The Top 5 Largest Airplanes In The World

Aircraft design has come a long way since humans first took to the skies 120 years ago. The aviation industry has witnessed several aircraft types, many of which set new records and standards in air travel. One thing that has always caught the attention of aviation enthusiasts and the general public is the size of some of these machines.

Many have even wondered how some planes are capable of flying, given their structure, weight, or size. Today, we will look at some of the largest aircraft in the world. We will focus on the aircraft still flying or well-preserved in museums, which means some famous types may be excluded. While certain characteristics like length, height, passenger/cargo capacity, and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) can be used in this ranking, we will focus on the wingspan. This is the distance from one wingtip to the other and is an essential consideration in aircraft production.

5 Boeing 777X

Wingspan – 235 ft 5 in (71.75 m)

While the Boeing 777X has yet to enter commercial service, it is a rightful competitor as it has already completed several test flights. It is one of the most anticipated aircraft of the decade and has already received orders from some of the world’s biggest airlines. Here are some of its key stats:

Photo: Tom Buysse | Shutterstock

This new aircraft is set to be the world’s largest twin-engine jetliner. It is expected to enter service in 2025, pending regulatory certification requirements. The 777-9 is the largest variant – about 19 ft 3 in (5.86 m) longer than the 777-8. It has a capacity of up to 426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration.

According to Boeing, the wingspan measures a whooping 235 ft 5 in (71.75 m) when both wings are fully extended. However, on the ground, it would measure about 212 ft 9 in (64.85 m). The folding wingtip technology allows the widebody to fit in the same size category as the existing Triple Seven.

4 Antonov An-124

Wingspan – 240 ft 6 in (73.3 m)

Coming in fourth place is the Soviet-built Antonov An-124 Ruslan. It now holds the title of being the largest Antonov aircraft after the beloved six-engine An-225 Mriya was destroyed in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Photo: Alex JW Robinson | Shutterstock.com

Regarding gross weight, the An-124 is the second-heaviest freighter ever built and currently the heaviest in operation. It has a cargo capacity of up to 330,693 lb (150,000 kg). With a maximum payload, it has a range of 2,000 NM (3,700 km), but this can extend to 7,600 NM (14,000 km) when lightly loaded. Only 55 of them were ever built, and as of November 2023, about 21 remain in service, according to data from ch-aviation.

The primary users include the Russian Aerospace Forces, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, and Antonov Airlines. The aircraft completed its maiden flight in December 1982 and entered service in January 1986. The program ran from 1982 to 2004. In the past, it has airlifted some notable outsize cargo like hydraulic turbines, satellites, and military vehicles.

3 Airbus A380

Wingspan – 261 ft 8 in (79.75 m)

Coming in second place is an aircraft that does not need much of an introduction. The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger jet ever built by wingspan, passenger capacity, volume, and weight. It is an engineering marvel in its own right and remains in service with about ten airlines. This superjumbo is known for several unique characteristics, but here are some of the key ones:

While the A380 is shorter than the 777-9 and the 747-8, it beats them both in terms of capacity. The quadjet can carry as many as 853 passengers in a single-class economy configuration but is operated with a typical 400 to 550-seat capacity. It is also the heaviest passenger aircraft on the market and can weigh up to 1.26 million lbs (573,794 kg) when fully loaded.

Photo: Plane Photography | Shutterstock

Emirates is the largest operator of the type, with 119 examples in its fleet. It has had several success stories with the A380 and may continue flying it until the 2040s. The story has not been the same with all its operators. It fell out of favor with some carriers, and the incredibly low demand caused by the pandemic made matters worse. A total of 251 were built, and over 160 remain active as of November 2023.

Read more: The top 10 largest planes ever built

2 Hughes H-4 Hercules

Wingspan – 320 ft 11 in (97.82 m)

Affectionately known as the Spruce Goose, the Hughes H-4 Hercules is a strategic airlift flying boat designed by the Hughes Aircraft Company for use during World War II. However, the aircraft was not fully complete in time for the war, so it never served its purpose as intended. The one prototype ever built is preserved at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, making it a worthy candidate for our consideration.

The Spruce Goose is perhaps one of the most iconic flying boats ever made. Its wingspan is about 101 ft 5 in (30.9 m) more than the second-largest flying boat – the Saunders-Roe Princess. Regarding this metric, it previously held the title of being the largest aircraft ever made. What’s even more interesting is that it was primarily made from wood because of government wartime restrictions on the use of aluminum and steel, in addition to weight concerns.

The flying boat could carry up to 150,000 pounds (68,000 kg), 750 fully equipped troops, or two tanks weighing 66,139 lb (30,000 kg). However, it only made one brief flight on November 2, 1947. On that special day, it was undergoing taxi tests, and on the final test, it took off from the water and flew for about 26 seconds over a mile (1.6 km) at an altitude of approximately 70 ft (21 m).

1 Scaled Composites Stratolaunch

Wingspan – 385 ft (117 m)

The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch is by far one of the most unique aircraft ever built. Its role also significantly differs from any aircraft we mentioned in our list today. Before we dive deeper into the details, let us start by examining some of its specifications:

Photo: Stratolaunch

This double-fuselage aircraft was designed by Scaled Composites for Stratolaunch to carry rockets for air-launch-to-orbit (ALTO). Its wingspan is 95 ft (28.6 m) longer than the Antonov An-225, which would otherwise have been included in our list. Both fuselages are 238 ft (73 m) long, but the flight crew only uses the right fuselage cockpit. The left fuselage remains unoccupied during flight and can take up to 2,500 lb (1,133 kg) of mission equipment.

The program was announced in December 2011, and the aircraft made its first flight in April 2019, six months after the death of founder Paul Allen. The company seized operations in April 2019, and after being put up for sale, it was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management in October 2019. The Stratolaunch aircraft became a launch vehicle for reusable hypersonic flight research aircraft, and as of April 2023, it had completed about ten flights.

Photo: Real_life_photo | Shutterstock

Coming to the end of our list, we will not forget to mention another world-famous behemoth aircraft – the Antonov An-225. If it had not been destroyed 20 months ago, it would have been third on our list because of its 290-foot (88.4 meter) wingspan. However, its length and weight also made it the longest and heaviest aircraft in the world. To top it all off, the An-225 Mriya set 214 national and 124 world records, including the airlifting of the heaviest payload ever.

What are your thoughts on some of the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan? Have you ever flown on any of them before? Please let us know in the comments!

Source: ch-aviation, Evergreen Museum