How is the world's largest passenger plane made? Airbus A380

These giants plow the sky with ease and grace, and, looking at them from the ground, no one thinks that these steel birds are such a huge structure that the tail height of one of these liners - A-380 - is five giraffes, set Each other. The Airbus A-380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but this article is not only about it.

Boeing 747

Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 have the largest passenger planes. These are liners capable of simultaneously carrying more than five hundred passengers. In particular, the A380 is capable of lifting 853 passengers into the air. Before the appearance of this giant Boeing aircraft The 747 with a length of 70.6 meters and the Boeing 747-8 with a length of 76.25 meters (the longest passenger aircraft) were the largest airliners in the world (the maximum number of passengers carried at the same time reached 600 people). The Boeing 747-8 is more fuel efficient than the Boeing 747, which first flew on February 9, 1969. The designers originally planned a two-deck aircraft structure, but upper deck was shortened due to technical problems. The Boeing 747 became the first airliner in the world to have two aisles in the cabin. This aircraft is certified to fly on three engines, and if one of the four fails, the ship takes off, flies and lands on the three remaining engines. The cruising speed of the Boeing 747 passenger aircraft is 913 km / h.

Giant A-380

The giant two-deck "French" airliner A380, the first copy of which rolled off the assembly line in 2005, is the largest passenger aircraft in the history of world aviation. Indeed, its creators have something to be proud of - the A380 airbus cabin can accommodate 853 passengers. To date, more than 110 machines have already been built and commissioned. The monthly production of these liners is 2.5 cars. Today these giants are used by 20 airlines, with the largest fleet at Emirates.

The cruising speed of the A380 passenger aircraft reaches 1020 km / h. Each liner consists of about four million individual parts and components, which are manufactured in thirty countries of the world by one and a half thousand manufacturers and are delivered using a unique logistics system developed by Airbus, which includes a route by water, as well as by air and road. Each landing gear can withstand a load of about 260 tons (200 cars). For comparison with its predecessor - the wing area of ​​the A380 is equal to one and a half of the wing areas of the Boeing 747-400 and is 845 square meters.

The largest passenger aircraft in the world can be equipped with two types of low-noise engines: either Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP7000. At the same time, the A380 is the most economical airliner in its segment - the fuel consumption for passenger transportation per 100 km with a 525-seat cabin layout does not exceed three liters.

The dimensions of the passenger planes are impressive; the A380's cabin area is 554 square meters. The liner has two decks - the main one, the width of which is a record high - 6.5 meters, and the upper one, with a width of 5.8 meters.

The air volume of 1,500 cubic meters is replaced every three minutes by the air conditioning system; during the flight, there is a pleasant silence in the cabin of the liner, the hum of the turbines is practically inaudible.

Russia is proud of them

And what does the domestic aviation industry offer us? The largest turboprop aircraft in the world is the Antonov An-22. Its length is about 60 meters, its flight speed is 580 km / h. The first liner was launched in 1965.

"That"

The legendary Tu-134 is a passenger airliner for flights over medium distances, up to 2800 meters. It is designed for a maximum of 96 seats, its cruising speed is 850 km / h at an altitude of 11,000 m. Tu-154 is a larger aircraft, 158 people can be accommodated in the cockpit of three classes, 180 in economy class. The maximum flight speed of this liner is 950 km / h, and the Tu-154M modification is capable of covering distances up to 5200 km.

Tu-204 accommodates 214 passengers, and the cruising speed is slightly less than the previous "brother" - 850 km / h.

"Su"

The Sukhoi Superjet-100 is not the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but it is famous for being the first Russian airliner developed using digital technologies. It is designed for flights up to 3,000 kilometers on light airlines. The maximum number of passengers is 98 people.

"Il"

Speaking about domestic aircraft, one cannot fail to mention the "Ilyushins". Russian passenger aircraft presented by this design bureau have several main types that are well known to us. Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

Let's start with the simplest - the Il-62, a liner that has been produced since 1971 and is designed for flights over medium distances - up to 10,000 kilometers. This aircraft can accommodate 198 passengers and five crew members. Its top speed at cruising altitude is 850 km / h.

As for the Il-86 aircraft, it is also designed for medium-distance flights, the cabin containing two classes can accommodate 234 passengers, if the plane is three-class, then 314 people. The clients are served by 11 flight attendants. The aircraft are equipped with twelve emergency ramps and all the necessary modern rescue systems. The cruising speed of the Il-86 is 950 km / h, the distance it flies does not exceed 5000 kilometers with a maximum flight duration of eight hours.

IL-96

Now about the largest representative of the Ilyushin family - the Il-96 airbus. It is designed for long distance flights. Three hundred people in economy class and 262 passengers in the cabin of three classes - this figure practically does not differ from the previous described model of this family. The liner flies with a maximum cruising speed of 900 km / h and is capable of covering a distance of up to 12100 km. Its improved "model" - Il-96M - can accommodate a larger number of passengers - up to 435 people in a charter version.

The near future, or Domestic developments

Today the largest Russian aviation project is Irkut MS-21. Within its framework, it is planned to produce short-medium-haul passenger airliners. Now the company "Irkut" is developing and building, the first copies of the planes will be certified in 2016, at the same time flight tests will begin. The start of production of a serial scale MS-21 is expected from 2017-2018. In the Russian passenger aircraft market, these airliners are to replace the Tu-154 and Tu-204 and will be operated on domestic and international airlines.

Within the framework of the project, not the largest passenger aircraft in the world is being developed, but the family of airliners being created will include various aircraft of three types in terms of length and passenger capacity - for 150, 180 and 210 seats. The lineup will contain aircraft with increased flight range. The cruising altitude of the vessel will be 11,600 kilometers, the speed that the liner will develop will be 870 km / h, and the maximum length of the fluselage will be 39.5 meters. The crew will consist of two people.

As for the progress of work, the base of the project is the Yak-242. The development of the new wing belongs to the company " Civil aircraft Sukhoi ", fuselage work is carried out directly by the corporation" Irkut "and the Yakovlev Design Bureau.

It is assumed that the new liners will be more economical due to the use of modern composite materials, as well as new generation engines. The aircraft will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines; in the future, it is possible to install domestic Permian engines PD-14.

The two-deck giant of the aviation industry is one of the world's most unique aircraft. It was developed back in the mid-eighties, and was already popular then. Today passengers of Rossiya Airlines can board this liner. Let's get acquainted with the parameters of the aircraft, determine the capacity of the Boeing 747 and best places in the cabin.

Parameters

This model entered service in 1985. During the development of this airliner, the designers took the Boeing 747 300 project as a basis, repeating its unique modification. The new aircraft has gained recognition for its more economical fuel consumption and improved sound insulation. In addition, until 2005, the Boeing 747's capacity was the largest among all aircraft in the world at that time. The cabin of this giant can accommodate 524 people.

Unfortunately for Boeing, in 2005 Airbus released its new liner A380, which today is the leader in the number of seats in the cabin.

The Boeing 747 400 we are considering, the capacity of which is now in second place after the Airbus A380, has the following specifications:

1. Length: 70.6 meters.
2. Wingspan: 64.4 m.
3. Cruising speed: 885 km / h.
4. Maximum range: 14205 km.

A unique feature of the liner is the engines (4 pieces), which emit a minimum of noise. In total, Boeing produced 1,358 such aircraft by 2009, which are successfully operated by various airlines around the world. Despite the fact that the ship has not been produced for 8 years, even today it is one of the most popular among the Boeing.

Russian airlines that own Boeing 747 400

The aircraft's capacity makes it popular in Russia as well. Until 2015, only the Transaero company could boast of the presence of this liner in the park. However, as you know, on September 13, 2017, the Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg declared the company bankrupt. Consequently, the bankruptcy procedure was introduced. All 7 aircraft went to Rossiya Airlines. It was she who this moment is the only owner of aircraft of this class.

The airline offers its passengers 4 aircraft modifications:

1. 4 liners with 522 passenger seats.
2. 2 aircraft with 477 seats.
3. One model for 461 seats.

And although it was said above that the maximum capacity of the Boeing 747 is 524 people, there are fewer seats in these modifications. This is logical, since the total number of available seats is determined by the class and the number of high-comfort seats. These chairs require more space than the standard version. Actually, now you can move on to considering the layout of these boards.

Layout

Many passengers before the flight try to find the best seats on the Boeing 747 so that their flight will be as comfortable as possible. This is by no means a useless exercise, because there are indeed more comfortable and more successful seats in the cabin.

There are 470 seats in the lower tier of the vessel - all of them belong to the tourist class. To put it simply, these are economy class seats, the price for them is usually low.

In the standard cabin, several variations of the seat configuration are possible, but the basic scheme is 3: 4: 3. A 2: 4: 2 pattern can be used in the rear of the aircraft, and a 2: 3: 2 pattern in the nose of the aircraft. Note that the most inconvenient places are located in the tail, due to the location of the toilet next to it. They are never in demand, because people are constantly passing near them, and the queues nearby can be annoying.

The places that are located in the middle block along the axis of the aircraft are considered quite convenient. In this sector, many passengers work comfortably without being distracted by other people. You can even sleep there, but it is worth considering that there are no windows near these places, so enjoy beautiful view from the window is unlikely to work. But this does not play a big role if the flight is overnight.

On the lower deck there are 3 blocks of bathrooms: in the tail, between lines 43 and 44, as well as at rows 20-22. There are food blocks and dressing rooms between sectors 31-35 and 54-59, so chairs with similar extensions are clearly not the best choice. Oh yes, at line 31 there is a descent from the upper tier, along which people can walk from time to time.

On the uppermost deck, the first three rows are reserved for passengers who have bought business class tickets, while lines 5-9 are for seats of the economy class. In the bow of the aircraft, on the upper deck, there is a platform on which there is a staircase to the common salon, and two blocks of latrines. This is what the layout of this liner looks like. In the diagram above, you can see the location of all the seats and choose the most optimal location for yourself.

Features of choice

Given the Boeing 747's sheer capacity, seat selection becomes difficult. Before buying a ticket, it is advisable to estimate how comfortable the future seat may be, or, on the contrary, inconvenient. Remember that the Rossiya airline has 7 boards of this type, which may differ in different layouts (three layouts are available), therefore, at the registration stage, it is advisable to clarify such a question and, if necessary, ask the employee to provide a seat by the window, for example, or away from the bathroom ... Usually, airport employees at check-in counters meet passengers and provide seats that passengers ask for. Of course, seats can be selected within the ticket class. For a more accurate representation of the interior details, it is necessary to consider the arrangement of the seats.

Upper tier

Taking into account the huge capacity of the Boeing 747 400, it is possible to arrange seats in the comfort and economy classes in the cabin. The best ones are always on the upper deck. The first lines are reserved for passengers with business class tickets, and a little further (rows 5-9) are less comfortable seats for customers who prefer an economical flight. However, in any case, the seats on the upper deck are more expensive than on the lower. Note that the seats in the business class are paired, each of them is made taking into account ergonomic criteria, so you can really relax here. Such chairs are quite wide, the backs are reclining here, there are displays, and the distance between the sectors is quite large. For all these benefits, passengers are ready to pay extra, and, moreover, a lot.

The seats in the very first row stand out especially, because there is a lot of space in front of these chairs. The disadvantage is the location in the immediate vicinity of the bathroom, all passengers will pass to it through these places.

From the fifth to the ninth lines, there are comfortable economy class seats. The most comfortable seats are on the fifth line, since there is a lot of legroom due to the long distance to the screen that separates the business class. This sector has displays in the seats, a rollover function is available on the backrests, and the free space between the seats is 75 cm.

There are standard seats in rows 6-9, but passengers planning a flight are strongly advised not to choose seats in the ninth row. Behind the back of these seats there is a staircase and a bathroom, which can cause inconvenience during the flight.

Lower tier

The main compartment of the lower compartment starts at row 10. Seats from line 10 to line 11 are arranged in pairs, so the airline classifies them in the increased comfort class. Most often, families with babies buy tickets for these chairs. On the 12th line, the seats are arranged according to the 2: 3 principle, and for 12 seats with the designations "L", "K", "H" they require an increased payment.

In rows 14-16, the seats are arranged according to the classic 3: 3 scheme, and in lines 17-19 - according to the 2: 3: 2 scheme. When choosing seats in these rows, it is worth noting that additional payment is possible for seats 14 "A", "B", "C" and 17 "E", "F". Of course, these are comfortable comfortable chairs, but behind row 19 there are escape hatches. Consequently, the seat backs on this row are not equipped with an adjustment function at all, which should be taken into account when backing up seat data.

For the same reason, it is undesirable to buy tickets for seats in rows 29, 43, 54, since it will not be possible to expand the chair due to the proximity of technical blocks, hatches and bathrooms. The impression of the flight can deteriorate sharply when choosing such seats in the cabin.

There are latrines near the seats in rows 20-22 (“D”, “E”, “G”, “A”, “B” and “C”), which will not bring pleasure from the flight for tourists. But the seats "D", "E", "G", "H" and "K" in sector 29 are located near the emergency exit - you have to pay extra for them, but there is a lot of space around them, which will allow you to sit comfortably. And being close to the emergency exit during an emergency is like an added bonus. Also the seats "D", "E", "G" and "F", located on the 23rd line, would be a good choice.

The next block begins with row 31. Here, the backrest lock and the close location of the bathroom can be called an inconvenience. There is also a staircase nearby, hatches, but all the negative can compensate for the large space nearby. But the only place in this row has a curved seat (very uncomfortable) due to being near the emergency exit. It is inconvenient, although there is a lot of space around.

The best choice is the D, E, G and F chairs. They are quite comfortable, but there is a staircase in front of them, along which people will constantly descend / climb. And the seats on the 32-34 rows are located near the bathroom, so people in those chairs constantly complain about the noise. Sleeping there is unlikely to work.

It is also undesirable to choose seats on lines 43, 54, 70 and 71. Due to the location of the emergency exit, the backrests on these seats cannot be adjusted, which causes discomfort during the flight. Rows 44 and 55 are also located near the toilet, however, this disadvantage is compensated for by the large legroom. If you choose seats at the very end of the salon, then it should be borne in mind that there is a restroom and service rooms. Naturally, the backrests will not recline there either.

Despite the enormous capacity of the Boeing 747's cabin, the designers failed to create the same conditions for the flight. Even seats for the same price can vary greatly in terms of comfort and convenience during the flight.

When buying a ticket on the official website of the airline, you can find the form you need to familiarize yourself with the layout of this board. If you wish, you can call the manager of the airline, who will not refuse assistance in choosing a suitable seat. It is advisable to notify the employee about personal preferences and the desire to sit, for example, near the window.

You should not buy a ticket for a seat that is located near the office. Usually, queues are formed near such premises and people are constantly moving, which creates unnecessary noise. It is necessary to reserve places where you can recline and stretch your legs - this is very important on a long flight.

A very bad option is to book a seat next to the partition. And if the flight is scheduled for the morning or at good weather, then it is advisable to reserve a chair near the porthole in order to enjoy the scenery outside the window during the flight.

Considering how large the capacity of the Boeing 747 is, the layout of the seats on the liner needs to be studied in more detail. There you can define better zone and places, finding technical blocks, latrines. Try to find a place away from these areas. Remember that this can determine general impressions from the flight. Besides, good conditions especially important for people who are afraid to fly. After all, comfort reduces passenger stress and nervous tension. After the flight, a person can get out of the plane full of energy, or he can be severely exhausted by the constant noise.

Indeed, the passenger capacity of the Boeing 747 allows this aircraft to be used on the busiest flights. The carrier is trying by all means to ensure that its sides are as full of people as possible, so you should not count on the fact that the plane will be half empty and you will be able to take any seat. With huge liners of this level, this happens very rarely.

How to buy a ticket cheaper?

When only a few days are left before the flight, and many tickets are not sold out, the airline offers big discounts even for business class seats. Therefore, keep track of the number of available tickets, and if there are a lot of them, then you can postpone the purchase. There is a chance that discounts will be available soon.

Taking the wrong place

If it suddenly turns out that you have chosen an unsuccessful place in which you are uncomfortable, and there is a more comfortable chair nearby, then you can safely transfer to it. It is unlikely that the flight attendants will ask you to go to their place. But even in this case, you can ask permission to change the place, complaining of discomfort.

Of course, you can only take a free seat within your class, although according to the reviews of some passengers it is clear that sometimes it is even possible to take a seat in a higher class in the absence of people there.

Other aircraft with similar passenger capacity

The Boeing 747 400 has competitors that also boast huge storage capacities. The very first in the world is the Airbus A380, a double-deck aircraft that is capable of carrying 525 passengers at once in three classes of cabins. There is a configuration of this liner that can accommodate only economy seats. This configuration provides 853 seats. The flight range is 15,400 km.

Less interesting is the Boeing 747 800 with a capacity of 581 passengers in the presence of two classes in the cabin. There is also a modification with a salon, divided into two or three classes, in which 467 passengers can be accommodated.

However, there are no such planes in the Rossiya airline. The Boeing 747 400 with a passenger capacity of up to 552 is the only modification leading in this parameter among other models.

Finally

The capacity of the Boeing 747 is surprising to anyone. Despite the fact that the plane was created long ago, even today it is one of the largest and most advanced airliners in the world. It is a pleasure to travel, even when boarding in Economy Class. Unfortunately, not all airlines can purchase such liners. Some low-cost airlines simply do not need them due to the lack of such a huge passenger traffic. The maximum capacity of the "Boeing 747 400" of "Russia" allows these aircraft to be placed only in the busiest destinations, which makes it possible to load the liners to the maximum. Naturally than more people buys a flight ticket, the more money the company can make.

The history of aviation in its modern sense is more than 100 years old, if you do not take into account the attempts of a person to take off into the air since ancient times. During this time, aircraft construction has gone from the first prototypes of the Wright brothers and other enthusiastic inventors to super-powerful multi-ton giants capable of carrying tons of cargo and hundreds of passengers. This article is about the 10 most large planes in the world.

The largest passenger plane in the world

The Airbus A380 holds the palm among the largest civil aircraft for the transportation of passengers. This is the brainchild of a European Airbus... It first took off with passengers in 2005 after 10 years of development and experimentation by designers.

Fact. The cost of creating the giant was almost 12 billion euros.

This expensive, but the largest passenger aircraft has the following dimensions:

• height - 24.08 m;
• length - 72.75 m;
• wingspan - 79.75 m;
• weight - 280 tons.

Additional Information. Despite its impressive dimensions, the Airbus A380 is very economical and even environmentally friendly in operation - only three liters of fuel are consumed to transport one passenger over a distance of 100 kilometers. It can cover a distance of more than 15,400 meters without refueling. And the less fuel is spent, the less emissions into the atmosphere. This result was achieved thanks to the perfect design of the wing and fuselage, as well as the special material from which they are made. These engineering solutions have significantly reduced the overall weight of the vessel and improved its aerodynamics.

Today the double-decker Airbus A380 can accommodate 525 passengers divided into three classes and up to 853 people with a single-class cabin configuration. However, the development and testing of improved versions of the aircraft are already underway, the capacity of which should exceed 1000 people.

Airbus A380 removed the Boeing 747 from the pedestal, which held the position of the most big plane since the 1970s The A380 developers have found a way to reduce the ship's manufacturing costs by 15% compared to Boeing and increase the capacity by 7%.

The second largest aircraft in the world

The already mentioned Boeing 747 (Jumbo Jet) takes the honorable second place in terms of size among passenger liners. At the time of its creation in 1969, it was the largest, heaviest and most capacious aircraft ship, 70.6 m long.

For 36 years it was produced in various modifications, however, retaining the main characteristics in them: a wide fuselage and two floors for passengers. This design gives the Jumbo Jet a recognizable hump-like silhouette, as the upper deck is significantly shorter than the lower.

Interesting. In the late 1960s, it was believed that the future of passenger aviation was in supersonic light aircraft, which would supplant the hulking heavyweights. Therefore, the "747" was developed with the possibility of converting into a cargo one. Experts estimated the capacity of the market for capacious aircraft at no more than 400 units, but these predictions did not come true, and in 1993 the company sold its thousandth Boeing-747. Only in our century, with the advent of the Airbus A380, the demand began to fall.

In the 1970s. there was a fuel crisis in the world, prices for aviation fuel skyrocketed, as did ticket prices. Companies that have a Boeing 747 in their fleet faced its unprofitability, the plane often flew empty. However, on especially busy routes and on intercontinental flights, the Jumbo Jet has been and remains a popular model.

The longest passenger plane in the world

This is a record holder already from recent history Aviation - Boeing 747-8, began production in 2008. It is a modification of the legendary Boeing 747, with significant modifications. The designers lengthened the fuselage as much as possible, redesigned the wing and worked on efficiency in operation.

The Boeing 747-8 is 76.25 meters long, making it the longest passenger liner in the world. However, it is also the heaviest aircraft in the United States, with a take-off weight of 447 tons, which is still considered a record in the history of aircraft construction in America.

Specifications:

• length - 76.25 m;
• height - 19.35 m;
• wingspan - 68.45 m.

In addition to cargo, this aircraft can accommodate up to 581 passengers.

The most "hardy" aircraft

For the successful operation of aircraft, in addition to capacity and carrying capacity, it is important how far they can cover without refueling. Today, the long-distance flight record holder is the Boeing 777, which is capable of flying half the Earth's circumference - 20,000 km at a time. However, this is the limiting value of the length of the flight; in normal practice, the distance covered is 9000-17000 km.

Interesting. The Boeing 777E is the first modern airliner to use computer modeling instead of paper drawings. In the early 1990s. Such technologies have become a breakthrough in the aircraft industry, since 3D modeling makes it possible to eliminate errors in joining parts even at the design stage.

The Boeing 777 has different modifications depending on the length of the fuselage and the range. 777-300ER is one of the most "hardy" and demanded modifications. It is a large liner with two turbofan engines. The maximum capacity is 550 people.

As a long-range aircraft, the Boeing 777 can stay aloft for up to 18 hours without interruption. However, there is a limitation on the duration of the work shift for the crew, therefore, special places have been allocated in the cabin for pilots and flight attendants to sleep and rest.

Leader in wing length

The Hughes H-4 Hercules entered the TOP 10 largest aircraft in the world due to its wing size. Despite the fact that this is the oldest of the aircraft described here, no one has yet been able to beat its record: its span reaches 98 meters.

Airplane first and last time took off in the air in 1947, he sad story creation. At the outbreak of World War II, the American government commissioned the development of a military aircraft to Hughes Aircraft under the direction of Howard Hughes. However, the search for a perfect solution dragged on. Hughes couldn't be satisfied with the result. Moreover, there was a shortage of aluminum in the world. As a result, the war ended, but there was still no plane. Only two years after the end of hostilities, the Hughes H-4 Hercules made its maiden flight. Surprisingly, this device was completely made of plywood and, in fact, was a flying boat.

Specifications:

• length - 66.45 m;
• height - 24.08 m;
• wingspan - 97.54 m;
• maximum takeoff weight- 180 t.

Interesting. This "boat" could carry 750 soldiers in full uniform to the battlefield. However, in reality, her flight was limited to two kilometers over Los Angeles. After that, the plane remained in the personal property of G. Hughes, who until his death spent a lot of money annually to maintain it in working order. After the death of the designer, the giant was sent to a museum in California to attract tourists. Based on the life of the engineer Howard Hughes, the film "Aviator" was shot with Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

Not so long ago (May 31, 2017), the Hughes H-4 Hercules' wingspan record was surpassed: the Stratolaunch aircraft with a wingspan of 117 meters was presented to the world. However, he has not yet made a single flight, so the brainchild of Hughes is still the leader among the operated models.

The largest cargo plane in the world

This title belongs to the An-225, designed in the USSR at the Kiev Mechanical Development Plant, in the OKB im. O. K. Antonova. The Ukrainian name of the heavy-duty truck is "Mriya" (translated as "dream"). The first flight took place in 1988.

The impetus for the creation of "Mriya" was the Soviet space program "Buran" for the development of a reusable transport spacecraft. To implement the ambitious plans, an ultra-large-capacity aircraft was required to participate in the cargo transportation of the ship's components. The projected aircraft had to lift at least 250 tons at a time and have attachments for the transportation of external cargo.

The designers took the An-124-100 (Ruslan) as a basis and changed some units and parts in order to obtain the necessary technical characteristics. This is how the largest transport aircraft, the An-225, appeared. Despite the fact that the "Mriya" was created for very specific tasks, it has become a versatile vessel in cargo aviation.

The cargo compartment is sealed and has the following dimensions:

• length - 43 m;
• height - 18.2 m;
• width - 6.4 m;
• wingspan - 88.4 m;
• weight - 250 tons.

The plane provides space for 6 crew members and 88 people accompanying the cargo. The probability that the plane will fail in flight is extremely small - all important systems are duplicated 4 times.

While "Mriya" has been created in a single copy, the curtailment of the "Buran" program has also suspended the production of the heavyweight aircraft. It is known that the design bureau im. Antonova continues to develop the second modification of the giant.

The largest military aircraft

The An-124 Ruslan, the prototype of the An-225, was at one time considered the largest aircraft in the world. It is now the largest military aircraft with a huge payload. It has four turbojet engines, a wide fuselage and two decks. The lower one is for cargo, the upper one is for the crew (8 people) and accompanying persons (up to 21 people). The volume of the cargo compartment is 1000 cubic meters. An-124 lifts 120 tons into the air.

Specifications:

• length - 69.1 m;
• height - 21.08 m;
• wingspan - 73.3 m;
• weight - 178.4 tons;
• takeoff weight - 392 tons.

"Ruslan" is also developed at the OKB im. O. K. Antonova, like "Mriya". Its purpose is to transport transcontinental ballistic missiles. However, the result of the work of Soviet designers exceeded expectations - the An-124 turned out to be a versatile military aircraft that can carry large military equipment. "Ruslan" was mass-produced, 56 copies were produced in total. In the early 2000s. there were attempts to resume its production by the forces of Ukraine and Russia, however, due to the aggravation of political relations between the two countries, the project was canceled.

The largest turboprop aircraft in the world

The An-22 was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War. Had the code name "product 100". As a result, five years later the world saw this gigantic "product" called AN-22 "Antey". This is the first Soviet and Russian aircraft with a wide fuselage. It is still considered the largest turboprop aircraft ever. The diameter of the propellers is 62 cm, and the power of each of the four motors is 11227 kW.

Specifications:

• length - 57.31 m;
• height - 12.53 m;
• wingspan - 64.40 m;
• weight - 119 kg;
• carrying capacity - 60 tons.

"Antey" is capable of transporting heavy and large military equipment over long distances, and is used for airborne assault landing.

The heaviest combat aircraft in history

Tu-160 is a representative of a completely different generation of military aircraft. It flies at supersonic speed and is a strategic bomber. So far, it is the largest and most powerful aircraft in Russia and the world in the history of military aviation.

The Tu-160 concept was born in the 1970s-1980s. as a response of Russian strategists to the military development of the United States and NATO. The future aircraft was supposed to fly to the neighboring continent and overcome the enemy's air defense at supersonic speed.

Specifications:

• length - 54.1 m;
• variable sweep wing, so the span is different: 55.7 / 50.7 / 35.6 m;
• height - 13.1 m;
• weight - 110 tons.
• maximum takeoff weight - 275 tons.

Most of the Tu-160 missile carriers are named after prominent figures in Russian aviation. For 2017, the armament of our country of Russia consists of 16 aircraft. There are plans to completely modernize them.

The largest mass-produced cargo plane

The American cargo plane Lockheed C-5 Galaxy rounds off the list of "The largest planes". Today it is the largest model among the mass-produced trucks. Since 1968, the aircraft has been successfully operated by the US Army, and regular upgrades allow it to be considered modern and promising.

Specifications:

• aircraft length - 75.54 m;
• aircraft height - 19.85 m;
• wingspan - 67.88 m;
• weight - 169.6 tons.
• maximum takeoff weight - 379.6 tons.

The plane without refueling can fly over 4 thousand kilometers at an altitude of 10 km. The maximum developed speed is 920 km.

The largest aircraft are milestones in aviation history. They demonstrate how engineering thought developed, what path the designers saw in front of them. As history shows, the most outstanding achievements in aircraft construction are associated with military operations.

The list of aircraft of the maximum size includes both military cargo transporters and aircraft capable of carrying more than five hundred passengers. The leaders among them are Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.

Which models are on the list of the largest aircraft?

The listed aircraft were created in different countries the world, some of them are transport and cargo, some are created only for the transport of passengers. The need for high-capacity aircraft is growing from year to year, which is associated with the desire of people to travel, to learn new countries, to discover new continents.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

The height of this wooden giant is twenty-four meters, the length is sixty-six meters, forty-five centimeters, with a wingspan of ninety-eight meters. Today, the Hughes H-4 Hercules is located in Oregon and is a museum exhibit.

An-225

The dimensions of "Mriya" are also striking. With a height of twenty-four meters ten centimeters and a length of seventy-three meters, its wingspan is almost eighty-eight and a half meters. It is known that the construction of the second such aircraft is underway.

Airbus A380

The largest of the series-produced airliners, this one is also the most economical in terms of fuel combustion. For a hundred kilometers, the fuel consumption for each passenger is only three liters.

An-124

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

This plane gains an altitude of up to ten kilometers and can cover a distance of five thousand six hundred kilometers without refueling. The maximum speed that the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy can reach is nine hundred and twenty kilometers.

Boeing 777-300ER

The Boeing 777-300ER remains the largest among twin-engine passenger jet aircraft. On board, he can take from three hundred and five to five hundred and fifty people.

Airbus A340-600

The height of the liner is seventeen meters thirty centimeters, the length is seventy-five meters thirty centimeters, and the wingspan is sixty-three and a half meters.

Boeing 747

Boeing 747 is also the world record holder for the most widespread use. It is known that more than one and a half thousand of such airliners have been produced.

The largest passenger plane in the world

In 2005, a new super-spacious large aircraft appeared - the Airbus A380. Surprisingly, its capacity is equal to eight hundred and fifty-two passengers. They are located on two decks. This four-engine airliner has a wingspan of nearly eighty meters, a height of twenty-four meters and a length of seventy-three meters. The weight of this "giant" is also surprising - without passengers it weighs almost two hundred seventy-seven tons and is capable of flying fifteen thousand two hundred kilometers without stopping for refueling.

And the largest cargo plane is called the An-225 Mriya. It was made in the USSR. ...
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Before you Airbus A380 - the largest passenger aircraft in the world today. Its length is 80.65 m, its height is 24.08 m, and its wingspan is 79.75 m. large quantity seats - either 853 passengers in a single-class configuration, or 525, but in a three-class cabin. It also differs in that it is capable of making long flights without landing over a distance of more than 15 thousand kilometers.

The airliner is equipped with four turbojet engines, but two different types to choose from: Engine Alliance GP7000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 900. The weight of the aircraft is 280 tons, and the maximum take-off is 560 tons. There is also a cargo modification called the A380F - it can carry 150 tons of cargo at once over a distance of no more than 10 thousand kilometers.

In total, the development of this colossus from Airbus S.A.S. (previously Airbus Industrie) it took about 10 years. According to the developers, the main design issue was weight reduction. To solve it, I had to resort to the use of special composite materials, both in the structure itself and in the cabin, units, and so on. In addition, aluminum alloys, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and hybrid materials are widely used.

Interestingly, this aircraft is one of the most economical among its competitors - it consumes about three liters of fuel per passenger. According to the manufacturer, the Airbus A380 burns fuel almost 20 percent less than "another modern airliner" (here, most likely, we are talking about the Boeing-747, which is the main competitor of this model).

In total, about 12 billion euros were spent on the development of the aircraft. In order for the model to fully pay for itself, it is necessary to sell 420 airliners (the manufacturer says about this). According to other sources, this figure is at least doubled. However, only 68 Airbus A380s have been produced so far.