The most spacious Boeing. Leader in wing length. The largest passenger aircraft in the world

Passenger cabin Airbus A380 aircraft has two decks and can have 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, the ability to charge mobile devices are offered. 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 there is a staircase leading down to the main deck, which also will not contribute to a 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). Every place is equipped comfortable chair, which, if necessary, can be expanded 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.

The most successful and comfortable seats 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 that there is a spacious legroom, in addition , toilets, a bar and office space 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. The fact that the backs of the last seats are blocked does not add to the convenience of these places, which limits the comfort of passengers.

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. Most 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.

To increase the efficiency of flights by reducing the cost of services, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, accommodating several hundred people, are called upon. giant liners superior comfort, are able to cover huge distances without refueling, thanks to the large fuel tanks. High load capacity makes it easy to transport a large number baggage.

The model replaced the outdated version of the A300, which consumed too much fuel and had a small capacity. The new modification is capable of simultaneously lifting 295 people into the air, and is classified as a wide-body airliner. The length of the car reaches 59 meters, and its width is 63 meters. The maximum flight range with a full load does not exceed 10,500 m. The cruising speed reaches 870 km/h. The maximum takeoff weight is 233 tons, and the wingspan is 60.3 meters. Fuel tanks are designed for 97,000 liters of fuel.

Of course, not the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but one of the most sought-after airliners from airlines. Operation began in 1995, the machine has proven to be highly reliable. Modification 777-200LR, capable of performing the longest non-stop flights. It was this model that was first developed without the use of traditional paper drawings, but only with the use of 3D computer graphics. The airliner is capable of overcoming 17,000 km without landing at a cruising speed of 905 km/h. The car simultaneously transports 301 passengers, and its wingspan is 64.8 meters.

The upgraded version rightfully entered the rating of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, thanks to the ability to carry up to 467 people. The airliner covers a maximum distance of 15,000 km and is in fact considered the longest aircraft on Earth. The machine differs from its worthy predecessors in an elongated fuselage. Engineers installed new motors, wings and an onboard system. The set of updates made it possible to make the liner much quieter and more economical. international name new version- Intercontinental.

One of the largest passenger aircraft in the world began to operate in 2002. The modification differs from its predecessor in larger fuel tanks and motors with increased power. Serial production of the model was stopped in 2011, in total the company produced 97 such liners. The wingspan is 63.5 m, and the maximum capacity reaches 440 seats. The airliner is capable of overcoming 14,800 km without refueling, moving luggage and passengers with a total weight of 373 tons. The area of \u200b\u200bthe giant's wings is 437 meters. Despite being discontinued, the cars continue to successfully carry passengers around the world.

Hit the list of the largest passenger aircraft in the world and Boeing 777-300ER. The airliner is recognized as the largest aircraft with 2 engines designed for civil aviation. The modification differs from the previous version 777-200 in a longer fuselage, which allows accommodating up to 550 passengers in the cabin. Version 777-300ER is not considered basic and has been in operation since 2004. The advantage of the model lies in the increased flight range. Moving at a cruising speed of 905 km/h, the vehicle is capable of covering 14,600 km without additional refueling, carrying up to 68,500 tons of commercial cargo.

It turned out to be in the ranking of the largest passenger aircraft in the world and a military copy capable of transporting both people and cargo. The liner is capable of transporting 270 military personnel and can be equipped with standard passenger seats - 75 units. Carry the car to the category of giants, allowed its impressive size. The aircraft is 75.5 meters long and 68 meters wide. The aircraft can cover 5,600 km without refueling at a speed of 920 km/h. Max Height, recruited by a giant, reaches 10 km.

Russian "Ruslan" is rightfully considered one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, because its wingspan reaches 73 meters, and its length is 69 meters. The car is distinguished by a colossal cargo compartment, reaching a volume of 1050 m 3. The maximum range of the liner does not exceed 7,500 km, and its cruising speed is 850 km/h. The machine is mainly used for the transport of goods, but is capable of transporting military personnel. The total carrying capacity of the modification reaches 120 tons. The flight resource does not exceed 45 years.

Since 2007, the largest passenger aircraft in the world has been considered the Airbus A380, first bought by Singapore Airlines. The airliner flies all over the world and has an incredible level of comfort. The car is capable of transporting 555 people, but if desired, the number of passengers is increased to 700. The double-deck cabin is equipped with sleeping cabins, there are also recreation areas, there are spiral staircases and comfortable bars. The wingspan of the aircraft is 80 meters, and the area reaches 845 m 2. Only 4 Rolls-Royce engines can lift a car into the air.

Historically, the largest passenger aircraft in the world was recognized in 1947 by the Hughes H-4 Hercules. The model stood out with a fantastic wingspan of up to 98 meters, due to which the modification was recognized as the most wide-body. Two machines of this type were made, but only one now exists. The car moved 750 troops and is now in the Long Beach Museum Fund, where it was moved in 1993. More passengers have not been transported by any aircraft in history.

Perhaps the largest passenger aircraft in the world this moment- This is Mriya. Initially, the project was developed as a cargo one and was used in the transportation of the Buran spacecraft. Subsequently, the Ukrainian company "Antonov" adapted the vessel to commercial needs. The wingspan of the giant is 88 m, and its length reaches 73 meters. The airliner set several records for carrying capacity. Now it exists in a single copy and is operated by Antonov Airlines. The airliner has proven itself reliably in practice.

The dimensions of the first powered aircraft were more than modest. It was 6.4 meters long and 2.7 meters high. "Flyer-1", designed and built back in 1903 by the Wright brothers, was able to lift only one person into the air. The wingspan of the first aircraft was just over 12 meters, and the wing area was 47 square meters. Of course, aviation has come a long way since then. Modern liners amaze with their dimensions, power, carrying capacity. Most big planes in the world are capable of transporting several hundred tons of cargo, and passenger giants carry more than 800 passengers per flight. Let's talk about the heavyweights of modern aviation.

Leader in wing length

Before moving on to the giants, let's remember the unique Hughes H-4 Hercules. For more than 70 years, it has been holding the lead in terms of wingspan, and only the modern Airbus A380-800 has caught up with it in height.

The history of the aircraft is not simple. At the beginning of World War II, the US government ordered Hughes Aircraft to build an amphibious aircraft for cargo. passenger traffic. Yes, he had to not only fly, but also be able to swim. The main goal stated by the customer is to spend a minimum of strategic raw materials, that is, to make it not from metal, but from wood.

"Flying boat" was intended to be the largest of all existing aircraft. But the search for the ideal solution dragged on, and the amphibious aircraft was built only two years after the end of the war. The device, which received the famous nickname "Spruce Goose", was completely made of plywood. According to estimates, the development and construction of the aircraft took 22 million dollars from the US budget, another 18 million were invested by the owner of the company, Howard Hughes.

The dimensions of the Hercules were seven times the size of any aircraft. The length was 66.45 meters, the height was 24 meters, and the wingspan was 97.5 meters. It weighed 136 tons, carrying capacity was 59 tons. The flying boat was capable of holding over 700 soldiers.

According to the project, the aircraft could reach speeds of up to 378 km / h, climb over seven thousand meters and fly 5.6 thousand km. But it was not possible to test its limiting capabilities. The first and only experimental flight "Hercules" made in November 1947 in the harbor of Los Angeles. Having made several passes along the harbor, the amphibious aircraft broke away from the water and flew about two kilometers at a height of 21 meters and a speed of about 120 km / h. After a perfectly perfect landing, the Hercules returned to its hangar, where it was maintained in working order until 1976. Today you can see the wooden giant in the Oregon State Museum of the United States.

Passenger transportation record holders

Among the largest modern liners in the segment of passenger air transportation, two models of competing aircraft stand out: the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380. The first holds the palm in length, the second has become the undisputed leader in terms of capacity.

Leader in size

The longest passenger airliner today is the Boeing 747-8. It is also the largest commercial aircraft ever built in the US.

The wide-body double-deck Boeing 747-8 exceeds the length of the previous leader Airbus A340-600 by almost a meter. The fuselage is 76 meters long and over 19 meters high. The wingspan of this giant is almost 68.5 meters.

The liner was announced in 2005, and the first flight took place five years later. Its key differences from the previous Boeing 747 models were an elongated fuselage, a new wing, engines and on-board systems. Significant improvements have led to the fact that it has become the quietest and most economical liner of the family. Boeing's business card, a hump in the front of the hull, has remained, here is the upper deck.

On board the liner fit up to 581 passengers. The liner is capable of covering up to 14.1 thousand kilometers at a speed of 917 km/h. Maximum Boeing speed 747-8 reaches 950 km / h, which makes it the leader among passenger subsonic liners.

Boeing 747-8 is available in three versions: cargo, passenger and presidential. Today, Air China, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, UPS Airlines and others use the world's longest aircraft. It is he who holds the lead in orders for VIP versions of the aircraft, intended for flights by the first persons of the state, statesmen and politicians.

Passenger capacity record holder

For 37 years, leadership in three parameters: size, weight and capacity - kept passenger Boeing 747. Everything changed in 2005 when the Airbus A380 took off into the sky. Since then, it has been he who holds the lead in passenger capacity.

Up to 853 passengers can be on board the liner at the same time, while the Boeing 747 can accommodate up to 600 people.

The development of the liner took about ten years and 12 billion euros. According to Airbus S.A.S, in order to recoup the project, 420 aircraft need to be sold. At the end of 2017, 317 aircraft were ordered, more than 220 of them are already operated by airlines.

First commercial flight A380 made in 2007 from Singapore to Sydney under the flag of Singapore Airlines. In honor of this event, passengers were treated to champagne and presented with commemorative certificates.

The dimensions of the champion are no less impressive: the height is 24 meters, the length is almost 73 meters, the wingspan is almost 80 meters. It weighs 280 tons, and can lift the same amount more. The most difficult question, according to the developers, was how to make such a giant as easy as possible. To solve the problem during construction, light composite materials were used.

Despite its size, the A380 is the most economical among the giants, fuel consumption is 20% lower than the Boeing 747. It can cover up to 15.4 thousand kilometers without landing at a speed of 1020 km/h.

Heavyweights in the world of aviation

Let's move on to the largest and heaviest cargo aircraft. The line of leaders here has not changed since the 80s of the last century, when the An-225 entered the “pedestal”. Among the serial versions of cargo models, the championship is held by its prototype - An-124. Although American aircraft designers are already catching up with the leaders with the latest developments.

Freight record holder

The An-225, called the Mriya (Dream), is officially recognized as the world's most cargo-lifting aircraft. The pinnacle of thought of Soviet designers set about 250 world records, many of which have not been surpassed to this day.

An-225 was designed and built in Design Bureau named after Antonov. The aircraft was intended to solve specific problems in the implementation of the Soviet space program "Buran". In particular, it was supposed to carry the heavy components of the spacecraft and launch vehicle, and also be used as the first stage of the spacecraft's launch system.

The designers took the An-124 as a basis, which gave it the qualities of a universal cargo aircraft. And fundamental improvements have made it possible to achieve record-breaking carrying capacity: Mriya can transport up to 250 tons over a distance of up to four thousand kilometers.

The An-225 made its first flight in 1988, and a year later the demonstration of its capabilities made a splash at the Paris Air Show.

An-225 is striking in size. Its length is 84 meters, its height is more than 18 meters (the height of a five-story building), the wingspan exceeds 88 meters. Empty aircraft weight - 250 tons.

The Mriya is capable of carrying super-heavy loads both in the pressurized cabin and outside on the fuselage. The length of the cargo compartment is 43 meters, width - 6.4 meters, height - 4.4 meters. This area can accommodate 50 cars. The second deck accommodates 6 crew members and 88 passengers.

To date, "Mriya" exists in a single copy. The aircraft is used for the transport of goods and for rescue operations. The second plane was planned for release, but remained in a semi-assembled state. Due to the lack of a customer, the completion and modernization of the second An-225 is still in question.

Biggest serial heavyweight

Of the mass-produced heavyweights, the most lifting in the world is considered to be another development of the Design Bureau. Antonov An-124, or "Ruslan". Before the advent of the Airbus A380, it was second in size only to the Boeing 747.

"Ruslan" was originally created for military purposes. With its help, they planned to transport ballistic missile launch systems, heavy military equipment and the military. The first test of Ruslan took place in 1982. For three years it was used exclusively in the interests of the army. The heavyweight was able to carry up to 120 tons of cargo, up to 440 paratroopers or 880 soldiers with equipment.

Since 1985, Ruslan switched to serving civilian transportation, having made the first “delivery” of a 152-ton mining dump truck from Vladivostok to Yakutia. Of the unusual “orders”, it is worth noting the delivery of 140 tons of legendary Pink Floyd equipment from London to Moscow, the transportation of more than 50 tons of gold from the UAE to Switzerland. Michael Jackson also took advantage of the Ruslans, transporting 310 tons of his cargo on three planes.

The An-124 is somewhat shorter than the Mriya (69 meters), but taller (21 meters). The wingspan exceeds 73 meters. The weight of the empty aircraft is 178 tons.

On the upper deck there are crew cabins (for 8 people) and two passenger cabins (7 + 21 people). The lower deck - a pressurized cargo cabin is shorter than the An-225 and is 36.5 meters long.

The production of Ruslans was stopped in 2004. A total of 55 aircraft of this model were produced. After some of them were modernized: the fuselage and wing were updated, some systems and blocks were replaced, and the carrying capacity was increased.

Ruslans can transport cargo up to 120 tons over a distance of 4.8 thousand kilometers. If the cargo is three times lighter, the flight range will be up to 12 thousand kilometers. Max Speed, which the liner can develop - 865 km / h.

Western analogue of An-124

The closest competitor to the Russian serial heavyweight is the American military transport aircraft Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. This is the third largest air transportation giant in the world after Mriya and Ruslan.

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy first flew in 1968. Pretty soon, it became the main means for transporting military forces and equipment to the places of military operations. In total, several modifications of the aircraft were produced. The latter - C-5M Super Galaxy - is capable of carrying almost 130 tons of cargo (for comparison, 150 Volkswagen Beetle cars weigh so much in total).

The height of the hull here is almost 20 meters, the length is 75.5 meters, and the wingspan is 67.9 meters.

The dimensions of the aircraft are no less impressive than its capabilities. The length of the aircraft is 75.5 meters, the height is almost 20 meters, the wingspan is just under 68 meters. In a cargo compartment 37 meters long and 5.8 meters in diameter, 270 soldiers and another 118 tons of payload can fit. On the upper deck - a crew cabin for five people and seats for passengers. The flight range with a maximum load is 5.5 thousand kilometers at a speed of up to 888 km/h.

Promising giant

Aircraft designers do not get tired of competing in the production of giants. So, in 2011, it was announced, and six years later, the largest twin-fuselage transport aircraft Stratolaunch Model 351, developed by Scaled Composites, was presented. The new "titan" with a wingspan of 117 meters surpasses the "Mriya" and even the famous "Hercules".

The length of the aircraft is more than 72 meters at a height of 15 meters. According to the project, he will be able to lift up to 250 tons of cargo on an external sling. The purpose of the Stratolaunch Model 351 is to be an aerial launch platform.

Now the aircraft is undergoing the necessary tests. Its commissioning is scheduled for 2019.

The history of aviation begins at the end of the eighteenth century - after all, it was at the turn of the eras that the English designer developed the design of the aircraft. Modern airliners bear little resemblance to their predecessors. Today, the leaders of the aviation industry are competing in the production of giants. The largest aircraft in the world, the An-225 Mriya, impresses with its size and carrying capacity. Let's study the rating of the largest airliners in more detail.

Let's start with short description the leader of the list among civil aviation boards that specialize in passenger flights. Today, in this area, the first place is held by the invention of the European company Airbus - the A380 board. The ship was developed over 10 years, and in 2005 this giant successfully completed its first voyage.

With a fuselage length of 72.75 m, a wingspan of 79.75 m and a hull height of 24 meters, this aircraft is capable of lifting up to 853 people into the air.

A distinctive feature of the model was economical fuel consumption - the flight range of this airliner is 15,400 kilometers. It is noteworthy that in order to achieve this goal, the engineers ordered a batch of machines specially created for the model. After all, a reduction in fuel consumption can be achieved only with an ideally adjusted shape of the wing and fuselage. Actual consumption aviation fuel here it is 855 liters per 100 km when fully loaded.

Note that the Airbus A380 800 replaced the thirty-five-year-old leader in this area -. Moreover, the current record holder is able to carry 7% more passengers while reducing the cost of producing an aircraft within 15%. However, the designers spent about 2,000,000,000 euros to create the first model.

For the first time, the aircraft was put into operation by Singapore Airlines. The vessel successfully completed the first intercontinental flight from Singapore to Sydney, which had a great effect on customers. In addition, such a model carries up to 150 tons of cargo at a distance of up to 10,370 kilometers. Note that in this case, an empty aircraft weighs 280 tons, and the maximum take-off weight of the board reaches 560 tons.

Leaders in size

The longest passenger aircraft in the world is the predecessor of the aircraft described above, the Boeing 747 aircraft. This is a wide-body double-deck airliner, whose body length reaches 76.3 meters with a side height of 19.4 m and a wingspan of 68 and a half meters.

Such a successful project was launched in the early seventies of the last century by an American company. And up to the Airbus A380, the aircraft remained the largest passenger airliner peace.

At the time of the appearance of the model, the project to create this aircraft became so expensive that the company had to take out loans. However, all costs have fully paid off - and today these vessels are in demand and popular. calling card became a "hump" in the front of the case - it was there that the designers placed upper deck sides. The aircraft also remains the leader in terms of speed characteristics in the class among passenger subsonic liners. The speed of this board reaches 910–950 km/h.

Heavyweights in the world of aviation

Now let's define the largest cargo aircraft in the world - the photos presented in the article will help readers see the true scale of this technique. Let us describe the characteristics of global leaders in more detail.

Freight record holder

The most load-lifting aircraft in the world is the development of the Antonov Design Bureau, the An-225 Mriya model. The airliner successfully passed flight tests back in 1988, and from 1989 to the present time it has been operated in the field of cargo transportation. The length of the hull of this vessel reaches 84 meters, and the wingspan is 88.4 m. In terms of these parameters, the modification is second only to the Hughes H-4 board, which was designed back in 1947.

The weight of an empty An-225 aircraft is 250 tons, and the takeoff weight of an airliner reaches 640 tons.

In 2004, the modification entered the Guinness Book of Records, as it leads immediately in 240 parameters. It is noteworthy that the aircraft was designed on the basis of the project of another giant, which was the world's largest cargo aircraft An-124 Ruslan. And to this day, only a single copy of the Mriya heavyweight has been designed. True, even one airliner is actively used for commercial purposes and rescue operations.

Although at the end of 2016 an agreement was signed between Ukraine and China on the joint release of the second updated experimental model and further cooperation in this industry.

The An-255 is designed to carry up to 88 passengers accompanying the cargo and six crew members. Initially, the aircraft was planned to be used for the space industry, so the Mriya project is a technique that is universal in quality. This is a record holder in terms of weight and carrying capacity, a leader in the transportation of mono-cargoes and overall equipment..

Biggest serial heavyweight

The largest cargo aircraft in Russia, which was mass-produced and is used today, is the . It is on the basis of the project of this airliner OKB im. Antonov and developed "Mriya". Concerning "Ruslana", the first such board appeared in 1982. Initially, the function of technology was the transportation of intercontinental and ballistic missiles, but today the ship is used as a military transport aircraft.

An-124 "Ruslan" is slightly inferior to "Mriya" in size and carrying capacity

Since 1987, the modification has been actively used by the Russian Air Force and the Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines. Throughout the history of the production of such airliners, the world has seen 55 Ruslan models. The vessel has a length of 69.1 meters. At the same time, its height is 24.5 m, and the wingspan is 73.3 m. The economy of the liner allows it to fly 4,800 km when the board is fully loaded, and the maximum flight range here is 11,600 meters.

The cruising speed of the vessel is 800–850 km/h with a maximum permissible acceleration of 865 km/h. The weight of an empty airliner is 178.4 tons, and the maximum take-off weight of this modification is 392,000 kilograms.

The design features of the vessel allow loading through the bow compartment

There are two decks on board the equipment. The upper tier of the liner is designed to carry 21 passengers accompanying the cargo, a fixed and a change cabin for the crew. The lower deck of the vessel is a pressurized cargo compartment with a capacity of 1,060 m³. If we talk about the records of this model, in 1985 the aircraft became the leader in 21 positions in the transportation of goods over long distances. During the entire period of operation, 4 such aircraft were lost.

Western analogue of An-124

If we consider popular Western projects that compete with Ruslan, here aviators call the airliner Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. This modification occupied a leading position in the world until the appearance of the An-124 project in 1982. However, such US Air Force airliners are successfully used today. Moreover, the manufacturer produced 131 units of such equipment.

The third largest heavyweight in the world is the American model Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a military transport airliner that has the characteristics of an increased payload and occupies the third place in the world rating of aviation heavyweights. After all, an empty airliner that weighs 169.643 tons has a maximum takeoff weight at 379,657 kilograms. At the same time, the dimensions of the aircraft are very impressive. The height of the hull here is 19.85 m, the length is 75.54 m, and the wingspan is 67.88 m.

The transport is capable of simultaneously transporting 270 soldiers and 118,387 kg of cargo over distances of 5,526 km. Moreover, the maximum practical range ceiling of this model is 10,895 m.

This modification of the double-deck side, power point which is provided with four engines. The cruising speed that the ship is capable of developing reaches 888 km / h. Here, on the upper tier of the aircraft, there is a crew cabin for 5 people and seats for passengers. The lower sector of the airliner is intended for the carriage of goods. This deck is 36.91 meters long and 5.79 meters wide.

Leader in wing length

Since the current record holder Mriya was unable to break the world aviation record in terms of wingspan, we will describe the characteristics of the aircraft that holds this position. Model Hughes H-4 is a wooden structure designed for the American military in 1947. The only copy of this modification can be seen in the Oregon State Museum. Moreover, in the history since the appearance of the aircraft, it has been operated only once, having carried out an experimental flight.

Today, the only copy of the Hughes H-4 airboat is in the Oregon State Museum.

The dimensions of the airliner are impressive - the length of the hull here is 66.45 m, and the height is 24.08 meters. Moreover, the record wing span here is 97.54 m. The ship was designed to transport the military and is designed to transport 750 soldiers in full gear and three pilots. The maximum takeoff weight of the giant is limited to 180 tons, and useful weight, which the board is able to lift - 59,000 kg.

The project of this airboat appeared at the beginning of the Second World War, but the designer did not have time to bring the equipment to readiness on time. The development and manufacture of the aircraft took 13,000,000 US dollars, and the storage of the board cost the designer $ 1,000,000 annually.

As you can see, aviators are constantly competing to produce the best aircraft that is capable of performing universal tasks. In the near future, the release of the modernized Mriya giant is expected. Perhaps this modification will break a personal record and become the largest airliner in the history of aviation. Details on the classification of flight equipment are available at this.

Airbus A380 - the largest passenger aircraft in the world
The cabin of this giant will fit up to 853 passengers
Boeing 747 remains the longest airliner among passenger aircraft
AN-225 "Mriya" - the world record holder in terms of dimensions
With a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tons, the Mriya becomes the world's heaviest airliner.