Tupolev Tu-144 was the largest airplane as a Russian supersonic airliner.
187,400#, 95.5' wings
G10N The Nakajima G10N Fugaku was the largest airplane project from Japan intended to be produced as a long range heavy bomber
that would be able to attack the U.S. mainland from Japan. The war ended before it could be built.
96,600#, 206.7' wings
Ju 390 The Junkers Ju 390 was the largest airplane Germany built as a long range WW II bomber
87,100#, 165.1' wings
Z511 The CANT Z511 was Italy's largest airplane built as a seaplane during WW II.
45,000#, 130.8' wings
Ilya Muromets The Sikorsky Ilya Murometz was Russia's largest airplane 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 the largest airplane in its class.
267,000#, 155.3' wings
P.B.31e
The Pemberton-Billings P.B.31e Nighthawk was the largest airplane quadraplane fighter ever built to intercept Zeppelins during WW1,
3,680#, 60' wings
ANT-4 The Tupolev ANT-4 was the largest airplane Soviet all-metal bomber built to date.
9,965#, 94.1' wings
TB-3 The Tupolev TB-3 was the largest airplane first monoplane four engine heavy bomber of the Soviet Union
24,700#, 137.1' wings
Tu-160 The Tupolev Tu-160 is the largest airplane bomber and the world's heaviest bomber.
242,500#, 182.8' wings
LARGEST AIRPLANE
