The maximum number of passengers in passenger aircraft. The three largest aircraft in the world

The aircraft itself is already an engineering genius. Making hundreds of tons of iron rise above the ground is not a trivial task. Even the smallest details matter, it takes the highest precision and hard work of hundreds of people to create even the simplest aircraft by today's standards.

The greater challenge is for aircraft designers to experiment with materials, sizes, technologies in order to create aircraft ever lighter, ever more economical, ever larger than their predecessors. This article will focus on the largest passenger aircraft. Now in the world there are two main players producing huge passenger aircraft - Boeing and Airbus.

Competition between them led to the creation of colossal machines. Among them, the recognized leader is the Airbus-A380. The span of its huge wings almost reaches 80 m, and the length is 73 m. Read about him, as well as about other flying giants, below.

Airbus-A380

Wingspan - 79.75 m
Length - 72.75 m
Height - 24.08 m
Weight - 280 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 560 t
Number of engines - 4
Passenger capacity, max. - 853 people

The production of this aircraft began in 2005, and was put into operation in 2007. Since that time, it officially occupies the first place among passenger aircraft not only in size, but also in capacity, as well as in many other parameters. For example, for aircraft of this category, it is the most economical. Its fuel consumption is only 3 liters per passenger per 100 kilometers.

Such a huge aircraft could not take off if it was built from traditional materials - it would simply be too heavy, and there would not be enough lift from the wings to lift it off the ground. Therefore, the main challenge for engineers and designers was the task of minimizing its weight.

The solution to this problem has become possible through the use of the latest composite materials, some of which were specially designed for this aircraft. For example, the central and main part of the wing (which itself weighs 11 tons!) is 40 percent carbon fiber. Laser technology was used to weld structural elements, which significantly increased the reliability of the joints and reduced the number of fasteners.

Among other things, the designers took care of environmental friendliness. By reducing the amount of fuel consumed by 17% compared to the Boeing 747, they have also achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions - they are 75 grams per passenger per 1 km of travel.

Boeing 747

Wingspan - 68.5 m
Length - 76.3 m
Height - 19.4 m
Weight - 214.5 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 442.2 t
Number of engines - 4
Passenger capacity, max. - 581 people
Manufacturer - Boeing

The Boeing 747 held the lead among passenger aircraft for over 36 years, from 1969 to 2005. In 1970, the release of this aircraft into serial production was a breakthrough, because the construction of such a new model entailed a whole series of changes in the production process, technology, operational requirements, and even in pilot training methods.

Not originally planned to be released a large number of 747s, but when this model proved its reliability, many world airlines began to order it, because the volume passenger traffic started to rise sharply and spacious aircraft it was profitable to keep. Currently, 1.5 thousand 747s fly in the world in companies such as british airways, Korean Air, China Airlines. In Russia, the 747th is operated by the Rossiya company. She inherited five 747s from the collapsed Transaero company.

The 747 also holds significant records: in 1989, it was this aircraft, owned by the Australian Qantas Airways, that made a direct flight to Sydney from the British capital, covering 18,000 km in just over 20 hours. True, he flew empty: without cargo and passengers. Another record is related to the number of passengers: in 1997, 1112 people flew on it to Israel during the military operation Solomon.

The 747 was also used to transport the Space Shuttle. For such transportation, space shuttles are installed on the aircraft "on the back".

The most characteristic detail of the 747th is the "hump" on the fuselage. It was originally planned that the fuselage would be double-deck along the entire length, but this option had to be abandoned for technical reasons. Therefore, the second deck of this Boeing is short.

Such a superstructure was designed so that the bow of the ship could be modified into a cargo ramp, because it was assumed that the 747 would be operated primarily for the transport of goods.

There are 7 modifications of the Boeing-747, almost all of them have both passenger and cargo and cargo-passenger versions. It will not be a mistake to say that the 747 is one of the most common aircraft of this type in the world.

Airbus A340-600

Wingspan - 63.45 m
Length - 75.36 m
Height - 17.22 m
Weight - 177 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 380 t
Number of engines - 4
Passenger capacity, max. - 419 people
Manufacturer - Concern Airbus S.A.S

Airbus S.A.S owns another giant aircraft. This is the Airbus A340-600, which, before the release of one of the modifications of the Boeing 747, was the world's longest passenger aircraft.

Its commercial release began in 2002, in 2011 it was stopped. For 9 years, 97 aircraft of this modification were produced. 340-600 was created specifically for intercontinental flights. Its declared flight range is 14,600 km without refueling.

Boeing 777-300ER

Wingspan - 64.8 m
Length - 73.9 m
Height - 18.7 m
Weight - 166.9 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 351.5 t
Number of engines - 2
Passenger capacity, max. - 365 people
Manufacturer - Boeing

The letters ER in the name of the modification denote Extended Range - increased range. He is able to fly 14,690 km without refueling due to the increase in fuel compared to the previous modification of the "three sevens". It is this aircraft that is the main competitor of the Airbus A340-600 and the best-selling 777 in the world. Currently, about 400 aircraft of this modification are operated in the world.

The aircraft of this model are equipped with the most powerful General Electric 90-115B turbofan jet engines in the world, which provide a maximum thrust of 513 kN. Modification 300ER has reinforced structural elements compared to its predecessors: landing gear, plumage, wings, as well as additional fuel tanks.

Passenger compartment Airbus aircraft The A380 has two decks and is available in two versions. The first option is when the cabin is divided into three classes (first and business class on the upper deck and economy class on the lower deck, thus the capacity is from 516 to 525 people). The second option for the layout of the passenger cabin of the A380 aircraft provides only an economy class located on the upper and lower decks with a capacity of more than 644 people.

Scheme of the salon and the best places

The three-class version of the passenger cabin provides for the location of the first class in front of the upper cabin. It makes no sense to prove that the places here are the most comfortable, and the staff service is no worse than in a five-star hotel. Each seat of the first cabin of the A380 aircraft looks like a closed separate compartment with a convenient door. The passenger seat can be folded out and turned into a comfortable bed. Services such as internet, charging capability mobile devices. In addition, each of these "mini-coupes" has a large comfortable monitor and a mini-bar. For first-class passengers, there are showers (as, for example, on Emirates Airline aircraft), and an exquisite restaurant menu is also provided.

However, it should be noted that in the first class there are places that have their drawbacks. These are seats in the first and fourth rows (according to the diagram), located close to the toilets. Most likely, passengers will visit the toilet at any time of the day, so door noise can seriously interfere with passengers' rest. The close location of the utility rooms also means that staff will very often walk past the first and fourth row seats of the first class, creating additional inconvenience. And of course, in addition to everything, directly opposite the first row of seats is a staircase leading down to the main deck, which also will not help good rest especially at night. Behind the first class seats on the upper deck of the Airbus A380 is business class.

The business class also has very comfortable seats for passengers (though not the same as in the first class). Each place here is equipped with a comfortable armchair, which, if necessary, can be unfolded and turned into a comfortable bed. In addition, there is a good bar here, and the distance between the places allows you to absolutely not worry about legroom. However, in the business class of the A380 aircraft there are places with less comfort. These are, as in the first class, places near the bar and at the toilets - as a rule, in the first and last rows. On the diagram of the upper passenger cabin of the Airbus A380 aircraft, these seats are indicated by rows 6, 21, 22 and 26. As for the first class, the inconvenience of these seats is explained by the heavy flow of passengers to bars and toilets at any time of the day, as well as the movement of attendants. When booking tickets, you should take this factor into account and take the seats in the rows listed above only in cases where there are no more tickets for other seats.

On the lower (or main) deck of the passenger cabin of the Airbus A380, there is an economy class, usually designed for 399 seats and occupying, as a rule, rows with numbers from 43 to 88 (according to the diagram) with two large aisles. Economy class seat backs cannot recline 180 degrees, but they are very soft and comfortable. The distance between the rows is approximately 80 centimeters - according to generally accepted standards. Each economy class seat has its own screen mounted in the front seat and an audio / video system. As well as for seats in other classes, economy class seats are equipped with USB charging systems and the Internet, which, by the way, is paid on the Airbus A380 aircraft.

most successful and comfortable places here are the seats with the letters D, E, F and G, located in rows 45, 54 and 82. The convenience of these seats is due to the fact that there are no seats in front of them, which means there is ample legroom, in addition, toilets, a bar and offices are located quite far from them. Of course, the lack of seats in front does not mean that these places are not equipped with electronic displays for entertainment.

Also very good for rest and review in the economy class are the seats with the letters A and K, located in rows 68 and 81. Their advantage is due to the fact that these seats do not have other seats in front of them, and also because they are located near the windows , which makes them seem to be "aside" from general movement passengers, so they are considered the most profitable and comfortable in the entire economy class.

Seats in rows 43, 52, 67 and 80 are also good. These chairs also have more space in front of them, but at the same time they have a serious drawback, which consists in the close location of office premises and toilets with all the inconveniences associated with this.

The most unfortunate for the economy class, and therefore for the entire Airbus A380 aircraft, are the seats located in the 88th (backmost) row and the seats marked with the letters C and H. Their inconvenience is, as in many cases, that that the toilets are right behind them. Does not add convenience to these places and the fact that the backs last places blocked, which limits passenger comfort.

History of the Airbus A380

Early 1990s in aviation industry was the time of the complete dominance of the Boeing-747 in the field of wide-body aircraft. Boeing managed to maintain an advantage for almost 30 years, which forced many companies, such as McDonnell Douglas or Lockheed, to look for a solution that could provide a replacement for the Boeing-747 and gain a monopoly in the niche of wide-body airliners.

In the summer of 1994, Airbus began developing its own wide-body aircraft, which received the code name A3XX. Initially, options were considered for the possible combination of the two fuselages of the Airbus A340 aircraft. This solution would significantly increase the passenger capacity of the aircraft, since the A340 was at that time the largest aircraft of the company. However, such a decision would also lead to a significant reduction flight characteristics aircraft, increasing its mass and the required takeoff run.

The development of the A3XX was carried out in partnership with Boeing, which developed its own Boeing-747X model, also aimed at increasing passenger capacity while reducing operating costs. The partnership ended in 1996. And already in the next 1997 Boeing closed my project due to economic crisis that erupted in East Asia. In the meantime, Airbus decided to use a double-deck design for the A3XX, which would provide the aircraft with a number of advantages.

In December 2000, they decided to launch the A3XX project, which initially required about 8.8 billion euros. The aircraft received a new name - A380. There are many hypotheses explaining why Airbus decided to “jump” from the number 340 directly to 380. For example, one of them says that the number 8 is lucky in a number of Asian countries that were potential customers for the future aircraft.

In the spring of 2001, the design of the Airbus A380 was finally approved, and in early 2002, the production of the first parts for the aircraft began. Released in 4 countries European Union, and the delivery of components to the assembly site in Toulouse was carried out by ground and water transport as well as by air.

At the beginning of 2005, the first Airbus A380 was built and demonstrated in Toulouse, and already in April its first flight was carried out. During testing of the aircraft, in early 2006, flaws in the design of its wing were revealed. After that, the A380 wing arrangement was urgently changed.

Ground and flight tests of the aircraft were completed in December 2007, and the Airbus A380 received certificates from EASA and the FAA.

The device and characteristics of the Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a wide-body jet passenger aircraft. The passenger cabin of the aircraft consists of two decks. Due to its size and large capacity, the aircraft is the largest passenger airliner in the world. The power plant of the aircraft consists of 4 engines. Depending on the modification, this is the Trent 900 from Rolls-Royce (for the Airbus A-300-800), or the GP7000 from Engine Alliance (for other modifications of the Airbus).

Characteristics of the Airbus A380 aircraft:

Length, m - 72.7
Wingspan, m - 79.8
Height, m - 24.1
Wing area, m2 - 845
Weight:
- Max. takeoff, kg - 560,000
- Max. landing, kg - 386,000
- Empty weight, kg - 276 800
- Max. weight without fuel, kg - 361,000
Fuel tank capacity, l - 310,000
Flight range with max. loading, km - 15 000
Ceiling (max. flight altitude), m - 13 100
Takeoff run, m - 2050
Run length, m - 2 900
Engines:
- R-R Trent 970 - 4 x 31780 kgf
- Alliance GP7270 - 4 x 31780 kgf
Passenger compartment:
- Number of seats (one-class version) - 700
- Number of seats (three-class version) - 555
- Cabin width, m - 5.9-6.6

Airbus A380 modifications

There are the following modifications of the Airbus A380:

Airbus A380-800 - is the basic model of the liner. The A380-841 and A380-842 have the Trent 900 engine. The A380-861 and A380-862 have the GP72XX engine.
Airbus A380-800F - cargo modification of the A380 aircraft.
Airbus A380-900 is an elongated modification of the liner, which is under development. It will have an increased passenger capacity (more than 900 people) and more powerful engines. Potential buyers will be such airlines as Emirates Airline, Lufthansa and others.
The Airbus A380-1000 is a modification that will be larger than the A380-900 and accommodate more than 1,000 passengers. The project was proposed in 2010.

Airbus A380 operation

The operation of the Airbus A380 began in 2007. By the end of 2014, the number of Airbuses was already 139 aircraft, and the number of companies operating the aircraft was 10. Most of the A380 is operated by Emirates Airline (67 aircraft). Other airlines use from 5 to 19 machines of this type, which, of course, cannot be compared with Emirates Airline.

The aircraft can be found mainly on intercontinental flights. Large quantity airbuses are operated by Asian airlines (Emirates Airline, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and others). Due to operating costs, which are 10-15% less than those for the Boeing-747, the Airbus A380 is a very popular aircraft today. Due to the good price and due to the optimal characteristics of the A380 Emirates airline Airline plans to purchase several dozen more cars. At the same time, Emirates Airline pays attention to cargo modifications of the Airbus. In addition, the air carrier orders more comfortable liners (for example, with showers for first class).

Conclusion

The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, accommodating between 519 and 800 people. Reliability, reduced operating costs compared to other wide-body aircraft and comfort provide this aircraft with good market demand, especially in Asia. The main operator of the aircraft is currently Emirates Airline, which appreciated the airbus. In addition, Emirates Airline, albeit indirectly, helps further modification of the liner, showing interest in its new capabilities.

However, the Airbus Group in December 2014 announced a possible halt in the production of the Airbus A380 aircraft. This is explained by the fact that the demand for this aircraft, according to the company's management, is not large enough.

However, it is worth recognizing that due to its performance and reliability, the Airbus A380 is a really good aircraft.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

For the simultaneous delivery of many people over long distances, there are huge air liners of impressive dimensions.

The planes themselves are already spectacular structures, and having truly gigantic dimensions, they amaze the imagination.

Cars capable of transporting hundreds of people are no longer a fantasy. Year by year, such aircraft are gaining popularity, because the need for people to travel is steadily increasing.

Distances between continents are overcome by modern jet liners for several hours without refueling. Innovative technologies make it possible to lighten the weight of the aircraft and improve their fuel efficiency.

Passenger airliners compete in terms of length and height, flight range, wingspan, and carrying capacity. Another competitive value is passenger capacity.

Wide-body liners are champions in terms of size among passenger aircraft. Such specimens have a length exceeding 70 meters, and the width of the fuselage (more than 6 meters) allows you to place up to 10-11 seats in one row.

This double deck long haul airliner since 2005, it has been holding the championship among passenger aircraft in the world. In commercial use since 2007.

Has options:

Passenger capacity is 525 people in three classes, 853 in the economy version.
Cabin width - from 6 to 6.6 meters
The height of the machine is 24.08 meters, its length is 72.75 meters, and the wingspan is 79.75 meters.
Flight range 15400 kilometers (without landings)
Empty car weight - 278800 kilograms
Fuel mass - 310 tons
Motors - there are four of them GP7270 with a thrust of 32000 kgf

The A380 wide-body aircraft was manufactured by Airbus in 2005 as a competitor to the then unsurpassed Boeing 747.

The airliner is divided into two decks: upper (first and business class) and lower (economy cabin). There are several modifications of the A-380-800, among them the A-380-1000, the project of which was released in 2010. It is planned that this aircraft will be able to accommodate 1,000 passengers.

Emirates Airline is the largest charterer of A-380 aircraft in the world. In its fleet there are 101 copies of these two-tiered aircraft. At the beginning of 2018, the Arab carrier announced its desire to purchase at least 20 more aircraft of this model.

This event comes against the backdrop of the fact that earlier Airbus intended to stop the production of expensive (450 million dollars) cars altogether. Fulfilling the order of the Emirates (from 20 to 38 units), Airbus will make aircraft of this brand for another decade, or even more.

A-380 is a reliable, lightweight airliner. The noise level in the cabin, compared to the Boeing -747, has been reduced by half, there is satellite communication (Internet, WI-FI), it is possible to install a shower, bars and other improvements, following the wishes of customers.

For all the overall dimensions and complexity of the aircraft, the operating costs for maintenance and the level of comfort in it are optimal.

For thirty-six years (from 1969 to 2007) another two-deck Boeing 747 reigned in the sky. This is the world's first long-haul aircraft made in a two-tier version. The design and production were very costly, but the subsequent demand and success resulted in huge profits.

Characteristics of B-747-8:

Length - 76.3 meters
Wingspan - 68.5 meters
Fuselage / cabin width - 6.5 meters / 6.1 meters
Passenger capacity - in three classes 467 people, in two - 581 people.
Aircraft height - 19.4 meters
Maximum speed 988 km/h
Empty car weight - 214.5 tons
Range - 14815 kilometers
Kerosene reserve - 242.5 tons
Turbofan engines - four of them GEnx-2B67

The power of the parameters of the B-747 is evidenced by the fact that one of its engines has more thrust than all the power plants of the B-707 combined.

The wide-body B-747 remained the record holder for mass production among vehicles of this class. More than one and a half thousand units have been produced so far and their release continues.

Boeing 747, owned by an Australian company, in 1989 made a record non-stop flight (empty) from London to Sydney (Australia) in 20 hours and 9 minutes, flying 18,000 kilometers.

Another record of this aircraft was the flight in May 1991. During the military conflict, 1,122 people were taken from Ethiopia on board the liner at a time to the capital of Israel.

The B-777-300ER long-haul aircraft is capable of covering more than 21,000 kilometers without refueling. wide body airliner appeared in 2004 on commercial lines. This is the largest twin-engine passenger aircraft with gas turbine engines.

It has the following parameters:

Passengers can accommodate 365 if it is made in a 3-class variation, 550 - in a one-class.
Aircraft length - 73.9 meters
Wingspan - 64.8 kilometers
The height of the car with the tail is 18.7 meters
Fuselage width / cabin width - 6.19 meters / 5.86 meters
Empty weight - 167 tons
Fuel supply - 181.3 tons
Power plant - 2 GE90-115B motors

GE90-115B turbojet engines from General Electric are the most powerful in the world today. Due to the use of only two motors, the B-777-300ER is efficient in terms of fuel and operating costs.

Aircraft of this brand are widely represented in the global aviation space and are very popular for charter flights. Domestic airlines also have Boeing-777-300s in their fleets, and are acquiring new ones.

This airliner is the closest competitor to the Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft is designed and flies on long distance between continents. wide-body airliner with four power plants created specifically for long routes. Produced from 2002 to 2012. During this period, 97 cars were built.

It has the following dimensions:

Length -75.36 meters
Height - 17.22 meters
Wingspan - 63.45 meters
Passenger capacity - up to 419 people
Takeoff weight - 380,000 kilograms

The Airbus 340-600 is one of the longest aircraft in the world (only the Boeing 747-8 is longer). It is also the quietest in its class despite having four jet engines. This makes the flight comfortable and calm.

Without a doubt, the aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus is the leader in the production of machines with huge dimensions. Airbus developed the A350 XWB line, designed to eventually replace the A330 and A340. This is a family with an ultra-wide fuselage and two motors. More than half of the aircraft structure is made of composite materials.

The A350-900 Ultra LR (from the A350 XWB family) enters service with the Singapore carrier in 2018. The aircraft has an increased volume of fuel tanks, improved aerodynamics. This is an aircraft with increased flight distance and the best fuel efficiency.

The newest airliner will operate the longest commercial route from New York to Singapore.

Characteristics:

Machine length - 73.88 meters
Height - 17.1 meters
Wingspan - 64.75 meters
Passenger capacity - 440 in the economy cabin
Fuselage width / cabin width - 5.96 meters / 5.61 meters
Takeoff weight - 298 tons
Motors - 2 units Trent XWB (Rolls-Royce)

The aircraft is capable of flying 14,800 kilometers.

An-122

The failed project (there was one aircraft) was planned in a double-deck design for 724 passengers. This single copy is memorable for the fact that in 1972 he accomplished a kind of feat, evacuating 700 people from Egypt to the USSR.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

The post-war (1947) American plane made of wood did not take place in the metal version. He made one flight at low altitude, is stored in the museum. It is notable for its size: length 66.45 meters, wingspan - 97.54 meters (unsurpassed in the passenger segment), capacity for metal version - 750 people.

Since there is no limit to human imagination and ingenuity, more and more new and modern models aircraft. They are getting better, more economical, safer, and of course, more massive.

Airbus A380

This aircraft has two decks and is the largest for carrying passengers.

The height of the aircraft is 24 meters, the wingspan is 80 meters, and the length is 73 meters.

The aircraft carries up to 555 passengers, in a single-class modification - 853 passengers.

This aircraft is capable of overcoming 15,000 kilometers non-stop, being at the same time very economical. On creation of Airbus A380 was spent 10 years at a project cost of 12 billion euros. First commercial flight took place in October 2007. Then 455 passengers boarded to fly on the Singapore-Sydney route.

During construction, the main sections of the liner are transported by land and surface transport, although some parts are transported by An-124 aircraft.

This model was created as an alternative, previously considered the largest for 35 years. But Airbus moved the "colleague" from a place of honor due to its efficiency not only in fuel, but also in cost.

The developers also achieved a reduction in the weight of the aircraft. The highlight of the design is that 40% of the composition of the Airbus A380 body is graphite (wings and fuselage). The cost of the aircraft itself is about 390 million euros.

This airliner is the leader in terms of flight range. It is capable of flying over 21,000 km without refueling. Operation began in 1995. The aircraft can carry from 300 to 550 people in the cabin. The 777-300 ER is powered by two General Electric gas turbine engines, which are the most powerful engines in their class.

It has a maximum speed of 965 km / h with an impressive mass of 250 tons. One of the main distinguishing features is economy. On the basis of a passenger aircraft, a cargo modification was also created. The symbol "ER" stands for Extended Range (increased range).

A modification of the well-known 747 appeared in 2005. The hull has become longer, at the same time the aircraft is more economical. This model is the leader in the number of special orders for billionaires and top officials of the state. It is used by the heads of 19 states. Version 747-8 is the largest commercial aircraft in the world. The first owner of the commercial model 747-8 is the German company Lufthansa.

Officially, it is the longest aircraft in the world!

Hughes H-4 Hercules

This huge car is one of the record holders for the number of passengers (750), but now it is a museum. The plane was created under the guidance of the famous millionaire Howard Hughes, and was made of wood. The creator of Hercules himself maintained the aircraft in working condition until his death. In 1993, the plane found its eternal parking in Oregon, and more than 300,000 tourists visit it annually.

"Hercules" was developed as a wooden flying boat weighing 136 tons. At the same time, the aircraft was until May 2017 the widest aircraft with a wingspan of 98 meters.

The most capacious of Russian liners, it can accommodate 435 passengers. IN this moment used only by the transport company "Russia" as a VIP transport and Cubana, including for the President of Cuba. It has a modification 96-300PU (control point) - like the aircraft of the President of the Russian Federation. Now on the basis of IL-96M, IL-96-400 was created, with the same capacity as its predecessor.

Unfortunately, the mass production of this model did not take place, despite the fact that it was designed by Western and domestic specialists.

This liner has proven itself over long distances since 2002. Its capacity is 380 passengers in three class classifications, 419 in two class classifications. Flight range - 14,800 km. Initially developed as an alternative to early Boeing models. Although the airliner is identical in terms of the number of passengers to the Boeing 747, the luggage compartment is twice as large as that of a competitor. Series production ended in 2011.

Cargo aircraft

- the most cargo-lifting aircraft in the world. The aircraft was created in the Design Bureau. Antonova. The basis for the creation of "Mriya" was.

The development of "Mriya" was in close relationship with the program "Buran". It was with the help of the An-225 that parts for the shuttle were transported, and subsequently the ship itself. Since the dimensions of the launch vehicle blocks and the Buran itself were larger than the cargo compartment of the Mriya, the An-225 provided external mounts for such cargo.

There is one copy, but there is a joint Ukrainian-Chinese construction of another "Mriya".

The original mission of the aircraft was to transport ballistic missiles. But the result is impressive. An-124 began to be used to transport military equipment. Aircraft option for civil aviation can fly at any latitude and carry many types of cargo, including bulky cargo.

The cost of one copy is $ 300 million, which is more than for many passenger airliners.

The aircraft was developed in the USA for military transportation back in 1968. Capable of carrying up to 345 soldiers or several pieces of military equipment.

It was the most lifting until the appearance of the An-124 in 1982.

Reason to create this aircraft the location of Airbus factories in several places and the need to transport individual parts served Airbus liners. A total of 5 copies were created and they all work for Airbus. Currently, a similar device is being developed on the basis of the A340, for transporting parts of the Airbus A380.

The name comes from the beluga whale, whose shape resembles an aircraft.

Such an aircraft is designed to transport parts of the Boeing 787 aircraft. Before that, individual parts were transported by sea which was extremely inconvenient. Thus, the supply of wings from Japan for the 787 Dreamliner was reduced from 30 days to 8 hours. Only 4 copies have been released so far.

Military aircraft

The short history of military aviation contains many cases when gigantomania came into fashion. The result was the construction of huge aircraft. Some representatives of the largest military aircraft will be described below.

The German aircraft of the Second World War was at that time the heaviest land aircraft. Widely used in North Africa to supply troops. The carrying capacity is 23 tons. Unlike the predecessor Me.321, which flew only one way and was subsequently blown up by the crew, the Me.323 was equipped with engines and landing gear.

The aircraft became the basis for many engineering solutions still used in military aviation. It can and should be called the first military transport aircraft.

The aircraft was created in 1943 in Germany. The base for its creation was the Ju 290. It was created to perform many tasks, including as a strategic bomber that could even bomb US territory. The Germans planned to build 26 aircraft, in fact only two were built.

The aircraft had a unique flight range for its time - 9700 km, which allowed the Germans to seriously think about bombing in the United States.

The plane was created in the USA, like a flying boat. The Navy used it as an ocean patrol aircraft. In total, 5 devices of this type were created. In terms of wingspan, the JRM Mars is the largest mass-produced seaplane in history (the H-4 Hercules was produced in only one copy).

The last of the aircraft of this type is still in operation as a firefighting aircraft.

Aircraft created by Boeing in 1941 to confront enemy Japan. Entered serial production in 1943. B-29 embodied all the latest engineering solutions of that time and was a model for the current military aircraft industry. He became widely known after the use of atomic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

To establish a military balance, by order of I.V. Stalin, an analogue of the B-29 was created, an unlicensed copy of the Tu-4.

Initially, the B-52 was created as an intercontinental strategic bomber, but, being a means of delivering nuclear weapons, it was used in military conflicts only for training. Having an altitude ceiling of up to 15,000 m, he was able to deliver two thermonuclear bombs to any point in the USSR.

The B-52 was actively used in many military conflicts, primarily in Vietnam from 1965 to 1973.

The US military plans to use B-52 aircraft until the 2040s with appropriate upgrades.

The legendary Soviet strategic bomber, which is still in service with the Russian Air Force. This is the world's only turboprop missile carrier. 60 vehicles of this type remain in service, capable of carrying X-101 missiles, which, with a range of 5500 km, allow the Tu-95 to attack targets quite calmly, without revealing itself on enemy air defense systems. Despite the fact that many of today's strategic bombers are jet-powered, the Tu-95 is not obsolete; on the contrary, this is its advantage, since some satellites track the bombers by jet exhaust.

On the basis of the Tu-95, various kinds of test aircraft were created, such as the passenger Tu-114, reconnaissance Tu-126.

Video about the Tu-95 - one of the best bombers of our time.

A supersonic missile carrier with a variable sweep of the wing was developed at the Tupolev Design Bureau in the 70-80s. Many prefixes “most” can be attributed to the aircraft. Tu-160 is the largest military aircraft, which also has the largest maximum takeoff weight. The Russian Air Force includes 16 Tu-160 aircraft based in Engels, Saratov Region.

In 2017, a decision was made to completely modernize the Tu-160.

The history of aircraft construction, both military and civil, does not have much time, however, during this time a huge leap has been made in the technologies used. Increases capacity over time passenger liners, their flight range, more and more challenging tasks, from transport to combat. One way or another, the aircraft industry will remain one of the most high-tech industries.

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 height of the tail 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 will not only be about it.

"Boeing 747"

Among passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 have the largest size. These are liners that can simultaneously carry more than five hundred passengers. In particular, the A380 is capable of lifting 853 passengers into the air. Before the advent of this giant, the Boeing 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 most spacious airliners in the world (the maximum number of simultaneously transported passengers reached 600 people). The Boeing 747-8 is more economical in terms of fuel consumption than the Boeing 747, which first flew on February 9, 1969. The designers originally planned a two-deck aircraft design, but upper deck was shortened due to technical problems. The Boeing 747 was the first airliner in the world to have two aisles between seats. This aircraft is certified to fly on three engines, and if one of the four fails, the vessel will fully take off, fly and land on the remaining three engines. At the same time, the cruising speed of a Boeing 747 passenger aircraft is 913 km/h.

Giant A-380

The giant double-deck "Frenchman" - the A380 liner, 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 cabin of the Airbus A380 accommodates 853 passengers. To date, more than 110 machines have already been built and put into operation. The monthly production of these liners is 2.5 cars. Today, these giants are used by 20 airlines, the most large fleet operated by Emirates Airlines.

The cruising speed of the passenger aircraft A380 reaches 1020 km/h. Each airliner consists of about four million individual parts and components, which are manufactured in thirty countries around the world by one and a half thousand manufacturing companies and delivered using a unique logistics system developed by Airbus, which includes a route by water, as well as by air and by 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 aircraft is equal to one and a half areas Boeing wing 747-400 and is 845 square meters.

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

The dimensions of passenger aircraft are impressive, the cabin area of the A380 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.

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

Russia is proud of them

What does it offer us domestic aviation industry? The largest turboprop aircraft in the world is the Antonov An-22. Its length is about 60 meters, the 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 11000 m. The Tu-154 is a larger aircraft, 158 people are accommodated in a three-class cabin, 180 in an economy class. Max Speed The flight speed of this airliner 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 designed using digital technologies. It is designed for flights up to 3,000 kilometers on lightly loaded airlines. Maximum amount passengers - 98 people.

"Il"

Speaking of domestic aircraft, one cannot fail to mention the Ilyushins. Russian passenger aircraft, represented by this KB, 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, an airliner 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 flights over medium distances, a cabin containing two classes can accommodate 234 passengers, if a three-class aircraft, then 314 people. At the same time, 11 flight attendants serve customers. Aircraft are equipped with twelve emergency ladders and all the necessary modern rescue systems. The cruising speed of the Il-86 is 950 km/h, the distances it flies do not exceed 5,000 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 is practically the same as the previous described model of this family. The liner flies with maximum cruising speed 900 km / h and is able to cover a distance of up to 12,100 km. Its improved "model" - Il-96M - accommodates a larger number of passengers - up to 435 people in a charter version.

Immediate perspective, or Domestic developments

To date, the largest Russian aircraft project is the Irkut MS-21. Within its framework, it is planned to produce short-medium-haul passenger liners. Now Irkut is developing and building, the first copies of the aircraft according to the plan will be certified in 2016, at the same time flight tests will begin. The start of mass-scale production of MS-21 is expected from 2017-2018. On Russian market passenger aircraft, these liners should replace the Tu-154 and Tu-204 and will be operated on domestic and international airlines.

The project is not developing the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but the family of airliners being created will include various aircraft of three types in terms of length and passenger capacity - 150, 180 and 210 seats. The lineup will include aircraft with extended range. The cruising altitude of the ship will be 11,600 kilometers, the speed that the liner will develop will be 870 km/h, the maximum fuselage length is 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 Irkut Corporation 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 Perm PD-14 engines.