The most spacious passenger aircraft. The largest passenger aircraft in the world

People are always attracted by some kind of record - record planes always get a lot of attention

3rd place: Airbus A380

Airbus A380 is a wide-body double-deck jet passenger aircraft, created by Airbus S.A.S. (formerly Airbus Industrie) is the largest production airliner in the world.

The height of the aircraft is 24.08 meters, the length is 72.75 (80.65) meters, the wingspan is 79.75 meters. The A380 can fly non-stop for distances up to 15,400 km. Capacity - 525 passengers in the cabin of three classes; 853 passengers in single class configuration. A cargo modification of the A380F is also provided with the ability to carry cargo up to 150 tons over a distance of up to 10,370 km.

The development of the Airbus A380 took about 10 years, the cost of the entire program amounted to about 12 billion euros. Airbus says it needs to sell 420 aircraft to recoup its costs, although some analysts estimate the figure should be much higher.
According to the developers, the most difficult part in the creation of the A380 was the problem of reducing its weight. It was possible to solve it through the widespread use of composite materials both in load-bearing structural elements and in auxiliary units, interiors, etc.

Advanced technologies and improved aluminum alloys were also used to reduce the weight of the aircraft. So, 11-ton center section for 40% of its mass consists of carbon fiber. The top and side panels of the fuselage are made from Glare hybrid material. On the lower fuselage panels, laser welding of stringers and skin was used, which significantly reduced the number of fasteners.
According to Airbus, per passenger, the Airbus A380 burns 17% less fuel than the "largest aircraft today" (apparently referring to the Boeing 747). The less fuel burned, the lower the emissions carbon dioxide. For an aircraft, CO2 emissions per passenger are only 75 grams per kilometer. This is almost half the CO2 emission limit set by the European Union for cars manufactured in 2008.

The first A320 aircraft sold was handed over to the customer on October 15, 2007 after a lengthy acceptance testing phase and entered service on October 25, 2007 on a commercial flight between Singapore and Sydney. Two months later, Singapore Airlines President Chu Chong Seng said the Airbus A380 was performing better than expected and consuming 20% less fuel per passenger than the company's existing Boeing 747-400s.

The upper and lower decks of the aircraft are connected by two stairs, in the bow and tail sections liners wide enough to accommodate two passengers shoulder to shoulder. In a 555-passenger configuration, the A380 has 33% more passenger seats than a Boeing 747-400 in standard three-class configuration, but has 50% more space and volume, resulting in a per-passenger more space.

The maximum certified capacity of the aircraft is 853 passengers when configured with a single economy class. The announced configurations range from 450 seats (for Qantas Airways) to 644 (for Emirates Airline, with two comfort classes).

2nd place: Hughes H-4 Hercules

Hughes H-4 Hercules (eng. Hughes H-4 Hercules) is a transport wooden flying boat developed by the American company Hughes Aircraft under the direction of Howard Hughes. This 136-ton aircraft, originally designated as NK-1 and given the unofficial nickname Spruce Goose ("Goldfinch, Dude", literally "Spruce Goose"), was the largest flying boat ever built, and its wingspan still remains a record - 98 meters. It was designed to transport 750 soldiers fully equipped.

At the start of World War II, the U.S. government gave Hughes $13 million to build a prototype flying craft, but the aircraft was not ready by the end of hostilities, due to aluminum shortages and Hughes' stubbornness in trying to build the perfect machine.

Specifications

Crew: 3 people
Length: 66.45 m
Wingspan: 97.54 m
Height: 24.08 m
Fuselage height: 9.1 m
Wing area: 1061.88 m?
Maximum takeoff weight: 180 tons
Payload weight: up to 59,000 kg
Fuel capacity: 52,996 l
Engines: 8? air-cooled Pratt&Whitney R-4360-4A, 3000 hp each With. (2240 kW) each
Propellers: 8? four-bladed Hamilton Standard, 5.23 m in diameter

Flight characteristics

Top speed: 351 mph (565.11 km/h)
Cruise speed: 250 mph (407.98 km/h)
Flight range: 5634 km
Practical ceiling: 7165 m.

Despite its nickname, the aircraft is built almost entirely from birch, more precisely from birch plywood glued to a pattern.

The Hercules aircraft, piloted by Howard Hughes himself, made its first and only flight only on November 2, 1947, when it took off to a height of 21 meters and covered approximately two kilometers in a straight line over Los Angeles Harbor.

After a long period of storage (Hughes kept the aircraft in working order until his death in 1976, spending up to $ 1 million a year on this), the aircraft was sent to the Long Beach Museum, California.

The aircraft is visited annually by about 300,000 tourists. The biography of the creator of the aircraft Howard Hughes and the testing of the aircraft are shown in Martin Scorsese's film The Aviator.

It is currently on display at the Evergreen International Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, where it was moved in 1993.

1st place: AN-225 This is a plane! Of course he's Russian!

This machine was designed and built in a very short time: the first drawings began to be created in 1985, and in 1988 the transport aircraft was already built. The reason for such a short time can be quite easily explained: the fact is that the Mriya was created on the basis of well-developed components and assemblies of the An-124 Ruslan. So, for example, the fuselage of the Mriya has the same transverse dimensions as the An-124, but longer than it, the wingspan and area have increased. The same structure as that of Ruslan has a wing, but additional sections have been added to it. The An-225 has two additional engines. The landing gear of the aircraft is similar to the chassis of the Ruslan, but it has seven instead of five racks. The cargo compartment has been changed quite seriously. Initially, two aircraft were laid down, but only one An-225 was completed. The second copy of the unique aircraft is about 70% ready and can be completed at any time, subject to proper funding. For its completion, an amount of 100-120 million dollars is needed.

On February 1, 1989, the aircraft was shown to the general public, and in May of the same year, the An-225 made a non-stop flight from Baikonur to Kiev, carrying a Buran weighing sixty tons on its back. In the same month, the An-225 delivered the Buran spacecraft to the Paris air show and made a splash there. In total, the aircraft has 240 world records, including the transport of the heaviest cargo (253 tons), the heaviest monolithic cargo (188 tons) and the longest cargo.

The An-225 Mriya aircraft was originally designed for the needs of the Soviet space industry. In those years, the Soviet Union was building the Buran, its first reusable ship, an analogue of the American shuttle. To implement this project, it was necessary transport system which could be used to transport goods large sizes. It was for these purposes that Mriya was conceived. In addition to the components and assemblies of the spacecraft itself, it was necessary to deliver parts of the Energia rocket, which also had colossal dimensions. All this was delivered from the place of production to the points of final assembly. The units and components of Energia and Buran were manufactured in the central regions of the USSR, and the final assembly took place in Kazakhstan, at the Baikonur cosmodrome. In addition, the An-225 was originally designed so that in the future it could carry the completed Buran spacecraft. Also, the An-225 could carry bulky cargo for the needs National economy, for example, equipment for mining, oil and gas industry.

In addition to participating in the Soviet space program, the aircraft was to be used to transport oversized cargo over long distances. This work An-225 "Mriya" will perform today.

General Functions and the tasks of the machine can be described as follows:

transportation of general-purpose cargo (oversized, heavy) with a total weight of up to 250 tons;
intracontinental non-stop transportation of goods weighing 180–200 tons;
intercontinental transportation of goods weighing up to 150 tons;
transportation of heavy oversized cargo on an external sling with a total weight of up to 200 tons;
use of aircraft for air launch of spacecraft.

Other, even more ambitious tasks were set before the unique aircraft, and they were also associated with space. The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft was supposed to become a kind of flying cosmodrome, a platform from which spaceships and rockets would be launched into orbit. "Mriya", as conceived by the designers, was to become the first step for the launch of reusable spacecraft of the "Buran" type. Therefore, initially the designers were faced with the task of making an aircraft with a carrying capacity of at least 250 tons.

The Soviet shuttle was supposed to start from the "back" of the aircraft. This method of launching vehicles into near-Earth orbit has many serious advantages. Firstly, there is no need to build very expensive ground-based launch complexes, and secondly, launching a rocket or spacecraft from an aircraft saves fuel significantly and allows increasing the payload of a spacecraft. In some cases, this may allow you to completely abandon the first stage of the rocket.

Various air launch options are being developed at the present time. The United States is especially active in this direction; there are also Russian developments.

Alas, with the collapse Soviet Union, the "air launch" project, with the participation of the An-225, was practically buried. This aircraft was an active participant in the Energia-Buran program. An-225 carried out fourteen flights with Buran on the top of the fuselage, hundreds of tons of various cargoes were transported under this program.

After 1991, funding for the Energia-Buran program ceased, and the An-225 was left without work. Only in 2000 did the modernization of the machine begin for commercial use. The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft has unique technical characteristics, a huge carrying capacity and can carry bulky cargo on its fuselage - all this makes the aircraft very popular for commercial transportation.

Since that time, the An-225 has performed many flights and transported hundreds of tons of various cargoes. Some transport operations can be safely called unique and unparalleled in the history of aviation. The plane took part in humanitarian operations several times. After the devastating tsunami, he delivered power generators to Samoa, transported construction equipment to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, and helped clean up the aftermath of an earthquake in Japan.

In 2009, the An-225 aircraft was upgraded and its service life was extended.

The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft is made according to the classical scheme, with high-raised wings of small sweep. The cabin is located in front of the aircraft, the cargo hatch is also located in the nose of the machine. The aircraft is made according to the two-keel scheme. Such a decision is associated with the need to transport goods on the fuselage of the aircraft. The glider of the An-225 aircraft has very high aerodynamic properties, the value of the aerodynamic quality of this machine is 19, which is an excellent indicator not only for transport, but also for passenger aircraft. This, in turn, greatly improved the performance of the aircraft and reduced fuel consumption.

Almost the entire internal space of the fuselage is occupied by the cargo compartment. Compared to the An-124, it has grown by 10% (by seven meters). At the same time, the wingspan increased by only 20%, two more engines were added, and the aircraft's carrying capacity increased by one and a half times. During the construction of the An-225, drawings, components and assemblies of the An-124 were actively used, thanks to which the aircraft was able to be created in such a short time. Here are the main differences between the An-225 and the An-124 Ruslan:

New center section;
increased fuselage length;
single-keel tail unit was replaced with a two-keel one;
lack of a tail cargo hatch;
the number of main landing gear racks has been increased from five to seven;
system of fastening and pressurization of external loads;
two additional D-18T engines were installed.

Unlike Ruslan, Mriya has only one cargo hatch, which is located in the nose of the aircraft. Like its predecessor, "Mriya" can change the clearance and angle of the fuselage, which is extremely convenient for loading and unloading. The chassis has three supports: a front two-column and two main ones, each of which consists of seven pillars. At the same time, all racks are independent of each other and are produced separately.

To take off without a load, the aircraft needs a runway 2400 meters long, with a load - 3500 meters.

An-225 has six D-18T engines suspended under the wings, as well as two auxiliary power units located inside the fuselage.

The cargo compartment is made airtight and equipped with everything necessary equipment for loading work. Inside the fuselage, the An-225 can carry up to sixteen standard air containers (each weighing ten tons), fifty cars or any cargo weighing up to two hundred tons (turbines, trucks, especially large sizes, generators). On top of the fuselage, special fastenings are provided for the transportation of bulky cargo.D

Specifications An-225 "Mriya"

Wingspan, m 88.4
Length, m 84.0
Height, m 18.2
Weight, kg

Empty 250000
Maximum takeoff 600000
Fuel mass 300000
Engine 6*TRDD D-18T
Specific fuel consumption, kg/kgf h 0.57-0.63
Cruising speed, km/h 850
Practical range, km 15600
Range, km 4500
Practical ceiling, m 11000
Crew of six people
Payload, kg 250000-450000.

An-225 is a Soviet transport jet aircraft of extra-large payload developed by OKB im. O.K. Antonov, is the 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.

Initially, it was not planned to produce 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. About 400 aircraft of this modification are currently in operation 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 upper deck and economy class at the bottom, capacity thus ranging 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 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). 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 win a monopoly in the niche of wide-body airliners.

In the summer of 1994, Airbus began developing its own wide-body aircraft, codenamed 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 its 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 liner in the world. Power point The aircraft has 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.

To increase the efficiency of flights by reducing the cost of services, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, accommodating several hundred people. giant liners superior comfort, are able to cover huge distances without refueling, thanks to the large fuel tanks. The high load capacity makes it possible to transport a large amount of luggage.

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 categorized wide-body airliners. 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 title 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 machine stands out 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, thanks to which the modification was recognized as the widest one. 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 at the moment is the 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.

Since man was able to invent an airplane and take to the air, this industry has developed incredibly rapidly. Now the largest passenger Boeing can accommodate almost a thousand people, which a few decades ago seemed simply impossible.

Dimensions and capacity of the largest passenger Boeing

The largest passenger Boeing is the Boeing 747. This aircraft has been holding its honorary title for several decades. The American aircraft began to operate in 1970, and since then it has been considered the largest and largest passenger aircraft.

The Boeing 747 lost its honorary title only in 2005, when the Airbus A380 aircraft was put into operation.

The capacity of the largest aircraft of the Boeing company is about seven hundred people, depending on the modification of the aircraft. Due to the huge popularity of this aircraft, Boeing hastened to release as many models as possible, distributing them around the world. In total, about 1500 of these giants were produced, each of which was in operation for several years.

Despite its huge size, the Boeing 747 is an example of the highest quality aircraft and complete thoughtful design. The length of the aircraft itself was originally 70.6 meters, and the wingspan was 59.6 meters. Now the length of the aircraft has increased up to 76 meters. Such a giant could reach speeds of up to 955 kilometers per hour, which in 1970 seemed unthinkable.

Since Boeing is constantly modifying its most famous model, maximum speed modern "Boeing 747" is 988 kilometers per hour.

Other large passenger aircraft of the world

The Airbus A380 is currently considered the largest passenger aircraft. The aircraft received its honorary status only in 2005, displacing the previous leader, the Boeing 747.

The capacity of the Airobus A380 is 852 passengers, which seems simply unthinkable. The passengers themselves are located on two decks in the salons of the highest class. Great Britain, Italy and France took part in the production of this aircraft. Another large aircraft from Airbus is the A340-600. This liner can accommodate a little less than 700 passengers, but is able to fly more than 14 thousand kilometers without additional refueling.

Boeing is also proud of the 777-300 ER. This model can accommodate up to 550 passengers. At the same time, the aircraft is the absolute record holder in terms of the duration of the flight without additional refueling. The aircraft can fly 21,000 kilometers non-stop, which is unattainable for any other air transport model.

The impressive size of the large aircraft of the world speak only about the ambitiousness of modern aircraft designers. Most likely, humanity will not stop there, and many more huge Boeings will appear in the world, striking not only with the quality of their equipment, but also with incredible, hitherto incomprehensible dimensions.