What is the largest passenger aircraft in the world? How is the world's largest passenger plane made? Airbus A380.

Africa

The history of aviation begins at the end of the eighteenth century - after all, it was at the turn of the eras that the English designer developed the project aircraft. Modern airliners bear little resemblance to their predecessors. Today, the leaders of the aviation industry are competing in the production of giants. The largest aircraft in the world, the An-225 Mriya, impresses with its size and carrying capacity. Let's study the rating of the largest airliners in more detail.

Let's start with short description the leader of the list among boards civil aviation which specialize in passenger flights. Today, in this area, the first place is held by the invention of the European company Airbus - the A380 board. The ship was developed over 10 years, and in 2005 this giant successfully completed its first voyage.

With a fuselage length of 72.75 m, a wingspan of 79.75 m and a hull height of 24 meters, this aircraft is capable of lifting up to 853 people into the air.

A distinctive feature of the model was economical fuel consumption - the flight range of this airliner is 15,400 kilometers. It is noteworthy that in order to achieve this goal, the engineers ordered a batch of machines specially created for the model. After all, a reduction in fuel consumption can be achieved only with an ideally adjusted shape of the wing and fuselage. The actual consumption of aviation fuel here is 855 liters per 100 km at full load..

Note that the Airbus A380 800 replaced the thirty-five-year-old leader in this area -. Moreover, the current record holder is able to carry 7% more passengers while reducing the cost of producing an aircraft within 15%. However, the designers spent about 2,000,000,000 euros to create the first model.

For the first time, the aircraft was put into operation by Singapore Airlines. The vessel successfully completed the first intercontinental voyage from Singapore to Sydney, which made an excellent effect on customers. In addition, such a model carries up to 150 tons of cargo at a distance of up to 10,370 kilometers. Note that in this case, an empty aircraft weighs 280 tons, and the maximum take-off weight of the board reaches 560 tons.

Leaders in size

The world's longest aircraft passenger traffic- the predecessor of the side described above, the Boeing 747 aircraft. This is a wide-body double-deck airliner, whose body length reaches 76.3 meters with a side height of 19.4 m and a wingspan of 68 and a half meters.

Such a successful project was launched in the early seventies of the last century by an American company. And right up to the Airbus A380, the aircraft remained the largest passenger airliner in the world.

At the time of the appearance of the model, the project to create this aircraft became so expensive that the company had to take out loans. However, all costs have fully paid off - and today these vessels are in demand and popular. calling card became a "hump" in front of the hull - it was there that the designers placed the upper deck of the side. The aircraft also remains the leader in terms of speed characteristics in the class among passenger subsonic liners. The speed of this board reaches 910–950 km/h.

Heavyweights in the world of aviation

Now let's define the largest cargo aircraft in the world - the photos presented in the article will help readers see the true scale of this technique. Let us describe the characteristics of global leaders in more detail.

Freight record holder

The most load-lifting aircraft in the world is the development of the Antonov Design Bureau, the An-225 Mriya model. The airliner successfully passed flight tests back in 1988, and from 1989 to the present time it has been operated in the field of cargo transportation. The length of the hull of this vessel reaches 84 meters, and the wingspan is 88.4 m. In terms of these parameters, the modification is second only to the Hughes H-4 board, which was designed back in 1947.

The weight of an empty An-225 aircraft is 250 tons, and the takeoff weight of an airliner reaches 640 tons.

In 2004, the modification entered the Guinness Book of Records, as it leads immediately in 240 parameters. It is noteworthy that the aircraft was designed on the basis of the project of another giant, which was the world's largest cargo aircraft An-124 Ruslan. And to this day, only a single copy of the Mriya heavyweight has been designed. True, even one airliner is actively used for commercial purposes and rescue operations.

Although at the end of 2016 an agreement was signed between Ukraine and China on the joint release of the second updated experimental model and further cooperation in this industry.

The An-255 is designed to carry up to 88 passengers accompanying the cargo and six crew members. Initially, the aircraft was planned to be used for the space industry, so the Mriya project is a technique that is universal in quality. This is a record holder in terms of weight and carrying capacity, a leader in the transportation of mono-cargoes and overall equipment..

Biggest serial heavyweight

The largest cargo aircraft in Russia, which was mass-produced and is used today, is the . It is on the basis of the project of this airliner OKB im. Antonov and developed "Mriya". Concerning "Ruslana", the first such board appeared in 1982. Initially, the function of technology was the transportation of intercontinental and ballistic missiles, but today the ship is used as a military transport aircraft.

An-124 "Ruslan" is slightly inferior to "Mriya" in size and carrying capacity

Since 1987, the modification has been actively used by the Russian Air Force and the Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines. Throughout the history of the production of such airliners, the world has seen 55 Ruslan models. The vessel has a length of 69.1 meters. At the same time, its height is 24.5 m, and the wingspan is 73.3 m. The cost-effectiveness of the liner allows it to fly 4,800 km when the board is fully loaded, and the maximum flight range here is 11,600 meters.

The cruising speed of the vessel is 800–850 km/h with a maximum permissible acceleration of 865 km/h. The weight of an empty airliner is 178.4 tons, and the maximum take-off weight of this modification is 392,000 kilograms.

The design features of the vessel allow loading through the bow compartment

There are two decks on board the equipment. The upper tier of the liner is designed to carry 21 passengers accompanying the cargo, a fixed and a change cabin for the crew. The lower deck of the vessel is a pressurized cargo compartment with a capacity of 1,060 m³. If we talk about the records of this model, in 1985 the aircraft became the leader in 21 positions in the transportation of goods over long distances. During the entire period of operation, 4 such aircraft were lost.

Western analogue of An-124

If we consider popular Western projects that compete with Ruslan, here aviators call the airliner Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. This modification occupied a leading position in the world until the appearance of the An-124 project in 1982. However, such US Air Force airliners are successfully used today. Moreover, the manufacturer produced 131 units of such equipment.

The third largest heavyweight in the world is the American model Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a military transport airliner that has the characteristics of an increased payload and occupies the third place in the world rating of aviation heavyweights. After all, an empty airliner that weighs 169.643 tons has a maximum takeoff weight of 379,657 kilograms. At the same time, the dimensions of the aircraft are very impressive. The height of the hull here is 19.85 m, the length is 75.54 m, and the wingspan is 67.88 m.

The transport is capable of simultaneously transporting 270 soldiers and 118,387 kg of cargo over distances of 5,526 km. Moreover, the maximum practical range ceiling of this model is 10,895 m.

This is a modification of a double-deck board, the power plant of which is provided with four engines. The cruising speed that the ship is capable of developing reaches 888 km / h. Here, on the upper tier of the aircraft, there is a crew cabin for 5 people and seats for passengers. The lower sector of the airliner is intended for the carriage of goods. This deck is 36.91 meters long and 5.79 meters wide.

Leader in wing length

Since the current record holder Mriya was unable to break the world aviation record in terms of wingspan, we will describe the characteristics of the aircraft that holds this position. Model Hughes H-4 is a wooden structure designed for the American military in 1947. The only copy of this modification can be seen in the Oregon State Museum. Moreover, in the history since the appearance of the aircraft, it has been operated only once, having carried out an experimental flight.

Today, the only copy of the Hughes H-4 airboat is in the Oregon State Museum.

The dimensions of the airliner are impressive - the length of the hull here is 66.45 m, and the height is 24.08 meters. Moreover, the record wing span here is 97.54 m. The vessel was designed to transport the military and is designed to transport 750 soldiers in full gear and three pilots. The maximum takeoff weight of the giant is limited to 180 tons, and the payload that the board is capable of lifting is 59,000 kg.

The project of this airboat appeared at the beginning of the Second World War, but the designer did not have time to bring the equipment to readiness on time. The development and manufacture of the aircraft took 13,000,000 US dollars, and the storage of the board cost the designer $ 1,000,000 annually.

As you can see, aviators are constantly competing to produce the best aircraft that is capable of performing universal tasks. In the near future, the release of the modernized Mriya giant is expected. Perhaps this modification will break a personal record and become the largest airliner in the history of aviation. Details on the classification of flight equipment are available at this.

Airbus A380 - the largest passenger aircraft in the world
The cabin of this giant will fit up to 853 passengers
Among the aircraft for passenger transportation, the most long liner Boeing 747 remains
AN-225 "Mriya" - the world record holder in terms of dimensions
With a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tons, the Mriya becomes the world's heaviest airliner.

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 held 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 background of the fact that earlier Airbus intended to stop the production of expensive ($450 million) 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 the power plants of the 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. The 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.

Passenger cabin Airbus aircraft The A380 has two decks and is available in two versions. The first option is when the cabin is divided into three classes (first and business class on the upper deck and economy class on the lower deck, thus the capacity is from 516 to 525 people). The second option for the layout of the passenger cabin of the A380 aircraft provides only an economy class located on the upper and lower decks with a capacity of more than 644 people.

Scheme of the salon and the best places

The three-class version of the passenger cabin provides for the location of the first class in front of the upper cabin. It makes no sense to prove that the places here are the most comfortable, and the staff service is no worse than in a five-star hotel. Each seat of the first cabin of the A380 aircraft looks like a closed separate compartment with a convenient door. The passenger seat can be folded out and turned into a comfortable bed. Services such as internet, the ability to charge mobile devices are offered. In addition, each of these "mini-coupes" has a large comfortable monitor and a mini-bar. For first-class passengers, there are shower cabins (as, for example, in Emirates Airline aircraft), and an exquisite restaurant menu is also provided.

However, it should be noted that in the first class there are places that have their drawbacks. These are seats in the first and fourth rows (according to the diagram), located close to the toilets. Most likely, passengers will visit the toilet at any time of the day, so door noise can seriously interfere with passengers' rest. The close location of the utility rooms also means that staff will very often walk past the first and fourth row seats of the first class, creating additional inconvenience. And of course, in addition to everything, directly opposite the first row of seats there is a staircase leading down to the main deck, which also will not contribute to a good rest, especially at night. Behind the first class seats on the upper deck of the Airbus A380 is business class.

The business class also has very comfortable seats for passengers (though not the same as in the first class). Each place here is equipped with a comfortable armchair, which, if necessary, can be unfolded and turned into a comfortable bed. In addition, there is a good bar here, and the distance between the places allows you to absolutely not worry about legroom. However, in the business class of the A380 aircraft there are places with less comfort. These are, as in the first class, places near the bar and at the toilets - as a rule, in the first and last rows. On the diagram of the upper passenger cabin of the Airbus A380 aircraft, these seats are indicated by rows 6, 21, 22 and 26. As for the first class, the inconvenience of these seats is explained by the heavy flow of passengers to bars and toilets at any time of the day, as well as the movement of attendants. When booking tickets, you should take this factor into account and take the seats in the rows listed above only in cases where there are no more tickets for other seats.

On the lower (or main) deck of the passenger cabin of the Airbus A380, there is an economy class, usually designed for 399 seats and, as a rule, occupying rows from 43 to 88 (according to the diagram) with two large aisles. Economy class seat backs cannot recline 180 degrees, but they are very soft and comfortable. The distance between the rows is approximately 80 centimeters - according to generally accepted standards. Each economy class seat has its own screen mounted in the front seat and an audio / video system. As well as for seats in other classes, economy class seats are equipped with USB charging systems and the Internet, which, by the way, is paid on the Airbus A380 aircraft.

most successful and comfortable places here are the seats with the letters D, E, F and G, located in rows 45, 54 and 82. The convenience of these seats is due to the fact that there are no seats in front of them, which means there is ample legroom, in addition, toilets, a bar and offices are located quite far from them. Of course, the lack of seats in front does not mean that these places are not equipped with electronic displays for entertainment.

Also very good for rest and review in the economy class are the seats with the letters A and K, located in rows 68 and 81. Their advantage is due to the fact that these seats do not have other seats in front of them, and also because they are located near the windows , which makes them, as it were, “aside” from the general movement of passengers, therefore they are considered the most profitable and comfortable in the entire economy class.

Seats in rows 43, 52, 67 and 80 are also good. These chairs also have more space in front of them, but at the same time they have a serious drawback, which is the proximity of office space and toilets with all the inconveniences associated with this.

The most unfortunate for the economy class, and therefore for the entire Airbus A380 aircraft, are the seats located in the 88th (rearmost) row and the seats marked with the letters C and H. Their inconvenience is, as in many cases, that that the toilets are right behind them. The fact that the backs of the last seats are blocked does not add to the convenience of these places, which limits the comfort of passengers.

History of the Airbus A380

Early 1990s in aviation industry was the time of the complete dominance of the Boeing-747 in the field of wide-body aircraft. Boeing managed to maintain an advantage for almost 30 years, which forced many companies, such as McDonnell Douglas or Lockheed, to look for a solution that could provide a replacement for the Boeing-747 and gain a monopoly in the wide-body airliner niche.

Summer 1994 Airbus began developing its own wide-body aircraft, codenamed A3XX. Initially, options were considered for the possible combination of the two fuselages of the Airbus A340 aircraft. This solution would significantly increase the passenger capacity of the aircraft, since the A340 was at that time the largest aircraft of the company. However, such a decision would also lead to a serious decrease in the flight characteristics of the aircraft, an increase in its mass and the required takeoff run.

The development of the A3XX was carried out in partnership with Boeing, which developed its own Boeing-747X model, also aimed at increasing passenger capacity while reducing operating costs. The partnership ended in 1996. And already in the next 1997, Boeing closed its project due to the economic crisis that erupted in East Asia. In the meantime, Airbus decided to use a double-deck design for the A3XX, which would provide the aircraft with a number of advantages.

In December 2000, they decided to launch the A3XX project, which initially required about 8.8 billion euros. The aircraft received a new name - A380. There are many hypotheses explaining why Airbus decided to "jump" from the number 340 immediately to 380. For example, one of them says that the number 8 is lucky in a number of Asian countries that were potential customers for the future aircraft.

In the spring of 2001, the design of the Airbus A380 was finally approved, and in early 2002, the production of the first parts for the aircraft began. They were produced in 4 countries of the European Union, and the delivery of components to the assembly site in Toulouse was carried out by land and water transport as well as by air.

At the beginning of 2005, the first Airbus A380 was built and demonstrated in Toulouse, and already in April its first flight was carried out. During testing of the aircraft, in early 2006, flaws in the design of its wing were revealed. After that, the A380 wing arrangement was urgently changed.

Ground and flight tests of the aircraft were completed in December 2007, and the Airbus A380 received certificates from EASA and the FAA.

The device and characteristics of the Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a wide-body jet passenger aircraft. The passenger cabin of the aircraft consists of two decks. Due to its size and large capacity, the aircraft is the largest passenger liner in the world. The power plant of the aircraft consists of 4 engines. Depending on the modification, this is the Trent 900 from Rolls-Royce (for the Airbus A-300-800), or the GP7000 from Engine Alliance (for other modifications of the Airbus).

Characteristics of the Airbus A380 aircraft:

Length, m - 72.7
Wingspan, m - 79.8
Height, m - 24.1
Wing area, m2 - 845
Weight:
- Max. takeoff, kg - 560,000
- Max. landing, kg - 386,000
- Empty weight, kg - 276 800
- Max. weight without fuel, kg - 361,000
Fuel tank capacity, l - 310,000
Flight range with max. loading, km - 15 000
Ceiling (max. flight altitude), m - 13 100
Takeoff run, m - 2050
Run length, m - 2 900
Engines:
- R-R Trent 970 - 4 x 31780 kgf
- Alliance GP7270 - 4 x 31780 kgf
Passenger compartment:
- Number of seats (one-class version) - 700
- Number of seats (three-class version) - 555
- Cabin width, m - 5.9-6.6

Airbus A380 modifications

There are the following modifications of the Airbus A380:

Airbus A380-800 - is the basic model of the liner. The A380-841 and A380-842 have the Trent 900 engine. The A380-861 and A380-862 have the GP72XX engine.
Airbus A380-800F - cargo modification of the A380 aircraft.
Airbus A380-900 is an elongated modification of the liner, which is under development. Will have increased passenger capacity (over 900 people) and more powerful engines. Potential buyers will be such airlines as Emirates Airline, Lufthansa and others.
The Airbus A380-1000 is a modification that will be larger than the A380-900 and accommodate more than 1,000 passengers. The project was proposed in 2010.

Airbus A380 operation

The operation of the Airbus A380 began in 2007. By the end of 2014, the number of Airbuses was already 139 aircraft, and the number of companies operating the aircraft was 10. Most of the A380 is operated by Emirates Airline (67 aircraft). Other airlines use from 5 to 19 machines of this type, which, of course, cannot be compared with Emirates Airline.

The aircraft can be found mainly on intercontinental flights. Most airbuses are operated by Asian airlines (Emirates Airline, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and others). Due to operating costs, which are 10-15% less than those for the Boeing-747, the Airbus A380 is a very popular aircraft today. Due to the good price and due to the optimal characteristics of the A380 Emirates airline Airline plans to purchase several dozen more cars. At the same time, Emirates Airline pays attention to cargo modifications of the Airbus. In addition, the air carrier orders more comfortable liners (for example, with showers for first class).

Conclusion

The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, accommodating between 519 and 800 people. Reliability, reduced operating costs compared to other wide-body aircraft and comfort provide this aircraft with good market demand, especially in Asia. The main operator of the aircraft is currently Emirates Airline, which appreciated the airbus. In addition, Emirates Airline, albeit indirectly, helps further modification of the liner, showing interest in its new capabilities.

However, the Airbus Group in December 2014 announced a possible halt in the production of the Airbus A380 aircraft. This is explained by the fact that the demand for this aircraft, according to the company's management, is not large enough.

However, it is worth recognizing that due to its performance and reliability, the Airbus A380 is a really good aircraft.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

To increase the efficiency of flights by reducing the cost of services, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, accommodating several hundred people, are called upon. giant liners superior comfort, are able to cover huge distances without refueling, thanks to the large fuel tanks. The high load capacity makes it possible to transport a large amount of luggage.

The model replaced the outdated version of the A300, which consumed too much fuel and had a small capacity. The new modification is capable of simultaneously lifting 295 people into the air, and is classified as a wide-body airliner. The length of the car reaches 59 meters, and its width is 63 meters. The maximum flight range with a full load does not exceed 10,500 m. The cruising speed reaches 870 km/h. The maximum takeoff weight is 233 tons, and the wingspan is 60.3 meters. Fuel tanks are designed for 97,000 liters of fuel.

Of course, not the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but one of the most sought-after airliners from airlines. Operation began in 1995, the machine has proven to be highly reliable. Modification 777-200LR, capable of performing the longest non-stop flights. It was this model that was first developed without the use of traditional paper drawings, but only with the use of 3D computer graphics. The airliner is capable of overcoming 17,000 km without landing at a cruising speed of 905 km/h. The car simultaneously transports 301 passengers, and its wingspan is 64.8 meters.

The upgraded version is rightfully included in the rating of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, thanks to the ability to transport up to 467 people. The airliner covers a maximum distance of 15,000 km and is in fact considered the longest aircraft on Earth. The machine differs from its worthy predecessors in an elongated fuselage. Engineers installed new motors, wings and an onboard system. The set of updates made it possible to make the liner much quieter and more economical. international name new version - "Intercontinental".

One of the largest passenger aircraft in the world began to operate in 2002. The modification differs from its predecessor in larger fuel tanks and engines with increased power. Serial production of the model was stopped in 2011, in total the company produced 97 such liners. The wingspan is 63.5 m, and the maximum capacity reaches 440 seats. The airliner is capable of overcoming 14,800 km without refueling, moving luggage and passengers with a total weight of 373 tons. The area of \u200b\u200bthe giant's wings is 437 meters. Despite being discontinued, the cars continue to successfully carry passengers around the world.

Hit the list of the largest passenger aircraft in the world and Boeing 777-300ER. The airliner is recognized as the largest aircraft with 2 engines designed for civil aviation. The modification differs from the previous version 777-200 in a longer fuselage, which allows accommodating up to 550 passengers in the cabin. Version 777-300ER is not considered basic and has been in operation since 2004. The advantage of the model lies in the increased flight range. Moving at a cruising speed of 905 km/h, the vehicle is capable of covering 14,600 km without additional refueling, carrying up to 68,500 tons of commercial cargo.

It turned out to be in the ranking of the largest passenger aircraft in the world and a military copy capable of transporting both people and cargo. The liner is capable of transporting 270 military personnel and can be equipped with standard passenger seats- 75 units. Carry the car to the category of giants, allowed its impressive size. The aircraft is 75.5 meters long and 68 meters wide. The aircraft can cover 5,600 km without refueling at a speed of 920 km/h. Max Height, recruited by a giant, reaches 10 km.

The Russian Ruslan is rightfully considered one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, because its wingspan reaches 73 meters and its length is 69 meters. The machine stands out colossal cargo compartment, reaching a volume of 1050 m 3. The maximum range of the liner does not exceed 7,500 km, and its cruising speed is 850 km/h. The machine is mainly used for the transport of goods, but is capable of transporting military personnel. The total carrying capacity of the modification reaches 120 tons. The flight resource does not exceed 45 years.

Since 2007, the largest passenger aircraft in the world has been considered the Airbus A380, first bought by Singapore Airlines. The airliner flies all over the world and has an incredible level of comfort. The car is capable of transporting 555 people, but if desired, the number of passengers can be increased to 700. The two-deck cabin is equipped with sleeping cabins, recreation areas are also provided, there are spiral staircases and comfortable bar counters. The wingspan of the aircraft is 80 meters, and the area reaches 845 m 2. Only 4 Rolls-Royce engines can lift a car into the air.

Historically, the largest passenger aircraft in the world was recognized in 1947 by the Hughes H-4 Hercules. The model stood out with a fantastic wingspan of up to 98 meters, due to which the modification was recognized as the most wide-body. Two machines of this type were made, but only one now exists. The car moved 750 troops and is now in the Long Beach Museum Fund, where it was moved in 1993. More passengers have not been transported by any aircraft in history.

Perhaps the largest passenger aircraft in the world this moment- This is Mriya. Initially, the project was developed as a cargo one and was used in the transportation of the Buran spacecraft. Subsequently, the Ukrainian company "Antonov" adapted the vessel to commercial needs. The wingspan of the giant is 88 m, and its length reaches 73 meters. The airliner set several records for carrying capacity. Now it exists in a single copy and is operated by Antonov Airlines. The airliner has proven itself reliably in practice.

The aircraft itself is already an engineering genius. Making hundreds of tons of iron rise above the ground is not a trivial task. Even the smallest details matter, it takes the highest precision and hard work of hundreds of people to create even the simplest aircraft by today's standards.

The greater challenge is for aircraft designers to experiment with materials, sizes, technologies in order to create aircraft ever lighter, ever more economical, ever larger than their predecessors. This article will focus on the largest passenger aircraft. Now in the world there are two main players producing huge passenger planes are Boeing and Airbus.

Competition between them led to the creation of colossal machines. Among them, the recognized leader is the Airbus-A380. The span of its huge wings almost reaches 80 m, and the length is 73 m. Read about him, as well as about other flying giants, below.

Airbus-A380

Wingspan - 79.75 m
Length - 72.75 m
Height - 24.08 m
Weight - 280 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 560 t
Number of engines - 4
Passenger capacity, max. - 853 people

The production of this aircraft began in 2005, it was put into operation already in 2007. Since that time, it officially occupies the first place among passenger aircraft not only in size, but also in capacity, as well as in many other parameters. For example, for aircraft of this category, it is the most economical. Its fuel consumption is only 3 liters per passenger per 100 kilometers.

Such a huge aircraft could not take off if it was built from traditional materials - it would simply be too heavy, and there would not be enough lift from the wings to lift it off the ground. Therefore, the main challenge for engineers and designers was the task of minimizing its weight.

The solution to this problem became possible through the use of the latest composite materials, some of which were specially designed for this aircraft. For example, the central and main part of the wing (which itself weighs 11 tons!) is 40 percent carbon fiber. Laser technology was used to weld structural elements, which significantly increased the reliability of the joints and reduced the number of fasteners.

Among other things, the designers took care of environmental friendliness. By reducing the amount of fuel consumed by 17% compared to the Boeing 747, they have also achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions - they are 75 grams per passenger per 1 km of travel.

Boeing 747

Wingspan - 68.5 m
Length - 76.3 m
Height - 19.4 m
Weight - 214.5 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 442.2 t
Number of engines - 4
Passenger capacity, max. - 581 people
Manufacturer - Boeing

The Boeing 747 held the lead among passenger aircraft for over 36 years, from 1969 to 2005. In 1970, the release of this aircraft into mass production was a breakthrough, because the construction of such a new model entailed a whole series of changes in the production process, technology, operational requirements, and even pilot training methods.

Not originally planned to be released a large number of 747s, but when this model proved its reliability, many world airlines began to order it, because the volume of passenger traffic began to increase sharply, and it was profitable to maintain large aircraft. Currently, 1.5 thousand 747s fly in the world in such companies as British Airways, Korean Air, China Airlines. In Russia, the 747th is operated by the Rossiya company. She inherited five 747s from the collapsed Transaero company.

The 747 also holds significant records: in 1989, it was this aircraft, owned by the Australian Qantas Airways, that made a direct flight to Sydney from British capital, having overcome 18 thousand km in just over 20 hours. True, he flew empty: without cargo and passengers. Another record is related to the number of passengers: in 1997, 1112 people flew on it to Israel during the military operation Solomon.

The 747 was also used to transport the Space Shuttle. For such transportation, space shuttles are installed on the aircraft "on the back".

The most characteristic detail of the 747th is the "hump" on the fuselage. It was originally planned that the fuselage would be double-deck along the entire length, but this option had to be abandoned for technical reasons. Therefore, the second deck of this Boeing is short.

Such a superstructure was designed so that the bow of the ship could be modified into a cargo ramp, because it was assumed that the 747 would be operated primarily for the transport of goods.

There are 7 modifications of the Boeing-747, almost all of them have both passenger and cargo and cargo-passenger versions. It will not be a mistake to say that the 747 is one of the most common aircraft of this type in the world.

Airbus A340-600

Wingspan - 63.45 m
Length - 75.36 m
Height - 17.22 m
Weight - 177 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 380 t
Number of engines - 4
Passenger capacity, max. - 419 people
Manufacturer - Concern Airbus S.A.S

Airbus S.A.S owns another giant aircraft. This is the Airbus A340-600, which, before the release of one of the modifications of the Boeing 747, was the world's longest passenger aircraft.

Its commercial release began in 2002, in 2011 it was stopped. For 9 years, 97 aircraft of this modification were produced. 340-600 was created specifically for intercontinental flights. Its declared flight range is 14,600 km without refueling.

Boeing 777-300ER

Wingspan - 64.8 m
Length - 73.9 m
Height - 18.7 m
Weight - 166.9 t
Takeoff weight, max. - 351.5 t
Number of engines - 2
Passenger capacity, max. - 365 people
Manufacturer - Boeing

The letters ER in the name of the modification denote Extended Range - increased range. He is able to fly 14,690 km without refueling due to the increase in fuel compared to the previous modification of the "three sevens". It is this aircraft that is the main competitor of the Airbus A340-600 and the best-selling 777 in the world. Currently, about 400 aircraft of this modification are operated in the world.

The aircraft of this model are equipped with the most powerful General Electric 90-115B turbofan jet engines in the world, which provide a maximum thrust of 513 kN. Modification 300ER has reinforced structural elements compared to its predecessors: landing gear, plumage, wings, as well as additional fuel tanks.