World’s Largest Aircrafts in Existence: Certified Top Ten

The largest aircraft ever built is the LZ 129 Hindenburg. This mammoth German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship is the longest flying machine of any kind.

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This 245 meter long airship can accommodate 72 passengers and has a maximum speed of 135 km/h. However, it is no longer in existence. It was destroyed by a fire in 1937 where 36 people died in the accident.

Another gigantic aircraft is the KM Ekranoplan. Nicknamed as the “Caspian Sea Monster”, it has a length of 106.97 meters and weighed 540 tons

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KM Ekranoplan “Caspian Sea Monster” is tagged as the largest and fastest ekranoplan ever built with a length of 106.97 meters. This huge machine was designed by the USSR during the so-called “Cold War”. This vessel is a ground effect vehicle or GEV. It’s a kind of aircraft that attains level flight near the surface of the Earth and made possible by a cushion of high-pressure air created by the aerodynamic interaction between the wings and the surface known as ground effect. Like the LZ129 Hindenburg, it is no longer in existence because it crashed in the Caspian Sea in December1980.

1. AntonovAn 225 Mriva - 84 meters

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The gigantic An-225 Mriya, a strategic airlift transport aircraft, is the largest fixed-wing aircraft in the world. It is commercially available for flying over-sized payloads due to the unique size of its cargo deck. At present there is only one aircraft operating. Its NATO reporting name is Cossack. This 84 meter long flying machine has a wingspan of 88.4 meters with a cargo volume of 1,300 m3. It has a maximum speed of 850 km/h or 460 knots.

It is currently rank number one as the longest aircraft in existence.

2. Boeing 747-8 - 76.25 meters

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The second largest aircraft is the Boeing 747-8, the latest evolutionary version of the Boeing 747. This wide-body commercial airliner has a length of 76.25 meters. It was first flown in February 2010 and a unit is worth US$293-308 million while Boeing 747-8F costs US$301.5-304.5 million.

It has a cruising speed of 917 km/h and a maximum speed of 988 km/h. It is presently the longest commercial airliner in the world, a record previously held by A340-600.

3. C-5 Galaxy – 75.31 meters

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The 3rt spot goes to the C-5 Galaxy. With a length of 75.31 meters, it is the largest American military transport and one of the largest military aircraft in the world. It was built by Lockheed and a unit is worth $167.7 million. This large, military transport aircraft was designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances and to carry outsize and oversize cargo. This military aircraft with a maximum speed of 932 km/h or 503 knots is operated by US Air Force.

4. Airbus 340-600 – 75.01 meters

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The 4th largest aircraft in existence is the A340-600. With a length of 75.01 meters, it flies 380 passengers. In comparison to other large aircrafts, it is more than 10 m longer than a basic Airbus -300, more than 4 m longer than the Boeing 747-400 and 2.3 m longer than the Airbus 380. It held the record for being the world’s longest commercial aircraft until February 2010.

5. Boeing 747 – 73.9 meters

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The Boeing 777, with a length of 73.9 meters, is the largest twinjet in the world. This long-range and wide-body jet airliner is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". This huge airplane can accommodate 300 passengers. It is remarkable also for having the largest diameter turbofan engines of any aircraft. It is also the first entirely computer-designed commercial aircraft. A single unit of Boeing 777-200ER is worth US$ 205.5–31.0 million. A Boeing 777-200LR costs US$237.5–263.5 million, a Boeing 777-300ER is worth US$257.0–286.5 million and a Boeing 777F is worth US$252.5–260.5 million.

6. Russian Lun (Harrier) – 73.8 meters

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The Russian Lun Ekranoplan with a length of 73.8 meters is the 6th largest aircraft in existence. This ground effect vehicle is currently resting in Kaspiysk, Russia. Its name is translated as ‘Harrier’. It entered service in 1987 and retired in 1999. This aircraft was equipped with 6 anti-shi missile launchers. It has wingspan of 44 meters and a capacity of 1,000 tons. It has a maximum speed of550 km/h. Its NATO reporting name is Duck.

7. Airbus A380 -73 meters

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The Airbus A380, which cost 317.2 to 337.5 million, is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine airliner, is manufactured by Airbus. From the time of its maiden flight in 2005, it is regarded as the largest passenger airliner in the world. Nicknamed Superjumbo, it can accommodate up to 853 people. This marvelous aircraft, which is regarded as the 7th largest aircraft in the world, has a maximum speed of 945 km/h or 510 knots.

8. Boeing 747 LCF – 71.68 meters

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The Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF), Dreamlifter, is the 8th largest aircraft in existence. This wide-body cargo aircraft is a modified version of Boeing 747-400. It is used exclusively for transporting aircraft parts to Boeing from suppliers around the world. It has a length of 71.68 meters and a wingspan of 64.4 meters. Dreamlifter can hold three times the volume of a 747-400F freighter and has a cruising speed of 910 km/h.

9. Boeing 747-400 – 70.6 meters

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The Boeing 747-400 is the 9th largest aircraft in the world. This wide-body commercial airliner, which is manufactured by Boeing, is the best selling model in the 747 family. Primary users of this awesomely handsome aircraft are British, Korean, Japan and Lufthansa Airlines. With a length of 70.6 meters, it has a cruising speed of 912 km/h or 493 knots. One unit of Boeing 747-400/-400ER costs US$234-266.5 million and a
Boeing 747-400F/-400ERF is worth US$238-268 million.

10. Shuttle Carrier Aircraft – 70.5 meters

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The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft - SCA is the 10th largest aircrafts in the world. There are two models of SCA, one is a 747-100 model and the other is a short range 747-100SR. These two models are used by NASA to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. These flying machines have a cruising speed of 735 km/h or 397 knots

*Bonus

Beriev Be-2500 Neptun – 123 meters

If it enters service, the Beriev Be-2500 Neptun will become the world’s largest aircraft. This gigantic flying machine is a super-heavy amphibian cargo aircraft concept being developed by Russia. Its maximum takeoff weight is projected to be 2,500 metric tons, hence the designation. It is designed to function as both a conventional high-altitude jet and as an Ekranoplan. It is intended to fly transcontinental routes, taking off from conventional seaports and requiring no special infrastructure. This 123 meter long aircraft has a wingspan of 156 m and expected to have a maximum speed of 800 km/h or 240 knots.

See also

• 14 Most Expensive and Most Powerful Fighter Aircrafts

• 14 Most Expensive and Most Powerful Fighter Aircrafts II

• Uniquely-Designed and Awesome-Looking Flying Objects

• World’s Largest and Longest Aircrafts

• World’s Fastest Flying Machines Ever Built

• World’s Largest Machines Ever Built