Top 10 Biggest Airplanes in the World (Updated)
When we are not fighting between ourselves, it is truly remarkable the things that human beings can do. Artificial intelligence for example, who ever thought people would come to invent a product smarter than them by several folds? Well, we will today explore the top 10 biggest airplanes in the world.
The planes I share about are both civilian as well military. The common denominator is their sheer size. The list shared runs from first to tenth and in discussing the attributes of these aero planes, we will look at features like their architecture, strengths, manufacturing countries, famous facts etc.
This I hope, will give you an insight into the workings of these giants especially because not all of them are not so common in real life.
The ranking metric adopted is that of Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) which essentially refers to the heaviest point that a carrier is allowed to fly per its certification.
This number includes the weight of all people on board, that of the plane itself, and cargo. Going by this then, it is possible for a plane to have a lower number than one that is comparatively smaller on the outside.
1. An-225 Mriya
Its name meaning Dream, the Mriya was manufactured by the USSR in 1988 for the purpose of carrying the Buran Space plane. The Soviet Union collapsed having only completed one such plane though and in the aftermath, it was taken on by Ukraine.
By many measures, this plane is a giant indeed. It has an MTOW of 640 1,410,958 pounds, is 84 meters in length, and her wings span across 88 meters. On the runway, the An-225 Mriya is supported by 32 tires and six turbofan engines.
For many years, it was difficult to know how to repurpose this craft but with time, an opportunity was seen in cargo transportation and so it hit the road once more following a couple of modifications. Some of the cases in which it was employed is in delivery of humanitarian aid.
With the start of the Russia-Ukraine war however, the An-225 Mriya was destroyed as it parked at an airport in Kyiv. The Ukrainian government has however, pledged to reconstruct it. It is estimated that this project will take at least $500m.
2. Stratolaunch
This plane has its origins in the founding of an American Company by a man more famously known for co-founding Microsoft, the now-deceased Paul Allen. Its design was first made public in 2011, the completion in 2017, and flying in 2019.
This humongous masterpiece has an MTOW of 1,300,000 pounds. It also holds the record of the widest wings of a plane known at 117 meters.
This factor comes about because of its twin-fuselage design built specifically with chucks of space in between them for purposes of launching the stuff it carries. Startolaunch is supported by turbofan engines as well which ensure that it flies up to as high as 35,000 ft.
In its conception, this plane was meant to purposefully help with air-to-orbit rockets launching but following the tragic passing of Paul Allen, Cerberus Capital Management (CCM) has taken over her operations and switched gears to hypersonic flight testing instead.
Indeed, prior to CCM’s takeover, it was not clear that Stratolaunch’s future was guaranteed as the mother company fell into problems a month or so after the first flight. It would take more than four years for stability to be regained.
3. Airbus A380-800
This plane will be one of the most common on this list. Famously known as Superjumbo, it first emerged in 2021 the objective of its European manufacturers being to reimagine long distance passenger travel. Indeed, it remains the biggest commercial plane to be built.
This aero plane has two full length double-decks hence it sits between 500 and 850 people with varying levels of comfort. Its MTOW is 1,268,000 pounds.
The jumbo has some of the most comfortable travel experiences there can be thanks to the make of her chairs, the quiet of the cabin, as well as the world-class entertainment services.
The carrier runs on four engines given the weight it has to put up with. This feature has unfortunately proved counterintuitive though given how much cost it comes with both in terms of maintenance and operating. And so, the market dynamics have selected competition that works with two engines e.g. the Boeing 747 as well as A350.
The mentioned phenomenon is serious enough to the extent that manufacturing of the A380 completely seized. Airlines have also been phasing out this craft.
4. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
This craft that was first introduced in the 1960s but it remains an invaluable asset to the American military thanks to its continued upgrading. Its primary role is transporting military cargo in huge volumes as well as transporting combatants both from and to missions over long distances.
Its MTOW is 840,000 pounds. For context, this means that the C-5 can carry two Chinook helicopters on the same flight. She is also 247 ft long and her wings stretch 223 ft.
The craft is supported by four engines giving it a range of 5,500 miles i.e. the distance that it flies non-stop before requiring a refuel. Mark you, it can refuel on the move so it is literally a life saver for those that know how ugly it can get in battle.
Other remarkable features of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy are its uniquely high wing structure as well as its potential to load and offload cargo from both the front and the back. You really can see why this thing has remained a constant. Can you not?
5. Boeing Dreamlifter
Also called the Boeing 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter, the origins and purpose of this career can be understood from this name.
It was remodeled from the conventional Boeing 747-400 by a Taiwanese contractor after the need arose in the early 2000s to carry large parts of the 787 Dreamliner between countries without breaking them up. Wings had to be flown in from Japan for instance.
The modification allowed its MTOW to increase to 803,001 pounds which is an improvement of up to three times load from what a 747-400 carries. Looking at it, this plane looks rather odd (especially its fuselage) and yet, it can travel long distances just fine.
Another awesome feature about it is that as opposed to most cargo planes, its tails slides to the side when loading stuff rather than having opening doors. This smoothens the process.
One does not get to see the Dreamlifter often but if you are a fan of 787, then you have a lot to thank this carrier for. As time goes on though, the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter has begun to be employed in work outside its mother company including delivering medical equipment during Covid-19.
6. Boeing 747
The 747 has come to be referred to as the “Queen of the Skies” a title that perfectly matches her legacy. First appearing on the market during the 70s, this plane quickly came to set the standard for long distance travel as it easily travelled between continents without having to stop along the way.
The model has both freight and passenger versions and its MTOW is 750,000 pounds. For those that carry passengers, their capacity is 366 people. The 747 has the records of being comfortable plus safe.
Being the first jumbo jet, this plane has also served as a model for other important travel aero planes in the United States including Air Force One which is flown by the country’s President.
After 50 years of conquering the heavens however, this airplane is no longer being manufactured as more efficient and cost-effective technology has emerged.
The climax came in 2023 after the production of over 1,500 carriers. Nonetheless, it is undisputed that the legacy of the 747 will remain with us for a long time to come.
7. Antonov An-22
This is a 1960s plane that has been engaged with delivering cargo that is regular, humanitarian, as well as military.
Its MTOW is 551,156 pounds with a build that was aimed at utilizing all the space possible without creating unnecessary wait. It is the case for example, that the pilot’s cabin is pressurized differently from the rest of the aero plane.
Other crucial features of the Antonov An-22 are its massive door that simplifies entering and moving out cargo as well as eight contra-rotating propellers.
One thing that this plane beats all the others that appear in this article at is that it has the ability to land in not-so-great places i.e. either not that big or lacking in maintenance which is such a great feature when it comes to warfare since cargo would be headed for airports that could have been partly destroyed, have not been functional in a while, operating on limited resources…
Only seventy of these massive birds were ever manufactured but several of them continue to work especially in military settings.
8. XB-70
If you have read my article on the fastest planes in the world, then you have already come across one side of this remarkable jet. What I did not share there is the fact that it also had a potential to carry insane quantities.
The XB-70 has an MTOW of 542,000 pounds. This because it was conceived to be a nuclear bomber. Coupled with its sharp pointed nose and folding wing tips, it had been thought that this aero plane would be the ultimate nightmare of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Unfortunately, the USSR was not sitting either. Her anti-aircraft missiles technology advanced so quickly that it rendered the XB-70 venture moot.
Just two prototypes of the of the airplane were ever produced thus and for the most part, their role became that of helping NASA studies in hypersonic speed as well as ones centered on flying at incredibly high altitude. This because the XB-70 could go up to an altitude of 77,000 ft and its speed was put at 3,310km/hr.
9. Antonov An-124
A careful reader will have already anticipated who the manufacturer of this plane is i.e. the Antonov Design Bureau of Ukraine famous for specializing in gigantic aero planes.
This is the entity behind the biggest transporter on this list and it also the only one to have three products among the ten to be discussed.
An-124 is usually overshadowed by An-225 Mriya even when there are many incredible things to be said about it. It is on its template for example, that the latter aero plane was manufactured. Its MTOW is 449,743 pounds and it operates four engines.
Nicknamed “Ruslan” the An-124 is also unique in a sense that it has come to be successfully deployed for civilian and military duties alike.
This among other things owes to the fact that similar to the Lockheed C-5, the Ruslan can open both its tail and nose during the lifting of cargo onboard and off. And, it can fly across very long distances too without having to stop.
Some of the ventures in which it has served are transporting parts of the Atlas V launch system under the supervision of United Launch Alliance and carrying equipment to US military bases in the Middle East.
10. Airbus Beluga XL
Airbus has been into the thing of constructing “Belugas” but this one edges them all. Modeled on the Airbus 300-200F, for example, the Beluga XL carries 30% more weight than the initial Beluga.
Like the Dreamlifter, the Beluga XL was primarily developed to transport internal plane manufacturing cargo but this time for Airbus mostly around the European Continent.
Thanks to its humongous stature, this plane can easily accommodate large chunks other plane parts without the requirement of disassembling.
This aero plane is also often referred to as the whale in reference to its nose that is somewhat similar to a “smiling” whale.
