The largest aircraft in the world. The three largest aircraft in the world

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 in a few 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.

Since 2005, this double-deck long-haul airliner has been holding the lead 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 power plants 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 long distances between continents. A wide-body airliner with four power plants was 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.

The double-deck giant of the aviation industry is one of the unique aircraft. It was developed back in the mid-eighties, and even then it was popular. Today, passengers of Rossiya Airlines can get on board this liner. Let's get acquainted with the parameters of the aircraft, determine the capacity of the Boeing 747 and best places in the cabin.

Options

This model entered service in 1985. Constructors in development this liner took the Boeing 747 300 project as a basis, repeating its unique modification. The new aircraft has received recognition due to more economical fuel consumption and improved sound insulation. In addition, until 2005, the capacity of the Boeing 747 was the largest among all the aircraft that existed at that time in the world. The cabin of this giant can accommodate 524 people.

Unfortunately for the Boeing company, in 2005 the Airbus company launched its new A380 airliner, which today is the leader in terms of the number of seats in the cabin.

The Boeing 747 400 we are considering, whose capacity is today in second place after the Airbus A380, has the following technical characteristics:

Length: 70.6 meters.
Wingspan: 64.4 m.
Cruise speed: 885 km/h.
Maximum range: 14205 km.

A unique feature of the liner is the engines (4 pieces) that emit a minimum of noise. Until 2009, the Boeing Company produced 1,358 such aircraft, which are successfully operated by various airlines around the world. Despite the fact that the ship has not been produced for 8 years, even today it is one of the most popular among Boeings.

Russian Airlines Owners of Boeing 747 400

The capacity of the aircraft makes it popular, including in Russia. Until 2015, only the Transaero company could boast of having this airliner in the fleet. However, as you know, on September 13, 2017, the company was declared bankrupt by the Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg. Consequently, the bankruptcy procedure was put in place. All 7 aircraft went to Rossiya Airlines. It is she who is currently the only owner of aircraft of this class.

The airline offers its passengers 4 aircraft modifications:

4 liners with 522 passenger seats.
2 aircraft with seats in the amount of 477 pieces.
One model for 461 seats.

And although it was said above that the maximum capacity of the Boeing 747 is 524 people, there are fewer seats in these modifications. This is logical, since the total number of available seats is determined by the class and the number of seats of increased comfort. Such chairs require more space compared to the standard version. Actually, now you can move on to considering the layout of these boards.

layout

Many passengers try to find the best seats on the Boeing 747 before the flight so that their flight is as comfortable as possible. This is by no means a useless exercise, because there really are more convenient and successful places in the cabin.

The lower tier of the vessel provides 470 seats - all of them belong to the tourist class. To put it simply, these are economy class seats, the price for them is usually low.

In the standard cabin, several variations of the configuration of the seats are possible, but the main scheme here is 3:4:3. In the rear of the cabin, a 2:4:2 scheme can be used, and in the nose of the aircraft - 2:3:2. Note that the most convenient places located precisely in the tail due to the location of the toilet next to it. They are never in demand, because people constantly pass near them, and the queues nearby can be annoying.

Quite convenient are the places that are in the middle block along the axis of the aircraft. In this sector, many passengers work comfortably without being distracted by other people. You can even sleep there, but it is worth considering that there are no windows near these places, so enjoy beautiful view out of the window is unlikely. But this does not play a big role if the flight is night.

On the lower deck there are 3 blocks of bathrooms: in the tail, between lines 43 and 44, and also at rows 20-22. Between sectors 31-35 and 54-59 there are food blocks and dressing rooms, so chairs with similar extensions are clearly not the best choice. Oh yes, at line 31 there is a descent from the upper tier, on which people can walk from time to time.

On the uppermost deck, the first three rows are for passengers who have bought business class tickets, and in lines 5-9 there are seats of the increased economy category. In the bow of the aircraft on the upper deck there is a platform on which there is a ladder to common salon, and two restrooms. This is what the layout of this liner looks like. In the diagram above, you can see the location of all the seats and choose the most optimal location for yourself.

Features of choice

Considering the huge capacity of the Boeing 747, choosing a seat for a passenger becomes difficult. Before buying a ticket, it is advisable to estimate how comfortable the future seat may be or, on the contrary, inconvenient. Remember that Rossiya Airlines has 7 boards of this type, which may differ in different layouts (three layouts are available), therefore, at the registration stage, it is advisable to clarify such a question and, if necessary, ask the employee to provide a window seat, for example, or away from the bathroom . Usually, airport employees at check-in counters meet passengers and provide seats that passengers request. Of course, seats can be selected within the ticket class. For a more accurate representation of interior details, it is necessary to consider the arrangement of seats.

Upper tier

Given the huge capacity of the Boeing 747 400, it is possible to arrange seats in comfort and economy classes in the cabin. The best of them are always on the upper deck. The first lines are reserved for passengers with business class tickets, and a little further (5-9 rows) are less comfortable seats for customers who prefer an economical flight. However, in any case, seats on the upper deck are more expensive than those on the lower deck. It should be noted that the seats in the business class are paired, each of them is made taking into account ergonomic criteria, so you can really relax here. These chairs are quite wide, there are reclining backs, there are displays, and the distance between the sectors is quite large. For all these benefits, passengers are willing to pay extra, and a lot.

The seats in the very first row stand out especially, because there is a lot of space in front of these chairs. The disadvantage is the location in the immediate vicinity of the bathroom, all passengers will pass to him through these places.

From the fifth to the ninth line there are convenient economy class seats. The most comfortable seats are on the fifth line, as there is a lot of legroom due to the large distance to the screen that separates the business class. In this sector, there are displays in the seats, the tilt function is available on the backs, and the free space between the seats is 75 cm.

There are standard seats in rows 6-9, however, passengers planning a flight are strongly discouraged from choosing seats in the ninth row. Behind these seats there is a staircase and a bathroom, which can cause inconvenience during the flight.

lower tier

The main salon of the lower compartment starts from the 10th row. Seats from lines 10 to 11 are located in pairs, so the airline classifies them as a class of increased comfort. Most often, tickets for these chairs are bought by families with babies. On line 12, seats are arranged according to the 2:3 principle, and for seats 12 with the designations "L", "K", "H" they require an increased payment.

In rows 14-16, places are arranged according to the classic 3:3 scheme, and in lines 17-19 - according to the 2:3:2 scheme. When choosing seats in these rows, it is worth noting that additional payment is possible for seats 14 "A", "B", "C" and 17 "E", "F". Of course, these are comfortable comfortable chairs, but behind row 19 there are evacuation hatches. Consequently, the seatbacks on this row are not equipped with an adjustment function at all, which should be taken into account when reserving these seats.

For the same reason, it is undesirable to buy tickets for seats in rows 29, 43, 54, since it will not be possible to expand the chair due to the proximity of technical blocks, hatches and bathrooms. Impressions from the flight can deteriorate dramatically when choosing such seats in the cabin.

Near the seats in rows 20-22 (“D”, “E”, “G”, “A”, “B” and “C”) there are restrooms, which will not bring pleasure from the flight for tourists. But the seats "D", "E", "G", "H" and "K" in the 29th sector are located near emergency exit- you have to pay extra for them, but there is a lot of space around them, which will allow you to sit comfortably. Yes, and be closer to the emergency exit during emergency It's like an added bonus. Also, the seats "D", "E", "G" and "F", located on the 23rd line, will be a good choice.

From the 31st row, the next block begins. Here, the locking of the backs and the proximity of the bathroom can be called an inconvenience. There are also stairs, hatches nearby, but all the negative can compensate for the large space nearby. But the only seat in this row has a crooked seat (very uncomfortable) due to being near an emergency exit. It is inconvenient, although there are many places around.

The best choices are chairs "D", "E", "G" and "F". They are quite comfortable, but there is a staircase in front of them, along which people will constantly go down / up. And the seats in rows 32-34 are located near the bathroom, so people in those chairs constantly complain about the noise. It's unlikely to sleep there.

It is also undesirable to choose seats on lines 43, 54, 70 and 71. Due to the location of the emergency exit, the backs on these seats cannot be adjusted, which causes discomfort during the flight. Rows 44 and 55 are also located near the toilet, but this disadvantage is compensated by more legroom. If you choose places at the very end of the cabin, then you should consider that there is a restroom and service rooms. Naturally, the backs there will also not recline.

Despite the fact that the cabin capacity of the Boeing 747 is huge, the designers failed to create the same conditions for everyone to fly. Even seats for the same price can vary greatly in terms of comfort and convenience during the flight.

When buying a ticket on the official website of the airline, you can find the necessary form to familiarize yourself with the layout of this board. If you wish, you can call the airline manager, who will not refuse to help you choose the right seat. It is advisable to notify the employee of personal preferences and the desire to sit, for example, near the window.

You should not buy a ticket for a seat that is located near the office space. Usually, queues form near such premises and people are constantly moving, which creates unnecessary noise. It is necessary to reserve seats where you can recline and stretch your legs - this is very important on a long flight.

A very bad option is to book a seat next to the partition. And if the flight is scheduled for the morning or in good weather, then it is advisable to reserve a seat near the porthole in order to enjoy the scenery outside the window during the flight.

Considering how large capacity aircraft "Boeing 747", the layout of the seats on the liner must be studied in more detail. There you can define better zone and places, finding technical blocks, latrines. Try to choose a place away from these rooms. Remember that this may determine general impressions from the flight. Besides, good conditions especially important for people who are afraid to fly. After all, comfort reduces passenger stress and nervous tension. A person after a flight can get out of the plane full of energy, or he can be severely exhausted by constant noise.

Indeed, the passenger capacity of the Boeing 747 allows you to put this aircraft on the busiest flights. The carrier tries by all means to ensure that its boards are filled with people as much as possible, so you should not count on the fact that the plane will be half empty and you can take any seat. WITH huge liners this level is extremely rare.

How to buy a ticket cheaper?

When there are only a few days left before the flight, and many tickets are not sold out, the airline offers big discounts even on business class seats. Therefore, keep an eye on the number of tickets available, and if there are a lot of them, then you can postpone the purchase. There is a possibility that discounts will appear soon.

Occupying the wrong place

If it suddenly turns out that you have chosen bad place, on which you are uncomfortable, and there is a more comfortable chair nearby, then you can safely transfer to it. It is unlikely that the flight attendants will ask you to go to your seat. But even in this case, you can ask permission to change the place, complaining of discomfort.

Of course, you can only take a free seat within your class, although according to some passengers it is clear that sometimes it is even possible to take a seat in a higher class if there are no people there.

Other aircraft with similar passenger capacity

The Boeing 747 400 has competitors that also boast huge capacity. The very first in the world is the Airbus A380 - a double-deck aircraft that can carry 525 passengers at once in three classes of cabins. There is a configuration of this liner that accommodates only economy seats. This configuration provides 853 seats. The flight range is 15400 km.

Less interesting is the Boeing 747 800 airliner with a capacity of 581 passengers in the presence of two classes in the cabin. There is also a modification with a cabin divided into two or three classes, in which 467 passengers can be accommodated.

However, Rossiya Airlines does not have such aircraft. "Boeing 747 400" with a passenger capacity of up to 552 people is the only modification leading in this parameter among other models.

Finally

The capacity of the Boeing 747 makes anyone wonder. Despite the fact that the aircraft was created a long time ago, even today it is one of the largest and most advanced airliners in the world. Traveling on it is a pleasure even when landing in economy class. Unfortunately, not all airlines can purchase such aircraft. Some low-cost airlines simply do not need them due to the lack of such a huge passenger flow. The maximum capacity of the "Boeing 747 400" of "Russia" allows you to put these aircraft only on the busiest destinations, which makes it possible to load the liners to the maximum. Naturally than more people buys a flight ticket, the more money the company can make.

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. (previously Airbus Industry) is the largest serial 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. A380 can make non-stop flights at a distance of 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 long acceptance test phase and entered service on October 25, 2007, having completed 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 parts 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 template.

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, with which it was possible to transport large loads. 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 long distances. This work An-225 "Mriya" will perform today.

The general functions and 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 cargo, an aircraft needs 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 sealed and equipped with all the necessary equipment for loading operations. 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, extra large trucks, 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.

Air travel is considered a safe and affordable means of travel. To lift one liner into the air requires a decent amount of fuel, so the designers are constantly fighting to reduce fuel consumption. liners large capacity proved to be an effective means capable of transporting large volumes of cargo and serving a large passenger flow.

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largest passenger aircraft

The largest passenger aircraft in the world is the Airbus A380. The airliner is produced by a group of European companies in several EU countries. The wingspan of this giant is 80 meters, which makes room for large reserves of fuel and makes it possible for long non-stop flights.

A380 has incredible technical characteristics:

Number of passengers: 850 people
Max. flight speed: 1020 km/h.
Max. flight distance: 15200 km, more than any representatives of this class.
Max. takeoff weight: 575 tons

The use of composite materials allows the aircraft to weigh significantly less, which helps to gain the desired height with minimal acceleration.

In the aircraft project, the engineers managed to combine knowledge in the field of engineering and aerodynamics.

Liner capacity

The model has big amount modifications, however, on average, the airbus can accommodate about 555 people. The aircraft is characterized by the highest level of comfort. The liner is operated on all continents. Airbus is famous for its good handling and almost zero accidents.

Not every engine is suitable for lifting such a colossus into the air, because in addition to passenger seats on the liner there are:

Recreation areas.
Sleeping cabins.
Bars and more.

Only 4 Rolls-Royce motors, manufactured by special order, are capable of lifting this mass into the heights.

In Russia, the largest passenger aircraft is actively operating main airline countries - Aeroflot. The A380 has a significant share in the carrier's fleet.

largest cargo plane

An 225 - "Mriya" rightfully holds the title of the largest aircraft in the world. The length of the aircraft is 73 meters, and the wingspan is an incredible 88 meters! The aircraft exists in a single copy and is operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. In theory, this aircraft can be classified as a transport aircraft, but its original purpose was to transport the Buran reusable spacecraft.

After the collapse of the USSR, the largest cargo plane in the world went to Ukraine, however long time was not exploited. The engines and all valuable equipment were removed from the liner. It wasn't until the early 2000s that the need for such an "air truck" arose and the aircraft was upgraded to meet international aviation standards.

Now the largest An aircraft has been adapted for commercial transportation. The carrying capacity of the aircraft is about 250 tons.

Important: in fact, there is a second copy of Mriya, but it is not completed. The readiness of the project is estimated at 70%. To complete the construction, about 100 million dollars are required, which no investor is ready to provide yet.

Liner records

An-225 has broken many load-carrying records. The largest cargo aircraft in the world has an absolute record for lifting cargo into the air - 253.5 tons. The air record holder has been entered into the Guinness Book of Records more than once.

In the next ten years, hardly anyone will be able to build a project of this magnitude, so the liner for the next ten to fifteen years will hold the palm in the nominations "the largest aircraft in the world" and "the heaviest aircraft".

The largest military aircraft in the world

The largest aircraft in the world is used only for peaceful purposes, but many of its smaller counterparts are used to transport military cargo. The most successful countries in this area are Russia and the United States. cold war spurred an arms race and a flood of government funding poured into the defense industry.

The production of one model required a huge amount of money, so each project was thoroughly checked before the flights. The commissioning time of this kind of equipment is about 5 years from the beginning of the design.

An 124 "Ruslan"

This military transport liner is one of the few representatives of the aircraft industry giants in Russia. The development of the project and the first flights were carried out back in the era of the Soviet Union, however, the technological solutions of the designers were really ahead of their time and therefore remain relevant to this day.

The name "Ruslan" was given to the liner combat pilots, but journalists liked it so much that it appears with this abbreviation in all tops and ratings. The nickname has become an integral part of the aircraft.

The air vehicle has a wingspan of about 80 meters and a length of 73 meters. The maximum flight range is more than 15 thousand kilometers. More than once these airliners during their flights went around Earth with minimal refills.

Ruslan is operated in Russia and Ukraine, and not only for military cargo transportation.

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is the American answer to domestic designs for super-lift liners. The scale of this monster is impressive: in military configuration, it is capable of carrying 275 fully equipped soldiers, and when used in civil aviation takes on board 75 passengers. In the initial draft, it was assumed that the board was capable of transporting intercontinental ballistic missiles.

10 biggest planes in the world

Since the dawn of aviation, aircraft have grown in size and reliability. In every era there was an aircraft that was a technological breakthrough. For you, we present the top 10 aircraft that influenced the development of world aviation.

Tupolev ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky"

Built in honor of a significant event in the biography of M. Gorky - the 40th anniversary since the beginning of his literary path, the plane was striking in size. This eight-engine giant contained a printing house, a laboratory and a library. For full use, a flight staff of 20 people was required.

The fate of the only issued copy is tragic - on May 18, 1935, an accident occurred that led to disaster. However, this aircraft became the prototype for the creation of heavy domestic aircraft, such as Ruslan and Mriya.

Important: in the mid-30s of the 20th century, it could rightfully be called not only the largest Russian aircraft, but also the largest cargo aircraft in the world.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

It is no coincidence that "Hercules" takes a place in our top. To this day, it is the largest transport aircraft with the ability to take off and land on the water surface.

The project was financed by the American tycoon Howard Hughes, but was completed only in a wooden version. This is due to the fact that the construction period fell on the Second world war, so all the metal went to the military. An estimated capacity of 750 people would make it the largest passenger aircraft ever built.

Boeing 747

Each of us saw this plane one way or another: live, in a photo or on video. For 37 years, the Boeing 747 held the title of the world's largest civil aircraft, until the Airbus A380 appeared. Used all over the world. It was used to deliver the space shuttle from the place of production.

Characteristics:

Length from nose to tail: 76.4.
Wingspan: 68.5 .
Crew: 2 pilots.
Number of passengers: 600 people
Max. flight speed: 1100 km/h.
Flight range: about 14,000 km.
Max. takeoff weight: 448 tons.

The following models are also in the top 10 most large aircraft world, but their place in the list is deserved primarily by their reliability and performance.

Boeing 777-300ER

Boeing's largest aircraft. The device has a wide space inside the skin and is capable of carrying up to 70,000 tons of commercial cargo.

Airbus A340-600

It was produced in the amount of 97 copies, which allows it to be called one of the most popular aircraft, capable of taking on board 450 passengers. Out of production in 2011, but continues to be used everywhere.

Boeing 747-8

The extended version of the liner tops the honorary list of the longest aircraft (76.4 meters). In the international classification it is called "Intercontinental".

Tu-134

Medium-passenger main liner, which is rightfully considered one of the best in Russia. This model attracts not with a huge volume inside, but with a decent speed for its dimensions - it can reach up to 950 km / h.

Dry "Superjet" -100

The Russian aircraft is the front line of the domestic aircraft industry. It has the most modern digital filling, is capable of transporting 100 people. It is actively purchased in Asia, and Sukhoi plans to enter the US market.

Irkut MS-21

This airliner is not yet in production and is getting a place on our list in advance. Despite not the largest dimensions of the project (length - up to 40 meters), which will not allow it to shift the largest aircraft of the West from the first lines, it is able to save Russia from the dominance of foreign manufacturers.

Concorde

The aircraft was the beginning of a sharp surge in the construction of supersonic passenger liners. A recognizable silhouette with a pointed nose is easily recognizable in photos and videos. Used for 27 years, which allowed him to become the champion in the transportation of passengers - 3 million people.

Every manufacturer wants to be called a giant of the industry. In the aircraft industry, Airbus has no equal with the A380 model. The largest passenger aircraft in the world has been produced for several years and is constantly being modified. Not far off is the time when one plane will take on board more than 1000 people.

The Russian heavy aircraft market is experiencing better times. Old Soviet models are in operation. Gradually, Russian manufacturers are trying to catch up with their colleagues from Europe and America, but this takes time.

Each of the described liners can weigh tens of tons, but the utility factor is estimated by the formula: 1 kg of own weight per amount of weight lifted.