Largest jet plane, largest propeller plane, largest jet, largest prop plane, largest fighter plane, largest passenger plane, largest commercial plane, largest airliner, largest helicopter, biggest jet plane, biggest propeller plane, biggest jet, biggest prop plane, biggest fighter plane, biggest passenger plane, biggest commercial plane, biggest airliner, biggest helicopter throughout aviation history. Includes records, pictures, accomplishments, specifications, and a guide to scale rc airplanes.
TO FIND YOUR FAVORITE LARGEST PLANES ON THIS PAGE:Enter "Ctrl
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Largest Planes:
The building of the largest planes has involved air forces, governments, and aviation companies
addressing the benefits vs. the risks involved. The shape of the largest planes, keeping drag to a minimum while increasing
payload,
and even the maneuverability of the largest planes, both on the
ground
and in the air, factor into their design. In addition, largest planes
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 largest planes occupy 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 planes 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 of largest planes down, while the challenges of incorporating the
materials into the construction of largest planes may
offset any savings by adding to development costs.
Engineers have tried to develop largest planes 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 make it practical to fly the largest planes. 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 not to produce the largest planes.
One of the questions most often asked of Aviation Trivia is to name all of the largest planes. That brings
up
more questions. How do you determine what are the largest planes?
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 even the size of their propellers. Or, should we list the
largest planes 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 largest planes.
SPRUCE GOOSE
The Spruce Goose on its first and only flight.
If largest planes 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. You can rank the Spruce Goose in the category of largest prop plane, largest seaplane, and largest passenger plane.
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 largest planes. It was the world's largest
cargo plane 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 largest planes because they were the largest planes 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 largest planes if you judge it by the heaviest weight. It is the largest jet plane, by weight.
1,179,500#, 291.1' wings
The Russian Caspian Sea Monster
KM Ekranoplan makes our list of largest planes because it 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 among the largest planes. They are the second largest jet planes 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
Douglas XB-19 largest planes built as U.S. bombers at the time.
140,250#, 212' wings
BOEING 777
The Boeing 777 in its introductory colors.
Boeing 777's are the largest jet plane 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 is the largest turboprop plane 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 the largest 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 single engine largest planes.
14,580#, 60.7' wings
ANTONOV AN-2 COLT
The Antonov An-2 Colt climbing.
Antonov An-2 Colt single engine biplanes are the largest planes 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 the largest planes 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 Largest planes 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 the largest planes 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 one of
the largest planes 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 the largest planes 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 The Airbus A380 is the largest commercial airliner, biggest jet plane, and largest passenger plane in its class. It is the biggest now flying.
The Russian An-225 cargo aircraft is larger overall.
608,400#, 261.7' wings
Airbus A300 Airbus A300's are among the largest planes. They are the first ever two engine wide cabin aircraft to fly.
198,500#, 147.1' wings
Boeing 747 The Boeing 747 is the largest passenger plane from 1970 to 2005 when the
Airbus A380 first flew. The 747-8 is the world's longest mass produced aircraft and one of the largest airplanes.
472,900#, 224.6' wings
Airbus A340-600 Airbus A340-600's are some of the largest planes. They are the second longest mass produced aircraft.
392,000#, 208' wings
A-40 Beriev A-40's, largest planes currently flying as seaplanes. Thus far two prototypes have been produced.
127,270#, 135.5' wings
P-47 Republic P-47 Thunderbolts largest planes 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 largest planes for a 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 largest planes with twin engines flown as a USAAF WW II night fighters.
21,000#, 66.1' wings
B-29 Boeing B-29 Superfortresses largest planes flown as U.S. World War II bombers.
70,000#, 141.2' wings
B-36 Convair B-36 Peacemakers largest planes 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 largest planes 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
was the largest triplane bomber
ever produced. During World War I two Braemer aircraft were tested. Their test flights were successful, but the war ended and they did not go into mass production.
10,650#, 81.7' wings
XB-35 The Northrop XB-35's largest planes 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 Stratofortress largest jet plane 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 the largest planes to be used as a dedicated agricultural aircraft ever produced.
6,812#, 73.5' wings
F-105 Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs are the largest planes 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 largest plane ever built during World War II.
120,600#, 197.4' wings
AT-802 The Air Tractor AT-802 largest planes currently
produced as dedicated single engine agricultural and fire fighting aircraft.
6,300#, 58' wings
Tarrant Tabor The Tarrant Tabor largest planes when built.
24,750#, 131.1' wings
Me-323
Messerschmidt Me-323's largest planes were essentially gliders fitted
with motors. They were used as Luftwaffe WW II transports.
34,000#, 183.1' wings
The Sikorsky Russky Vityaz largest planes 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. 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 the largest planes to serve as transports during World War II.
33,000#, 108' wings
LOCKHEED R6V CONSTITUTION
Lockheed R6V Constitution side view.
Lockheed R6V Constitution aircraft are the largest planes 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 on our largest planes list.
27,558#, 75' 6" long.
C-5 Lockheed C-5 Galaxy are the largest planes as 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 the largest planes that Japan produced as WW II bombers.
32,875#, 144.3' wings
ANT-20 The Tupolev ANT-20 were the largest planes
of their time.
62,700#, 206.7' wings
Tu-144 Tupolev Tu-144's largest planes as Russian supersonic airliners.
187,400#, 95.5' wings
G10N Nakajima G10N Fugaku's were to be the largest planes that Japan intended to produce as a long range heavy bombers,
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 largest planes that Germany built as a long range WW II bombers.
87,100#, 165.1' wings
Z511 CANT Z511's largest planes built as seaplanes during WW II.
45,000#, 130.8' wings
The Sikorsky Ilya Murometz largest planes as four engine strategic bombers when first deployed.
6,930#, 97.8' wings
DC-10
The
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 largest planes still flying today as airlinesr,
water bombers, and USAF air-to-air refueling aircraft.
267,000#, 155.3' wings
The Pemberton-Billings P.B.31e Nighthawk was the largest plane quadraplane fighter ever built to intercept Zeppelins during WW1,
3,680#, 60' wings
