Topzle Topzle

List of large aircraft

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of large aircraft

This is a list of large aircraft, including three types: fixed wing, rotary wing, and airships. The US Federal Aviation Administration defines a large aircraft as any aircraft with a certificated maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of more than 12,500 lb (5,700 kg) The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) defines a large aircraft as either "an aeroplane with a maximum take-off mass of more than 12,566.35 pounds (5,700.00 kilograms) or a multi-engined helicopter."

Tables

· Fixed-wing
Ilya Muromets
Ilya Muromets
Type
Ilya Muromets
First flight
1913
Role
airliner/bomber
Built
85+
Length
19.13 yards (17.49 meters)
Span
32.58 yards (29.79 meters)
MTOW
4.527 tons
Capacity
Pax: 16
Notes
First multi-engine aircraft in serial production, Russky Vityaz development
Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
Type
Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
First flight
1916
Role
Bomber
Built
56
Length
24.168 yards (22.099 meters)
Span
46.15 yards (42.20 meters)
MTOW
11.613 tons
Notes
Largest WWI aircraft in regular service
Tarrant Tabor
Tarrant Tabor
Type
Tarrant Tabor
First flight
1919
Role
Bomber
Built
1
Length
24.38 yards (22.29 meters)
Span
43.74 yards (40.00 meters)
MTOW
19.97 tons
Capacity
4.1 t
Notes
Crashed on first flight
Dornier Do X
Dornier Do X
Type
Dornier Do X
First flight
12 Jul 1929
Role
Flying boat
Built
3
Length
43.74 yards (40.00 meters)
Span
52.27 yards (47.80 meters)
MTOW
51.1787 tons
Capacity
Pax: 100
Notes
Then longest, widest and heaviest
Kalinin K-7
Kalinin K-7
Type
Kalinin K-7
First flight
11 Aug 1933
Role
Transport
Built
1
Length
30.62 yards (28.00 meters)
Span
57.96 yards (53.00 meters)
MTOW
45.77 tons
Capacity
Pax: 120
Notes
Widest aircraft until the Tupolev ANT-20
Tupolev ANT-20
Tupolev ANT-20
Type
Tupolev ANT-20
First flight
19 May 1934
Role
Transport
Built
2
Length
35.979 yards (32.899 meters)
Span
68.8976 yards (63.0000 meters)
MTOW
52.16 tons
Capacity
Pax: 72
Notes
Widest and heaviest until the Douglas XB-19
Douglas XB-19
Douglas XB-19
Type
Douglas XB-19
First flight
27 Jun 1941
Role
Bomber
Built
1
Length
44.07 yards (40.30 meters)
Span
70.65 yards (64.60 meters)
MTOW
72.34 tons
Notes
Longest until the Laté. 631, widest until the B-36, heaviest until the Martin Mars
Messerschmitt Me 323
Messerschmitt Me 323
Type
Messerschmitt Me 323
First flight
20 Jan 1942
Role
Transport
Built
198
Length
30.84 yards (28.20 meters)
Span
60.37 yards (55.20 meters)
MTOW
42.32 tons
Capacity
11.81 tons
Notes
Highest cargo capacity land-based World War II transport
Martin JRM Mars
Martin JRM Mars
Type
Martin JRM Mars
First flight
23 Jun 1942
Role
Flying boat
Built
7
Length
39.04 yards (35.70 meters)
Span
66.71 yards (61.00 meters)
MTOW
73.62 tons
Capacity
14.76 tons
Notes
Heaviest until the Junkers 390, Largest serial production flying boat
Latécoère 631
Latécoère 631
Type
Latécoère 631
First flight
4 Nov 1942
Role
Flying boat
Built
11
Length
47.57 yards (43.50 meters)
Span
62.77 yards (57.40 meters)
MTOW
70.27 tons
Capacity
Pax: 46
Notes
Longest until the Convair B-36
Junkers Ju 390
Junkers Ju 390
Type
Junkers Ju 390
First flight
20 Oct 1943
Role
Bomber
Built
2
Length
37.40 yards (34.20 meters)
Span
55.01 yards (50.30 meters)
MTOW
74.31 tons
Capacity
9.84 tons
Notes
Heaviest until the BV 238, Junkers entry for the Amerika Bomber project
Blohm & Voss BV 238
Blohm & Voss BV 238
Type
Blohm & Voss BV 238
First flight
Apr 1944
Role
Flying boat
Built
1
Length
47.35 yards (43.30 meters)
Span
65.84 yards (60.20 meters)
MTOW
98.42 tons
Notes
Heaviest built during WWII, destroyed in 1945
Convair B-36
Convair B-36
Type
Convair B-36
First flight
8 Aug 1946
Role
Bomber
Built
384
Length
54.02 yards (49.40 meters)
Span
76.66 yards (70.10 meters)
MTOW
183.06 tons
Notes
Heaviest until the B-52, longest and widest until the Hughes H-4
Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
Type
Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
First flight
2 Nov 1947
Role
Flying boat
Built
1
Length
72.94 yards (66.70 meters)
Span
106.95 yards (97.80 meters)
MTOW
177.15 tons
Notes
Longest until the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and widest until the Stratolaunch
Convair XC-99
Convair XC-99
Type
Convair XC-99
First flight
23 Nov 1947
Role
Transport
Built
1
Length
60.80 yards (55.60 meters)
Span
76.66 yards (70.10 meters)
MTOW
142.71 tons
Capacity
44.28 tons
Notes
B-36 development, most capable transport aircraft until the An-22
Boeing B-52
Boeing B-52
Type
Boeing B-52
First flight
15 Apr 1952
Role
Bomber
Built
744
Length
53.04 yards (48.50 meters)
Span
61.68 yards (56.40 meters)
MTOW
216.525 tons
Notes
Heaviest until the XB-70, still in service
XB-70
XB-70
Type
XB-70
First flight
21 Sep 1964
Role
Bomber
Built
2
Length
61.68 yards (56.40 meters)
Span
34.99 yards (31.99 meters)
MTOW
242.115 tons
Notes
Heaviest until the An-22, Mach 3 prototype bomber
Antonov An-22
Antonov An-22
Type
Antonov An-22
First flight
27 Feb 1965
Role
Transport
Built
68
Length
63.32 yards (57.90 meters)
Span
70.43 yards (64.40 meters)
MTOW
246.05 tons
Capacity
80 t
Notes
Heaviest until the C-5, Heaviest turboprop aircraft
Caspian Sea Monster
Caspian Sea Monster
Type
Caspian Sea Monster
First flight
16 Oct 1966
Role
Ekranoplan
Built
1
Length
100.61 yards (92.00 meters)
Span
41.12 yards (37.60 meters)37.6 m
MTOW
535.41 tons
Notes
Ground-effect vehicle. Heaviest and longest flying vehicle until the An-225, 1980 crash
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Type
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
First flight
30 Jun 1968
Role
Transport
Built
131
Length
82.34 yards (75.29 meters)
Span
74.26 yards (67.90 meters)
MTOW
410.41 tons
Capacity
125.49 tons
Notes
Largest payload capacity until the An-124
Boeing 747
Boeing 747
Type
Boeing 747
First flight
9 Feb 1969
Role
Airliner
Built
1557
Length
77.32 yards (70.70 meters)
Span
65.18 yards (59.60 meters)
MTOW
406.86 tons
Capacity
Pax: 550/660
Notes
Highest passenger capacity airliner until the Airbus A380; most built wide-body airliner until the Boeing 777
Antonov An-124
Antonov An-124
Type
Antonov An-124
First flight
26 Dec 1982
Role
Transport
Built
55
Length
75.57 yards (69.10 meters)
Span
80.16 yards (73.30 meters)
MTOW
395.65 tons
Capacity
147.63 tons
Notes
Most capable transport until the An-225
Airbus A320
Airbus A320
Type
Airbus A320
First flight
22 Feb 1987
Role
Airliner
Built
12198
Length
41.09 yards (37.57 meters)
Span
39.15 yards (35.80 meters)
MTOW
78 tons
Capacity
Pax: 150/164
Notes
Most built airliner
Antonov An-225 Mriya
Antonov An-225 Mriya
Type
Antonov An-225 Mriya
First flight
21 Dec 1988
Role
Transport
Built
1
Length
91.86 yards (84.00 meters)
Span
96.68 yards (88.40 meters)
MTOW
629.89 tons
Capacity
246.05 tons
Notes
Heaviest aircraft and most capable transport, destroyed in 2022
Boeing 777
Boeing 777
Type
Boeing 777
First flight
12 Jun 1994
Role
Airliner
Built
1767
Length
80.77 yards (73.86 meters)
Span
70.86 yards (64.79 meters)
MTOW
351.5 tons
Capacity
Pax: 550
Notes
Most built wide-body airliner
Airbus Beluga
Airbus Beluga
Type
Airbus Beluga
First flight
13 Sep 1994
Role
Outsize cargo
Built
5
Length
61.46 yards (56.20 meters)
Span
48.99 yards (44.80 meters)
MTOW
152.55 t
Capacity
1,961.93 cubic yards (1,500.00 cubic meters)
Notes
Airbus A300 derivative, largest volume until the Dreamlifter
Airbus A380
Airbus A380
Type
Airbus A380
First flight
27 Apr 2005
Role
Airliner
Built
254
Length
79.51 yards (72.70 meters)
Span
87.27 yards (79.80 meters)
MTOW
565.92 tons
Capacity
Pax: 850
Notes
Highest passenger capacity airliner
Boeing Dreamlifter
Boeing Dreamlifter
Type
Boeing Dreamlifter
First flight
9 Sep 2006
Role
Outsize cargo
Built
4
Length
78.41 yards (71.70 meters)
Span
70.43 yards (64.40 meters)
MTOW
358.25 tons
Capacity
2,406.63 cubic yards (1,840.00 cubic meters)
Notes
Boeing 747-400 derivative, largest volume until the BelugaXL
Airbus BelugaXL
Airbus BelugaXL
Type
Airbus BelugaXL
First flight
19 Jul 2018
Role
Outsize cargo
Built
6
Length
69.01 yards (63.10 meters)
Span
65.945 yards (60.300 meters)
MTOW
223.41 tons
Capacity
2,889.26 cubic yards (2,209.00 cubic meters)
Notes
Airbus A330 derivative, largest volume
Scaled Composites 351 Stratolaunch
Scaled Composites 351 Stratolaunch
Type
Scaled Composites 351 Stratolaunch
First flight
13 Apr 2019
Role
Air launch
Built
1
Length
79.83 yards (73.00 meters)
Span
127.95 yards (117.00 meters)
MTOW
580.68 t
Capacity
246.052 t
Notes
Current heaviest and widest, prototype air-launch-to-orbit carrier
Type
First flight
Role
Built
Length
Span
MTOW
Capacity
Notes
Ilya Muromets
1913
airliner/bomber
85+
yards (17.49 meters)
yards (29.79 meters)
tons
Pax: 16
First multi-engine aircraft in serial production, Russky Vityaz development
Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
1916
Bomber
56
yards (22.099 meters)
yards (42.20 meters)
tons
Largest WWI aircraft in regular service
Tarrant Tabor
1919
Bomber
1
yards (22.29 meters)
yards (40.00 meters)
tons
4.1 t
Crashed on first flight
Dornier Do X
12 Jul 1929
Flying boat
3
yards (40.00 meters)
yards (47.80 meters)
tons
Pax: 100
Then longest, widest and heaviest
Kalinin K-7
11 Aug 1933
Transport
1
yards (28.00 meters)
yards (53.00 meters)
tons
Pax: 120
Widest aircraft until the Tupolev ANT-20
Tupolev ANT-20
19 May 1934
Transport
2
yards (32.899 meters)
yards (63.0000 meters)
tons
Pax: 72
Widest and heaviest until the Douglas XB-19
Douglas XB-19
27 Jun 1941
Bomber
1
yards (40.30 meters)
yards (64.60 meters)
tons
Longest until the Laté. 631, widest until the B-36, heaviest until the Martin Mars
Messerschmitt Me 323
20 Jan 1942
Transport
198
yards (28.20 meters)
yards (55.20 meters)
tons
tons
Highest cargo capacity land-based World War II transport
Martin JRM Mars
23 Jun 1942
Flying boat
7
yards (35.70 meters)
yards (61.00 meters)
tons
tons
Heaviest until the Junkers 390, Largest serial production flying boat
Latécoère 631
4 Nov 1942
Flying boat
11
yards (43.50 meters)
yards (57.40 meters)
tons
Pax: 46
Longest until the Convair B-36
Junkers Ju 390
20 Oct 1943
Bomber
2
yards (34.20 meters)
yards (50.30 meters)
tons
tons
Heaviest until the BV 238, Junkers entry for the Amerika Bomber project
Blohm & Voss BV 238
Apr 1944
Flying boat
1
yards (43.30 meters)
yards (60.20 meters)
tons
Heaviest built during WWII, destroyed in 1945
Convair B-36
8 Aug 1946
Bomber
384
yards (49.40 meters)
yards (70.10 meters)
tons
Heaviest until the B-52, longest and widest until the Hughes H-4
Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
2 Nov 1947
Flying boat
1
yards (66.70 meters)
yards (97.80 meters)
tons
Longest until the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and widest until the Stratolaunch
Convair XC-99
23 Nov 1947
Transport
1
yards (55.60 meters)
yards (70.10 meters)
tons
tons
B-36 development, most capable transport aircraft until the An-22
Boeing B-52
15 Apr 1952
Bomber
744
yards (48.50 meters)
yards (56.40 meters)
tons
Heaviest until the XB-70, still in service
XB-70
21 Sep 1964
Bomber
2
yards (56.40 meters)
yards (31.99 meters)
tons
Heaviest until the An-22, Mach 3 prototype bomber
Antonov An-22
27 Feb 1965
Transport
68
yards (57.90 meters)
yards (64.40 meters)
tons
80 t
Heaviest until the C-5, Heaviest turboprop aircraft
Caspian Sea Monster
16 Oct 1966
Ekranoplan
1
yards (92.00 meters)
yards (37.60 meters)37.6 m
tons
Ground-effect vehicle. Heaviest and longest flying vehicle until the An-225, 1980 crash
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
30 Jun 1968
Transport
131
yards (75.29 meters)
yards (67.90 meters)
tons
tons
Largest payload capacity until the An-124
Boeing 747
9 Feb 1969
Airliner
1557
yards (70.70 meters)
yards (59.60 meters)
tons
Pax: 550/660
Highest passenger capacity airliner until the Airbus A380; most built wide-body airliner until the Boeing 777
Antonov An-124
26 Dec 1982
Transport
55
yards (69.10 meters)
yards (73.30 meters)
tons
tons
Most capable transport until the An-225
Airbus A320
22 Feb 1987
Airliner
12198
yards (37.57 meters)
yards (35.80 meters)
78 tons
Pax: 150/164
Most built airliner
Antonov An-225 Mriya
21 Dec 1988
Transport
1
yards (84.00 meters)
yards (88.40 meters)
tons
tons
Heaviest aircraft and most capable transport, destroyed in 2022
Boeing 777
12 Jun 1994
Airliner
1767
yards (73.86 meters)
yards (64.79 meters)
tons
Pax: 550
Most built wide-body airliner
Airbus Beluga
13 Sep 1994
Outsize cargo
5
yards (56.20 meters)
yards (44.80 meters)
152.55 t
cubic yards (1,500.00 cubic meters)
Airbus A300 derivative, largest volume until the Dreamlifter
Airbus A380
27 Apr 2005
Airliner
254
yards (72.70 meters)
yards (79.80 meters)
tons
Pax: 850
Highest passenger capacity airliner
Boeing Dreamlifter
9 Sep 2006
Outsize cargo
4
yards (71.70 meters)
yards (64.40 meters)
tons
cubic yards (1,840.00 cubic meters)
Boeing 747-400 derivative, largest volume until the BelugaXL
Airbus BelugaXL
19 Jul 2018
Outsize cargo
6
yards (63.10 meters)
yards (60.300 meters)
tons
cubic yards (2,209.00 cubic meters)
Airbus A330 derivative, largest volume
Scaled Composites 351 Stratolaunch
13 Apr 2019
Air launch
1
yards (73.00 meters)
yards (117.00 meters)
580.68 t
246.052 t
Current heaviest and widest, prototype air-launch-to-orbit carrier
· Fixed-wing › Projects
Poll Triplane
Poll Triplane
Type
Poll Triplane
Proposed
1917 (circa)
Notes
50 m (160 ft) wingspan
Victory Bomber
Victory Bomber
Type
Victory Bomber
Proposed
1940/1941
MTOW
47.2 tons
Notes
52 m (171 ft) wingspan, to carry a ten-ton earthquake bomb, rejected by the RAF
Boeing 2707 SST
Boeing 2707 SST
Type
Boeing 2707 SST
Proposed
1960s
MTOW
301.17 tons
Notes
A 93 m-long (305 ft) Concorde answer, canceled in 1971
Lockheed CL-1201
Lockheed CL-1201
Type
Lockheed CL-1201
Proposed
1960s
MTOW
6318.61 tons
Notes
Nuclear-powered, 1,120 feet (340 m) wing span, airborne aircraft carrier
Boeing RC-1
Boeing RC-1
Type
Boeing RC-1
Proposed
1970s
MTOW
1584.57 tons
Notes
"flying pipeline", proposed before the 1973 oil crisis
Conroy Virtus
Conroy Virtus
Type
Conroy Virtus
Proposed
1974
MTOW
379.90 tons
Notes
140 m (460 ft) wingspan, to carry Space Shuttle parts
Beriev Be-2500
Beriev Be-2500
Type
Beriev Be-2500
Proposed
1980s
MTOW
2460.57 tons
Notes
Super heavy amphibious transport aircraft
Beriev Be-5000
Beriev Be-5000
Type
Beriev Be-5000
Proposed
1980s
MTOW
4921.03 tons
Notes
Twin fuselage Be-2500
McDonnell Douglas MD-12
McDonnell Douglas MD-12
Type
McDonnell Douglas MD-12
Proposed
1990
MTOW
423.21 tons
Notes
Proposed double deck airliner, canceled in mid-1990s
Boeing New Large Airplane
Boeing New Large Airplane
Type
Boeing New Large Airplane
Proposed
1990s
MTOW
523.6 tons
Notes
747 replacement powered by 777 engines, canceled in the 1990s
Aerocon Dash 1.6 wingship
Aerocon Dash 1.6 wingship
Type
Aerocon Dash 1.6 wingship
Proposed
1990s
MTOW
4921.03 tons
Notes
US ground effect aircraft, developed with Russian consultation
Tupolev Tu-404
Tupolev Tu-404
Type
Tupolev Tu-404
Proposed
1990s
MTOW
595.45 tons
Notes
Blended wing body airliner for 1,214 passengers, 110 m (360 ft) wingspan
Sukhoi KR-860
Sukhoi KR-860
Type
Sukhoi KR-860
Proposed
1990s
MTOW
639.73 tons
Notes
Transport for 300 t payload or 860–1,000 passengers Double deck airliner
Skylon
Skylon
Type
Skylon
Proposed
1993
MTOW
339.55 tons
Notes
Reusable spaceplane, cancelled in 2024
Boeing 747X
Boeing 747X
Type
Boeing 747X
Proposed
1996
MTOW
465.53 tons
Notes
747-400 stretch, Airbus A3XX competitor
Boeing Pelican
Boeing Pelican
Type
Boeing Pelican
Proposed
2002
MTOW
2657.36 tons
Notes
Ground effect and medium altitude transport
Airbus A380-900
Airbus A380-900
Type
Airbus A380-900
Proposed
2006
MTOW
580.68 tons
Notes
Airbus A380-800 stretch, postponed in May 2010
TsAGI HCA-LB
TsAGI HCA-LB
Type
TsAGI HCA-LB
Proposed
current
MTOW
984.21 tons
Notes
Ground effect aircraft powered by LNG
Radia WindRunner
Radia WindRunner
Type
Radia WindRunner
Proposed
current
Notes
Outsize cargo freight aircraft: 108 m (354 ft) long, 80 m (260 ft) wingspan, intended to carry wind turbine blades.
Type
Proposed
MTOW
Notes
Poll Triplane
1917 (circa)
50 m (160 ft) wingspan
Victory Bomber
1940/1941
tons
52 m (171 ft) wingspan, to carry a ten-ton earthquake bomb, rejected by the RAF
Boeing 2707 SST
1960s
tons
A 93 m-long (305 ft) Concorde answer, canceled in 1971
Lockheed CL-1201
1960s
tons
Nuclear-powered, 1,120 feet (340 m) wing span, airborne aircraft carrier
Boeing RC-1
1970s
tons
"flying pipeline", proposed before the 1973 oil crisis
Conroy Virtus
1974
tons
140 m (460 ft) wingspan, to carry Space Shuttle parts
Beriev Be-2500
1980s
tons
Super heavy amphibious transport aircraft
Beriev Be-5000
1980s
tons
Twin fuselage Be-2500
McDonnell Douglas MD-12
1990
tons
Proposed double deck airliner, canceled in mid-1990s
Boeing New Large Airplane
1990s
tons
747 replacement powered by 777 engines, canceled in the 1990s
Aerocon Dash 1.6 wingship
1990s
tons
US ground effect aircraft, developed with Russian consultation
Tupolev Tu-404
1990s
tons
Blended wing body airliner for 1,214 passengers, 110 m (360 ft) wingspan
Sukhoi KR-860
1990s
tons
Transport for 300 t payload or 860–1,000 passengers Double deck airliner
Skylon
1993
tons
Reusable spaceplane, cancelled in 2024
Boeing 747X
1996
tons
747-400 stretch, Airbus A3XX competitor
Boeing Pelican
2002
tons
Ground effect and medium altitude transport
Airbus A380-900
2006
tons
Airbus A380-800 stretch, postponed in May 2010
TsAGI HCA-LB
current
tons
Ground effect aircraft powered by LNG
Radia WindRunner
current
Outsize cargo freight aircraft: 108 m (354 ft) long, 80 m (260 ft) wingspan, intended to carry wind turbine blades.
· Rotary-wing
Cierva W.11 Air Horse
Cierva W.11 Air Horse
Type
Cierva W.11 Air Horse
First flight
7 December 1948
MTOW
8 t
Number built
1
Notes
Three rotor helicopter
Hughes XH-17
Hughes XH-17
Type
Hughes XH-17
First flight
23 October 1952
MTOW
23 t
Number built
1
Notes
Prototype heavy-lift helicopter, largest rotor at 39.6 m (130 ft)
Mil Mi-6
Mil Mi-6
Type
Mil Mi-6
First flight
5 June 1957
MTOW
44 t
Number built
926
Notes
Heavy transport helicopter, 35 m (115 ft) rotor
Mil V-12 or Mi-12
Mil V-12 or Mi-12
Type
Mil V-12 or Mi-12
First flight
10 July 1968
MTOW
105 t
Number built
2
Notes
Largest prototype helicopter, 2 × 35 m (115 ft) rotors
Mil Mi-26
Mil Mi-26
Type
Mil Mi-26
First flight
14 December 1977
MTOW
56 t
Number built
316
Notes
Heaviest serial production helicopter
Fairey Rotodyne
Fairey Rotodyne
Type
Fairey Rotodyne
First flight
6 November 1957
MTOW
15 t
Number built
1
Notes
Largest gyrodyne. Prototype for 40 passengers
Kamov Ka-22
Kamov Ka-22
Type
Kamov Ka-22
First flight
15 August 1959
MTOW
42.5 t
Number built
4
Notes
Composite rotorcraft
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
Type
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
First flight
19 March 1989
MTOW
21.5 t
Number built
400
Notes
First operational VTOL tiltrotor
Type
First flight
MTOW
Number built
Notes
Cierva W.11 Air Horse
7 December 1948
8 t
1
Three rotor helicopter
Hughes XH-17
23 October 1952
23 t
1
Prototype heavy-lift helicopter, largest rotor at 39.6 m (130 ft)
Mil Mi-6
5 June 1957
44 t
926
Heavy transport helicopter, 35 m (115 ft) rotor
Mil V-12 or Mi-12
10 July 1968
105 t
2
Largest prototype helicopter, 2 × 35 m (115 ft) rotors
Mil Mi-26
14 December 1977
56 t
316
Heaviest serial production helicopter
Fairey Rotodyne
6 November 1957
15 t
1
Largest gyrodyne. Prototype for 40 passengers
Kamov Ka-22
15 August 1959
42.5 t
4
Composite rotorcraft
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
19 March 1989
21.5 t
400
First operational VTOL tiltrotor
Large balloons · Lighter than air
Preusen ("Prussia")
Preusen ("Prussia")
Type
Preusen ("Prussia")
Date
1901
Volume
8,400 m3
Description
German experimental prototype
CL75 AirCrane
CL75 AirCrane
Type
CL75 AirCrane
Date
2001
Volume
110,000 m3
Description
CargoLifter experimental prototype, approximately 120.6 tonnes with helium fill
Type
Date
Volume
Description
Preusen ("Prussia")
1901
8,400 m3
German experimental prototype
CL75 AirCrane
2001
110,000 m3
CargoLifter experimental prototype, approximately 120.6 tonnes with helium fill
Large airships · Lighter than air
Zeppelin LZ 1
Zeppelin LZ 1
Type
Zeppelin LZ 1
First flight
1900
Volume
11,300 m3
Length
128 m
Notes
German experimental prototype
R38 (US: ZR-2)
R38 (US: ZR-2)
Type
R38 (US: ZR-2)
First flight
1921
Volume
77,100 m3
Length
212 m
Notes
UK military, built for US Navy
R100
R100
Type
R100
First flight
1929
Volume
193,970 m3
Length
216 m
Notes
UK experimental passenger transport
HM Airship R101
HM Airship R101
Type
HM Airship R101
First flight
14 Oct 1929
Volume
156,000 m3 (5,500,000 cu ft)
Length
236 m
Notes
Followed by the smaller 146,000 m3 (5,200,000 cu ft) R100 (220 m) on 16 Dec 1929
US Navy USS Akron
US Navy USS Akron
Type
US Navy USS Akron
First flight
8 Aug 1931
Volume
180,000 m3 (6,400,000 cu ft)>
Length
239 m
Notes
Largest helium-filled airship along with its USS Macon sister ship
LZ 129 Hindenburg
LZ 129 Hindenburg
Type
LZ 129 Hindenburg
First flight
4 Apr 1936
Volume
200,000 m3
Length
245 m
Notes
Largest volume along with its LZ130 Graf Zeppelin II sister ship, approximately 237.2 tonnes with hydrogen fill
Type
First flight
Volume
Length
Notes
Zeppelin LZ 1
1900
11,300 m3
128 m
German experimental prototype
R38 (US: ZR-2)
1921
77,100 m3
212 m
UK military, built for US Navy
R100
1929
193,970 m3
216 m
UK experimental passenger transport
HM Airship R101
14 Oct 1929
156,000 m3 (5,500,000 cu ft)
236 m
Followed by the smaller 146,000 m3 (5,200,000 cu ft) R100 (220 m) on 16 Dec 1929
US Navy USS Akron
8 Aug 1931
180,000 m3 (6,400,000 cu ft)>
239 m
Largest helium-filled airship along with its USS Macon sister ship
LZ 129 Hindenburg
4 Apr 1936
200,000 m3
245 m
Largest volume along with its LZ130 Graf Zeppelin II sister ship, approximately 237.2 tonnes with hydrogen fill

References

  1. FAA Definitions begining [
    http://www.faa-aircraft-certification.com/faa-definitions.html#L.
  2. EASA Regulation – Amendment of Implementing Rule 2042/2003, Version 1
    http://www.bureauveritas.com/wps/wcm/connect/76a270804a3ec2d19ecdfe26af34d9ac/CONTINUING%2BAIRWORTHINESS.pdf
  3. Gunston, Bill, 1991. Giants of the Sky: The Largest Aeroplanes of All Time. Sparkford, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited.
  4. Buttler, Tony. Secret Projects: British Fighters and Bombers 1935 -1950 Midland Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-85780-179-2.
  5. testpilot.ru
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222106/https://testpilot.ru/russia/tupolev/404/404_e.htm
  6. Flight International
    http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/20/342239/a380-900-and-freighter-both-on-back-burner-enders.html
  7. "World's largest aircraft delivers colossal cargo to makeshift airstrips"
    https://newatlas.com/aircraft/worlds-largest-aircraft-tradia-windrunner/
  8. "WSJ News Exclusive | How the World's Biggest Plane Would Supersize Wind Energy"
    https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/how-the-worlds-biggest-plane-would-supersize-wind-energy-2f116e9b
  9. IEEE Spectrum
    https://spectrum.ieee.org/wind-turbine-blade-transport-plane
  10. Ege, L,; "Balloons and Airships", Blandford (1973).
  11. "R38/ZR2"
    http://www.airshipsonline.com/airships/r38/index.html
  12. Energy Conversion and Management: X
    https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019ECMX....300016H
  13. Chron
    https://www.chron.com/news/bizarre/article/Artist-wants-to-float-1-000-foot-balloon-over-1845204.php
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