Many giant planes are even longer than Olympic swimming pools, can accommodate tanks, and are taller than five-story buildings.
Currently, small planes, flying cars and specialized vehicles are appearing more and more in the world. They are designed for travel and short range travel. But when it comes to transporting goods, the giant plane retains its unique position.
Many cargo planes are longer than Olympic swimming pools, can accommodate tanks, and are taller than five-story buildings. Here are the biggest planes in the world that are flying right now.
5. Antonov An-124 Ruslan
This is a monster designed and built by the Russian Antonov Design Bureau. The An-124 Ruslan operated by the Russian Air Force is the largest military aircraft in the world. For nearly 30 years after its introduction in 1984, the An-124 (NATO reporting name: Condor) was the largest and heaviest cargo aircraft in the world, alongside the An-225.
With a reported payload of 165 tons, the An-124 can carry more than the third C-5 Galaxy on the list, although its range isn't as far away. As a testament to the remaining Soviet engineering technology, the An-124 continues to perform air transport missions for Russia.
4. Boeing 747 Dreamlifter
In the 2000s, plane maker Boeing realized it needed a cargo plane with huge shipping capacity to transport parts for the 787 Dreamliner, which is manufactured around the world. world of Boeing. The solution used was to upgrade the airline's largest aircraft - the Boeing 747 with a custom hangar for a larger one.
The Dreamlifter is the world's largest cargo plane, capable of carrying three times the mass of a 747-400F freighter. The four Dreamlifters produced by Boeing also use the world's longest cargo loader and can carry up to 125 tons.
3. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
With a payload of nearly 135 tons, the C-5 Galaxy is the largest aircraft regularly used by the US military.
C-5 Galaxy has enough space to carry 2 M1 Abrams tanks, 16 Humvees, 3 Black Hawks helicopters or many other vehicles. Without cargo, the C-5 can fly up to more than 11,200km without refueling, making it the longest-range military transport aircraft in the world.
2. Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
This bulky aircraft has been retired by every organization in the world except NASA. The US space agency found the Guppy's large size to be perfect for transporting components for spacecraft and rockets.
The first Super Guppy was built from the fuselage of a Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, first flown in 1965. Details of the turboprop cargo plane have been largely replaced by the Airbus Beluga to serve the purpose of transporting large goods. Despite its odd shape, this giant plane is still loved and used by NASA.
1. Antonov An-225 Mriya
Antonov An-225 is the largest aircraft in the world. Antonov Design Bureau only built this monster cargo plane. Antonov designed it to carry Buran (the Soviet version of the space shuttle) as well as Energia boosters, but the plane quickly found other airlifting work after the program's collapse. Soviet space.
The An-225 is the heaviest aircraft ever built, with a maximum take-off weight of 710 tons. It holds the record for total airlift payload of 253.8 tons and has the longest wingspan.
This giant aircraft joined the fight against COVID-19 in 2020, when it was used to provide cargo support to countries around the world affected by the pandemic.