Top 4 largest aircrafts in the world

Does your mind wonder how planes stay up in the air, how they move, and how large they can get? Do you spend your journeys pondering on the latter? Read on to learn more about some of the largest aircraft in the world currently.  

The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, the largest within the 787 family, is a dual-aisle, twin-engine jet produced by Boeing. Comprising a primary structure made with composite materials, this aircraft has a body so long that its mid-fuselage section cannot transport over the air. Despite its size and the 78,000 lbf of engine power, the 787-10 boasts one of the quietest cabins, partly helped by engine nacelles’ serrated edges. The 787-10 can accommodate 330 passengers as standard and 40 massive LD3 cargo containers in the underfloor hold - edging its main rival, the Airbus A380.

The A380 is so huge that airports needed to upgrade their facilities to let in this behemoth and is the largest passenger aircraft in the world. It boasts 40% more usable space than the Boeing 747 and has a range of up to 8,477 nautical miles. Its size and prowess are emphasized by the three-minute wait required by other airplanes before they can start taking off after an A380 due to turbulence from its four engines. Understandably, you get extra legroom compared to other aircraft, even in Economy. 

If you thought planes could not get bigger than this, you would be much wrong. With a wingspan of 385 feet, the Stratolaunch aircraft is one special plane designed to launch rockets from high altitudes into space. To give some perspective, the largest passenger aircraft, the A380, has a wingspan of 262 feet. The Stratolaunch is powered by six Pratt & Whitney engines and has three wings- two on either side and a third in the center, flanked by its two heads. While the cockpit on the starboard side is manned, the port-side cockpit stays empty and unpressurized. 

Every airplane enthusiast dreams of getting a glimpse of the aptly named Antonov AN 225 “Mriya”, meaning dream in Ukrainian. This aircraft was envisioned as a solution to the Soviet Union’s need to carry enormous payloads and cargo for its space program. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the ‘90s, Antonov found a use for this leviathan by deploying it when large, niche cargo needed transporting. With 32 wheels under the aircraft and 242 world records under its belt, the Mriya created a fuss everywhere it went. Unfortunately, this six-engine beauty became a victim of the Russian assault on Kyiv’s Hostomel Airport, meeting its end.