The largest passenger and cargo aircraft in the world. Rating of the fastest planes in the world. Passenger aircraft capacity. How many people lift Boeing's largest passenger plane? It consists of two decks

The An-225 Mriya (translated from Ukrainian as “dream”) is the heaviest cargo-lifting aircraft ever taken into the air. The maximum take-off weight of the aircraft is 640 tons. The reason for the construction of the An-225 was the need to create an aviation transport system for the Soviet reusable spacecraft Buran project. The plane exists in a single copy.

The aircraft was designed in the USSR and built in 1988 at the Kiev Mechanical Plant.

"Mriya" set a world record for take-off weight and carrying capacity. On March 22, 1989, the An-225 flew with a load of 156.3 tons, thereby simultaneously breaking 110 world aviation records, which is a record in itself.

Since the start of operation, the aircraft has flown 3,740 hours. If we assume that the average flight speed (taking into account take-off, climb, cruising, descent, approach) is about 500 km/h, then we can calculate the approximate value of the kilometers traveled: 500 x 3740 = 1,870,000 km (more than 46 revolutions around the Earth along the equator).

The scale of the An-225 is amazing: the length of the aircraft is 84 meters, the height is 18 meters (like a 6-story 4-entrance house)

A visual comparison of the Mriya and the passenger Boeing 747.

If we take the largest of the Boeing 747-800 as a basis, then the length of the An-225 will be 8 meters longer, and the wingspan will be 20 meters longer.
Compared to the Airbus A380, the Mriya is 11 meters longer, and its wingspan is almost 9 meters longer.

It happens that the airport does not have adequate parking for such a large aircraft, and it is parked directly on the runway.
Of course, we are talking about an alternate runway, if the airport has one.

The wingspan is 88.4 meters and the area is 905 m²

The only aircraft superior to the An-225 in terms of wingspan is the Hughes H-4 Hercules, which belongs to the class of flying boats. The ship took off only once, in 1947. The history of this aircraft was reflected in the film "The Aviator"

Since the Buran spacecraft itself and the blocks of the Energia launch vehicle had dimensions exceeding the dimensions of the Mriya’s cargo compartment, the new aircraft provided for securing cargo from the outside. In addition, it was planned that the aircraft would be used as the first stage for the launch of a spacecraft.

The formation of a wake from a large cargo attached to the top of the aircraft required the installation of a double-finned tail unit to avoid aerodynamic shading.

The aircraft is equipped with 6 D-18T engines.
At takeoff mode, each engine develops a thrust of 23.4 tons (or 230 kN), i.e. the total thrust of all 6 engines is 140.5 tons (1380 kN)

It can be assumed that each engine develops about 12,500 horsepower at takeoff!

The D-18T engines of the An-225 aircraft are the same as those on the An-124 Ruslan.
The height of such an engine is 3 m, width 2.8 m, and weight more than 4 tons.

The starting system is air, with electrical automatic control. The auxiliary power unit, consisting of two TA-12 turbo units installed in the left and right fairings of the chassis, provides autonomous power to all systems and engine starting.

The mass of fuel in the tanks is 365 tons, it is placed in 13 wing caisson tanks.
The aircraft can remain in the air for 18 hours and cover a distance of over 15,000 km.

The refueling time for such a vehicle ranges from half an hour to a day and a half, and the number of tankers depends on their capacity (from 5 to 50 tons), i.e. from 7 to 70 tankers.

The aircraft's fuel consumption is 15.9 tons/h (in cruising mode)
When fully loaded, the aircraft can remain in the sky without refueling for no more than 2 hours.

The chassis includes a two-post nose and 14-post main (7 posts on each side) supports.
Each stand has two wheels. Total 32 wheels.

Wheels require replacement every 90 landings.
Tires for Mriya are produced at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant. The price of one tire is about $1000.

On the nose strut there are wheels measuring 1120 x 450 mm, and on the main strut there are wheels measuring 1270 x 510 mm.
The pressure inside is 12 atmospheres.

Since 2001, the An-225 has been performing commercial cargo transportation as part of Antonov Airlines.

Dimensions of the cargo compartment: length - 43 m, width - 6.4 m, height - 4.4 m.
The cargo cabin of the aircraft is sealed, which allows the transportation of various types of cargo. Inside the cabin you can place 16 standard containers, up to 80 cars and even heavy-duty BelAZ dump trucks. There is enough space here to fit the entire body of a Boeing 737.

Access to the cargo compartment is through the nose of the aircraft, which folds up.

The process of opening/closing the cargo compartment ramp takes no more than 10 minutes.

To unfold the ramp, the aircraft performs the so-called “elephant bow.”
The nose landing gear tilts forward, and the weight of the aircraft is transferred to auxiliary supports, which are installed under the front threshold of the cargo compartment.

Auxiliary support.

Control panel for the aircraft's "squat" system.

This loading method has a number of advantages compared to the Boeing 747 (which is loaded through a compartment in the side of the fuselage.

"Mriya" is a record holder for the weight of cargo transported: commercial - 247 tons (which is four times more than the maximum payload of a Boeing 747), commercial monocargo - 187.6 tons, and an absolute record for carrying capacity - 253.8 tons. On June 10, 2010, the longest cargo in the history of air transportation was transported - two windmill blades, each 42.1 m long.

To ensure a safe flight, the center of gravity of an aircraft with cargo must be within certain limits along its length. The load master performs loading in strict accordance with the instructions, after which the co-pilot checks the correct placement of the cargo and reports this to the crew commander, who makes a decision on the possibility of carrying out the flight and is responsible for this.

The aircraft is equipped with an on-board loading complex consisting of four lifting mechanisms, each with a lifting capacity of 5 tons.
In addition, two floor winches are provided for loading non-self-propelled wheeled vehicles and cargo on the loading ramp.

This time, the An-225 was chartered by the French engineering company Alstom to transport 170 tons of cargo from Zurich, Switzerland to Bahrain with refueling in Athens and Cairo.

This is a turbine rotor, a turbogenerator for generating electricity and components.

Flight manager Vadim Nikolaevich Deniskov.

To tow the An-225 aircraft, it is impossible to use the carrier of aircraft from other companies, so the carrier is transported on board the aircraft.

And since the aircraft is not equipped with a rear cargo hatch and the towing carrier is unloaded and loaded through the front cargo hatch, which requires a full cycle of squatting of the aircraft onto the front support, as a result, at least 30 minutes are lost and the resource of the aircraft structure and squatting system is unjustifiably consumed.

Technician-foreman for aircraft maintenance.

To ensure turns when the aircraft moves on the ground, the last four rows of the main support struts are made orientable.

Aircraft maintenance technician: specialization: hydraulic system and landing gear.

The heavy weight of the aircraft causes the landing gear to leave marks on the asphalt.

Ladder and hatch to the cockpit.

The passenger compartment is divided into 2 parts: in the front there is the aircraft crew, and in the rear there are accompanying and maintenance personnel.
The cabins are sealed separately - they are separated by a wing.

The rear part of the accompanying cabin is intended for eating, working with technical documentation and holding conferences.
The aircraft has 18 seats for rest of crew members and members of the engineering and technical team - 6 seats in the front cabin and 12 in the rear.

Staircase and hatch to the attendant cabin at the rear of the aircraft.

Technical compartment located at the rear of the cockpit.

On the shelves you can see the blocks that ensure the operation of various aircraft systems, and the pipelines of the pressurization and air conditioning system and the anti-icing system. All aircraft systems are highly automated and require minimal crew intervention during operation. Their work is supported by 34 on-board computers.

Wall of the front center section spar. It is installed (from top to bottom): the slats transmission and air bleed pipelines from the engines.
In front of it are stationary cylinders of the fire protection system with the fire extinguishing agent "Freon".

Stickers are souvenirs from numerous visitors on the panel on the plane's emergency escape hatch flap.

The farthest point from the base airport that the plane managed to visit was the island of Tahiti, part of French Polynesia.
The distance along the shortest arc of the globe is about 16,400 km.

Rynda An-225
Vladimir Vladimirovich Mason mentioned in the engraving is an aircraft operation engineer who worked at Mriya for many years.

The aircraft commander (PIC) is Vladimir Yurievich Mosin.

To become an An-225 commander, you must have at least 5 years of experience flying an An-124 aircraft as a commander.

Weight and alignment control is simplified by installing a load-measuring system on the chassis.

The aircraft crew consists of 6 people:
aircraft commander, co-pilot, navigator, senior flight engineer, aviation equipment flight engineer, flight radio operator.

To reduce efforts on the throttles and increase the accuracy of setting engine operating modes, a remote engine control system is provided. In this case, the pilot makes a relatively small effort to use cables to move the lever of an electromechanical device installed on the engine, which reproduces this movement on the fuel regulator lever with the necessary force and accuracy. For the convenience of joint control during takeoff and landing, the throttle levers of the outermost engines (RUD1 and RUD6) are linked, respectively, with RUD2 and RUD5.

The helm of the largest aircraft in the world.

Aircraft control is booster i.e. The control surfaces are deflected solely with the help of hydraulic steering actuators, if they fail, it is impossible to control the aircraft manually (with an increase in the required effort). Therefore, quadruple redundancy was applied. The mechanical part of the control system (from the steering wheel and pedals to hydraulic steering actuators) consists of rigid rods and cables.
The total length of these cables is: the aileron control system in the fuselage - about 30 meters, in each console (left, right) of the wing - approximately 35 meters; elevator and rudder control systems - about 65 meters each.

When the plane is empty, 2400 m of runway is enough for takeoff and landing.
Takeoff with maximum weight - 3500 m, landing with maximum weight - 3300 m.

At the executive start, the engines begin to warm up, which takes about 10 minutes.

This prevents engine surge during takeoff and ensures maximum takeoff thrust. Of course, this requirement leads to the fact that: takeoff is carried out during a period of minimal airport congestion, or the plane waits a long time for its turn to take off, missing scheduled flights.

The take-off and landing speed depends on the take-off and landing weight of the aircraft and ranges from 240 km/h to 280 km/h.

The climb is carried out at a speed of 560 km/h, with a vertical speed of 8 m/s.

At an altitude of 7100 meters, the speed increases to 675 km/h with further continuation of the climb to the flight level.

Cruising speed of An-225 - 850 km/h
When calculating cruising speed, the weight of the aircraft and the flight range that the aircraft must cover are taken into account.

Dmitry Viktorovich Antonov - senior captain.

The middle panel of the pilots' instrument panel.

Backup instruments: attitude indicator and altitude indicator. Fuel lever position indicator (FLU), engine thrust indicator (ET). Indicators of deviation of control surfaces and take-off and landing devices (slats, flaps, spoilers).

Senior flight engineer's instrument panel.

In the lower left corner there is a side panel with controls for the hydraulic complex and a chassis position alarm. Top left panel of the aircraft fire protection system. At the top right is a panel with controls and control devices: starting the APU, the supercharging and air conditioning system, the anti-icing system and the signal panel block. At the bottom is a panel with controls and controls for the fuel supply system, engine operation control and the on-board automated control system (BASK) of all aircraft parameters.

Senior onboard engineer - Polishchuk Alexander Nikolaevich.

Instrument panel for monitoring engine operation.

On the left, at the top is a vertical indicator of the position of the fuel levers. Large round instruments are speed indicators for the high-pressure compressor and engine fan. Small round instruments are indicators of oil temperature at the engine inlet. The block of vertical instruments at the bottom - indicators of the amount of oil in the engine oil tanks.

Aeronautical engineer's dashboard.
Controls and monitoring devices for the aircraft's power supply system and oxygen system are located here.

Navigator - Anatoly Binyatovich Abdullaev.

Flight over the territory of Greece.

Navigator-instructor - Yaroslav Ivanovich Koshitsky.

Flight operator - Gennady Yurievich Antipov.
The ICAO call sign for the An-225 on the flight from Zurich to Athens was ADB-3038.

On-board engineer - Yuri Anatolyevich Mindar.

Athens airport runway.

Landing at night on Mriya is carried out instrumentally, i.e. using instruments, from the leveling height and visually before touching down. According to the crew, one of the most difficult landings is in Kabul, which involves high mountains and many obstacles. The approach begins at a speed of 340 km/h to an altitude of 200 meters, then the speed is gradually reduced.

Landing is carried out at a speed of 295 km/h with fully extended mechanization. It is allowed to touch the runway at a vertical speed of 6 m/s. After touching the runway, reverse thrust is immediately switched to engines 2 to 5, while engines 1 and 6 are left at idle. The landing gear is braked at a speed of 140-150 km/h until the aircraft comes to a complete stop.

The aircraft's service life is 8,000 flight hours, 2,000 takeoffs and landings, 25 calendar years.

The aircraft can still fly until December 21, 2013 (25 years since the start of its operation), after which a thorough study of its technical condition will be carried out and the necessary work will be carried out to ensure an extension of the calendar service life to 45 years.

Due to the high cost of transportation on the An-225, orders appear only for very long and very heavy cargo, when transportation by land is not possible. Flights are random: from 2-3 per month to 1-2 per year. From time to time there is talk about building a second copy of the An-225 aircraft, but this requires an appropriate order and appropriate funding. To complete the construction, an amount of approximately $90 million is required, and taking into account testing, it increases to $120 million.

This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and impressive aircraft in the world.

Thanks to Antonov Airlines for their help in organizing the photography!
Special thanks to Vadim Nikolaevich Deniskov for his help in writing the text for the post!

Air travel comes into life

It’s hard to surprise anyone with air travel these days. People who want to achieve success in life (primarily in business) have to fly to different parts of the planet, sometimes overcoming their fear of being in the air.

In any case, there is no alternative to traveling on this super-fast mode of transport in terms of covering significant distances in a fairly short period of time.

Airplanes are not for passengers

In this case, a slightly different problem often arises: if you do not get flight tickets ahead of time, then they simply may not be available at the right time - they will be bought up by the same sufferers. However, those who need to go to points where the most heavy-duty aircraft on the planet would fly hardly have to worry about this. There would be enough space for almost everyone who expresses a desire to purchase a ticket here. However, it is worth saying that the airlines that own them usually place such aircraft on the busiest routes.

Meanwhile, the plane, which holds a world record in terms of carrying capacity, does not make passenger flights. It was generally designed in the eighties of the last century for completely different purposes - to ensure the transportation of necessary materials (including rocket components) for the grandiose Soviet space program Buran. For such a large-scale project, an appropriate, powerful aircraft was needed. Then Kyiv designers developed the An-225, which received the name “Mriya” (in Ukrainian such a beautiful word means “dream”). Until now, such an aircraft exists in a single copy.

How much does "Dream" raise?

Its dimensions in comparison with other similar vehicles are amazing. "Mriya" reaches 84 meters in length and eighteen meters in height. For comparison, a six-story, four-entrance residential building will have similar parameters. The dimensions of the An-225 cargo compartment are also very impressive - it is as much as forty-three meters long and about four and a half meters high.

According to the designers, this cargo-lifting aircraft was supposed to transport up to two hundred and fifty tons of materials needed for the space program per flight. Moreover, not only the capacity of the above-mentioned cabin was taken into account - the design included fastenings on the hull of the aircraft, for the possibility of transporting various cargoes outside.

The Mriya's first flight took place at the end of 1988, and the very next year it broke over a hundred world aviation records, carrying about 156 tons of necessary materials. Since its debut in airspace, the An-225 has flown nearly two million kilometers, which roughly equates to more than four dozen orbits around the earth's equator.

Passenger transportation giant

As for exclusively passenger transportation, the undisputed leader here is still the giant Airbus 380. Developed and put into production in the 2000s, it is capable of lifting up to one and a half hundred tons of cargo, and its maximum permitted flight weight is 560 tons. Passengers on board this The Airbus lifts 525 in a two-deck, three-class configuration, and as much as 853 in a single-class configuration.

During its approximately ten-year operational life, any serious incident occurred with the Airbus 380 twice. Moreover, in both situations, only the nerves of the passengers were damaged. So in the future there is hardly any need to be afraid of flying on it.

Once upon a time, a person could only dream of conquering heights and flying like a bird. With the invention of airplanes, the dream of learning to fly became feasible. Moreover, modern aircraft are so amazing and high-tech that sometimes it seems that there are no limits to human thought. That is why this material will be devoted to the story of the largest and fastest aircraft in the world.

The largest passenger planes in the world

Airbus A380 - a flying giant

It is believed that the largest aircraft for passenger transportation is the Airbus A380. This double-decker giant has the following dimensions:

1. The height of the liner is 24 meters;
2. the giant's wingspan reaches almost 80 meters;
3. The length of this flying giant is 73 meters.

It is also worth noting that this flying giant can accommodate 555 passengers on board. Moreover, the charter type of such aircraft can accommodate 853 passengers.

A distinctive feature of the Airbus A380 is that it can fly 15 thousand kilometers without landing. It is also worth noting that this passenger aircraft is very economical compared to aircraft of its class. Fuel consumption per 3 passengers and 100 kilometers is only 3 liters.

The developers of this model spent 10 years creating it. The costs of implementing the idea of ​​​​creating a large passenger aircraft are also worthy of respect. Thus, more than 12 billion euros were spent to create the Airbus A380.

Interestingly, this model was first developed as an alternative version of the Boeing 747, which was considered the largest passenger aircraft for 35 years before the advent of the Airbus A-380. However, the appearance of the Airbus A380 immediately “moved” Boeing from the winner’s podium. So, if we compare these two giants, the Airbus A380 is more economical, since the Boeing can seat no more than 400 passengers, and its cost is about 15 percent more expensive.

It is noteworthy that the developers of the largest airliner also managed to significantly reduce the weight of the aircraft. Interestingly, the Airbus A380 consists of almost 40 percent graphite. Thus, the fuselage and wings of the aircraft are made from this material. The cost of this flying giant is 390 million dollars (!).

Other large passenger aircraft also include:

1. Boeing 747-8
   This airliner is a new product from one of the leading manufacturers of aircraft, military and space equipment. The advantages of this flying giant include an elongated fuselage, which makes it the longest passenger aircraft in the world.
2. Airbus A340-600
   This flying “monster” is another large representative of the Airbus family of aircraft. The two-class configuration of such an airliner can accommodate about 420 people on board, and the three-class configuration can accommodate 380 passengers on board.
3. Boeing 747
   This flying giant held the lead among the largest passenger airliners for 35 years (from 1969 to 2005). For the first time in the world, this aircraft was able to fly non-stop from London to the capital of Australia, Sydney. At the same time, he flew a distance of 18 thousand kilometers in just over 20 hours.
4. Boeing 777-300ER
   This airliner is also a modification of its predecessor. In addition to its impressive size, this giant also has the most innovative modifications. This is what made this aircraft very economical among the largest airliners in the world.
5. Airbus A330
   This large airliner also has a number of very successful modifications, but the sad statistics do not indicate its best feature. Thus, from 1994 to 2010, 6 crashes of such aircraft were registered.

The largest cargo planes in the world

Of course, the Ukrainian An-225 Mriya is considered the largest cargo-lifting aircraft in the world. This flying “monster” was developed during 1984-1988 at the Antonov Aviation Complex. The first flight of this aircraft took place on December 21, 1988.

This giant is equipped with a six-engine turbojet high-wing aircraft, which has a 2-fin “tail” and an arrow-shaped wing. The Mriya was based on its predecessor, the An-124. An interesting fact is that the development of Mriya was closely connected with the Soviet space program Buran, since a powerful lifting transport was required that could transport launch vehicle parts from the assembly site to the cosmodrome itself. The task for the developers was to create an aerial lifting vehicle that could lift at least 250 tons into the sky at a time. This is exactly how the giant Mriya was created.

The main characteristics of the An-225 Mriya cargo compartment are as follows:

1. the width of this cargo airliner is almost 6.5 meters;
2. the height of the giant reaches almost 4.5 meters;
3. The length of the aircraft is 43 meters.

In addition to these characteristics, the Mriya can comfortably accommodate 88 people to accompany the cargo, and the crew cabin is designed for 6 people.

It is noteworthy that all control systems have 4-fold duplication.

General characteristics of the aircraft:

1. the width from one wing to the other is almost 89 (!) meters;
2. the height of this giant reaches 18 meters, which is equal to the height of a five-story building.

Today there is only one such aircraft in the world. The designer of the aviation complex plans to complete the construction of Antonov’s twin brother “Mriya”. It is believed that its readiness is already 70 percent.

Other large cargo aircraft also include:

1. An-124 “Ruslan”
This aircraft is the predecessor of the Mriya. Initially, this aircraft was created to transport intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, the result obtained significantly exceeded all the designers' expectations. This giant began to be actively used to transport large-scale landing and military equipment. One such aircraft is estimated at $300 million.

2. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

This aircraft was developed by American designers for the military transport system back in 1968. At one time, this cargo giant is capable of transporting 6 Apache helicopters, 4 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 tanks and 6 armored personnel carriers. Until 1982, this flying giant was considered the largest cargo airliner in the world.

3. Hughes H-4 Hercules

This cargo aircraft is something of a rarity, as it was developed back in 1947. This aircraft is considered the record holder for its wingspan, which is 98 meters. This record has not yet been surpassed. This 136-ton giant was created to transport 750 soldiers who would be in full equipment. It is worth noting that only one unit of this cargo aircraft was manufactured. Today this flying giant is a museum aircraft.

2. Boeing 747-8I

This model is a cargo-passenger aircraft that began to be produced relatively recently, namely in 2008. In terms of its parameters, it is inferior to the Ukrainian An-225 Mriya aircraft, but it differs in that it is the largest cargo aircraft in the world that was able to enter mass production. So, to date, about 76 such models have been produced. The parameters of this lifting giant include:

1. the length of this aircraft is almost 76 meters;
2. its height is almost 20 meters, which is higher than a five-story building;
3. The wingspan of this aircraft is almost 69 meters.

The empty weight of such an aircraft is approximately 213 thousand kilograms, and the maximum weight at which a successful takeoff is possible is 442 thousand kilograms.

In addition to cargo, this aircraft can accommodate 581 passengers in a two-class configuration, and 467 in a three-class configuration.

The fastest planes in the world

They are fast, like a bullet, as they can develop incredible speed. The fastest aircraft in the world are the following models:

1. Boeing X-43
   This hypersonic aircraft is the fastest aircraft in the world. This drone shows simply stunning results. So, this plane can fly at a speed of 11,230 km per hour. If you imagine, this figure is almost 10 times the speed of sound.
   This supermachine was designed by NASA specialists. It took almost 10 years to develop this hypersonic aircraft. The wingspan of this “nimble” is only 3.6 meters. The fuel that powers this aircraft consists of hydrogen and oxygen. At the same time, the aircraft consumes oxygen directly from the atmosphere, which made it possible to “save” on the weight of this super-fast aircraft.
2. Orbital Sciences Corporation X-34
   This plane is also super-fast, as it is capable of reaching a speed of 12,144 kilometers per hour. However, in the ranking of the fastest aircraft in the world, it occupies second position, since during experiments its speed did not exceed the previous Boeing X-43. It is worth noting that the development of this aircraft took a quarter of a billion dollars and about 7 years. Another interesting fact is that this high-speed airliner weighs 1270 kilograms, but this does not allow it to rise to a height of more than 75 kilometers.
3. North American X-15
   This aircraft is capable of reaching a speed of 7274 km per hour. Interestingly, the altitude record among supersonic aircraft held by this model from 1963 to 2004. This “nimble” can rise to a height of 110 kilometers, and it weighs about 15 tons.
4. SR-71 ("Blackbird")
   This supersonic aircraft is a reconnaissance aircraft subordinate to the US Air Force. It can reach a speed of 3,715 kilometers per hour. It weighs impressively, namely 77 tons. However, the aircraft weighs only 27 tons without fuel.
5. Mig-25 ("Bat")
   This supersonic aircraft is the fastest military jet model. Almost 30 world records were set on this aircraft. The speed at which this record holder can fly is 3395 kilometers per hour. The weight of this airliner reaches almost 41 tons during takeoff, and only 18.8 tons during landing.

People are always attracted by some kind of record - record-breaking aircraft always receive great attention

3rd place: Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a wide-body, double-deck jet passenger aircraft created by Airbus S.A.S. (formerly Airbus Industrie) is the largest production airliner in the world.

The height of the aircraft is 24.08 meters, length is 72.75 (80.65) meters, wingspan is 79.75 meters. The A380 can fly non-stop over distances of up to 15,400 km. Capacity - 525 passengers in three classes; 853 passengers in single-class configuration. There is also a cargo modification of the A380F with the ability to transport cargo up to 150 tons over a distance of up to 10,370 km.

The development of the Airbus A380 took about 10 years, the cost of the entire program was about 12 billion euros. Airbus says it needs to sell 420 planes to recoup its costs, although some analysts estimate the figure could be much higher.
According to the developers, the most difficult part in creating the A380 was the problem of reducing its weight. It was solved through the widespread use of composite materials both in structural structural elements and in auxiliary units, interiors, etc.

To reduce the weight of the aircraft, advanced technologies and improved aluminum alloys were also used. Thus, the 11-ton center section consists of 40% of its mass from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The fuselage top and side panels are made from Glare hybrid material. Laser welding of stringers and skin was used on the lower fuselage panels, which significantly reduced the number of fasteners.
Airbus claims that the Airbus A380 burns 17% less fuel per passenger than “the current largest aircraft” (presumably referring to the Boeing 747). The less fuel is burned, the lower the carbon dioxide emissions. For an airplane, CO2 emissions per passenger are only 75 grams per kilometer traveled. This is almost half the carbon dioxide emissions limit set by the European Union for cars produced in 2008.

The first A320 aircraft sold was delivered to the customer on October 15, 2007 after a long acceptance testing phase and entered service on October 25, 2007, making a commercial flight between Singapore and Sydney. Two months later, Singapore Airlines President Chew Chong Seng said the Airbus A380 was performing better than expected and was consuming 20% ​​less fuel per passenger than the company's existing Boeing 747-400s.

The aircraft's upper and lower decks are connected by two staircases at the bow and tail, wide enough to accommodate two passengers shoulder to shoulder. In the 555-passenger configuration, the A380 has 33% more passenger seats than the Boeing 747–400 in its standard three-class configuration, but the cabin has 50% more space and volume, resulting in more space per passenger.

The maximum certified capacity of the aircraft is 853 passengers when configured with a single economy class. The announced configurations have a number of passenger seats from 450 (for Qantas Airways) to 644 (for Emirates Airline, with two comfort classes).

2nd place: Hughes H-4 Hercules

Hughes H-4 Hercules (eng. Hughes H-4 Hercules) is a transport wooden flying boat developed by the American company Hughes Aircraft under the leadership of Howard Hughes. This 136-ton aircraft, originally designated the NK-1 and informally nicknamed the Spruce Goose, was the largest flying boat ever built, and its wingspan remains a record to this day. - 98 meters. It was designed to transport 750 soldiers when fully equipped.

At the beginning of World War II, the US government allocated $13 million to Hughes to produce a prototype of a flying ship, but the aircraft was not ready by the end of hostilities, which was explained by a shortage of aluminum, as well as Hughes’s stubbornness in creating a flawless machine.

Specifications

Crew: 3 people
Length: 66.45 m
Wingspan: 97.54 m
Height: 24.08 m
Fuselage height: 9.1 m
Wing area: 1061.88 m?
Maximum take-off weight: 180 tons
Payload weight: up to 59,000 kg
Fuel capacity: 52,996 l
Engines: 8? air cooling Pratt&Whitney R-4360-4A 3000 l. With. (2240 ​​kW) each
Propellers: 8? four-blade Hamilton Standard, diameter 5.23 m

Flight characteristics

Top speed: 351 mph (565.11 km/h)
Cruising speed: 250 mph (407.98 km/h)
Flight range: 5634 km
Service ceiling: 7165 m.

Despite its nickname, the plane is built almost entirely from birch, more precisely from birch plywood glued to a pattern.

The Hercules aircraft, piloted by Howard Hughes himself, made its first and only flight on November 2, 1947, when it rose to a height of 21 meters and covered approximately two kilometers in a straight line over Los Angeles Harbor.

After a long period of storage (Hughes maintained the aircraft in operational condition until his death in 1976, spending up to $1 million a year on this), the aircraft was sent to a museum in Long Beach, California.

The plane is visited by about 300,000 tourists annually. The biography of the aircraft's creator, Howard Hughes, and the aircraft's testing are shown in Martin Scorsese's film "The Aviator."

It is currently on display at the Evergreen International Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, where it was moved in 1993.

1st place: AN-225 What a plane! Of course, he's Russian!

This machine was designed and built in a very short time: the first drawings began to be created in 1985, and in 1988 the transport aircraft was already built. The reason for such a short deadline can be quite easily explained: the fact is that the Mriya was created on the basis of well-developed components and assemblies of the An-124 Ruslan. For example, the fuselage of the Mriya has the same transverse dimensions as the An-124, but is longer; the span and area of ​​the wings have increased. The wing has the same structure as the Ruslan, but additional sections have been added to it. The An-225 now has two additional engines. The aircraft's landing gear is similar to that of the Ruslan, but it has seven instead of five struts. The cargo compartment has been changed quite seriously. Initially, two aircraft were laid down, but only one An-225 was completed. The second copy of the unique aircraft is approximately 70% complete and can be completed at any time, subject to proper funding. To complete its construction, an amount of 100-120 million dollars is needed.

On February 1, 1989, the aircraft was shown to the general public, and in May of the same year, the An-225 made a non-stop flight from Baikonur to Kyiv, carrying a Buran weighing sixty tons on its back. That same month, the An-225 delivered the Buran spacecraft to the Paris Air Show and created a real sensation there. In total, the aircraft holds 240 world records, including the transportation of the heaviest cargo (253 tons), the heaviest monolithic cargo (188 tons) and the longest cargo.

The An-225 Mriya aircraft was originally created for the needs of the Soviet space industry. In those years, the Soviet Union was building Buran, its first reusable spacecraft, an analogue of the American shuttle. To implement this project, a transport system was needed that could be used to transport large loads. It was for these purposes that “Mriya” was conceived. In addition to the components and assemblies of the spacecraft itself, it was necessary to deliver parts of the Energia rocket, which were also colossal in size. All this was delivered from the production site to the final assembly points. The units and components of Energia and Buran were manufactured in the central regions of the USSR, and final assembly took place in Kazakhstan, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. In addition, the An-225 was initially designed so that in the future it could transport the finished Buran spacecraft. The An-225 could also transport large cargo for the needs of the national economy, for example, equipment for the mining, oil and gas industries.

In addition to participating in the Soviet space program, the aircraft was to be used to transport oversized cargo over long distances. The An-225 Mriya will carry out this work today.

The general functions and tasks of the machine can be described as follows:

transportation of general purpose cargo (large, heavy) with a total weight of up to 250 tons;
intracontinental non-stop transportation of cargo weighing 180–200 tons;
intercontinental transportation of goods weighing up to 150 tons;
transportation of heavy bulky cargo on an external sling with a total weight of up to 200 tons;
use of aircraft for air launch of spacecraft.

The unique aircraft was given other, even more ambitious tasks, and they were also related to space. The An-225 Mriya aircraft was supposed to become a kind of flying cosmodrome, a platform from which spaceships and rockets would be launched into orbit. "Mriya", according to the designers, was supposed to be the first stage for the launch of reusable spacecraft of the "Buran" type. Therefore, initially the designers were faced with the task of making an aircraft with a payload capacity of at least 250 tons.

The Soviet shuttle was supposed to launch from the “back” of the plane. This method of launching vehicles into low-Earth orbit has many serious advantages. Firstly, there is no need to build very expensive ground-based launch complexes, and secondly, launching a rocket or ship from an airplane seriously saves fuel and allows you to increase the payload of the spacecraft. In some cases, this may make it possible to completely abandon the first stage of the rocket.

Various air launch options are currently being developed. They are working especially actively in this direction in the United States, and there are also Russian developments.

Alas, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the “air launch” project with the participation of the An-225 was practically buried. This aircraft was an active participant in the Energia-Buran program. The An-225 carried out fourteen flights with Buran on the top of the fuselage, and hundreds of tons of various cargo were transported as part of this program.

After 1991, funding for the Energia-Buran program ceased, and the An-225 was left without work. Only in 2000 did the modernization of the machine begin for use for commercial purposes. The An-225 Mriya aircraft has unique technical characteristics, enormous payload capacity and can transport large cargo on its fuselage - all this makes the aircraft very popular for commercial transportation.

Since that time, the An-225 has performed many flights and transported hundreds of tons of various cargo. Some transport operations can be safely called unique and have no analogues in the history of aviation. The aircraft took part in humanitarian operations several times. After the devastating tsunami, he delivered power generators to Samoa, transported construction equipment to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, and helped eliminate the consequences of the earthquake in Japan.

In 2009, the An-225 aircraft was modernized and its service life was extended.

The An-225 Mriya aircraft is designed according to the classical design, with high-raised, slightly swept wings. The cabin is located in the front of the aircraft, the cargo hatch is also located in the bow of the vehicle. The aircraft is made according to a two-fin design. This decision is related to the need to transport cargo on the fuselage of the aircraft. The An-225 airframe has very high aerodynamic properties; the lift-to-drag ratio of this aircraft is 19, which is an excellent indicator not only for transport aircraft, but also for passenger aircraft. This, in turn, significantly improved the aircraft's performance and reduced fuel consumption.

Almost the entire internal space of the fuselage is occupied by the cargo compartment. Compared to the An-124, it has become 10% larger (by seven meters). At the same time, the wing span increased by only 20%, two more engines were added, and the aircraft’s carrying capacity increased by one and a half times. During the construction of the An-225, drawings, components and assemblies of the An-124 were actively used, thanks to which the aircraft was able to be created in such a short time. Here are the main differences between the An-225 and the An-124 “Ruslan”:

New center section;
fuselage length increased;
the single-fin tail was replaced with a double-fin;
lack of a tail cargo hatch;
the number of main landing gear struts has been increased from five to seven;
external cargo fastening and pressurization system;
two additional D-18T engines were installed.

Unlike the Ruslan, the Mriya has only one cargo hatch, which is located in the bow of the aircraft. Like its predecessor, Mriya can change the ground clearance and angle of the fuselage, which is extremely convenient during loading and unloading operations. The chassis has three supports: a front two-post and two main ones, each of which consists of seven posts. Moreover, all racks are independent of each other and are produced separately.

To take off without cargo, the plane needs a runway 2400 meters long, with cargo - 3500 meters.

The An-225 has six D-18T engines suspended under the wings, as well as two auxiliary power units located inside the fuselage.

The cargo compartment is sealed and equipped with all the necessary equipment for loading operations. Inside the fuselage, the An-225 can transport up to sixteen standard aviation containers (each weighing ten tons), fifty passenger cars, or any cargo weighing up to two hundred tons (turbines, especially large cargo vehicles, generators). On top of the fuselage there are special fastenings for transporting large cargo.D

Technical characteristics of An-225 "Mriya"

Wingspan, m 88.4
Length, m 84.0
Height, m ​​18.2
Weight, kg

Empty 250000
Maximum takeoff 600000
Fuel weight 300000
Engine 6*TRDD D-18T
Specific fuel consumption, kg/kgf·h 0.57-0.63
Cruising speed, km/h 850
Practical range, km 15600
Range, km 4500
Practical ceiling, m 11000
Crew of six people
Payload, kg 250000-450000.

An-225 is a Soviet transport jet aircraft with an ultra-high payload developed by the Design Bureau named after. O.K. Antonov, is the largest aircraft in the world.

Brief characteristics of transport aircraft

Airplane AN 12- a cargo aircraft, which is an all-metal, cantilever high-wing aircraft with a straight wing. The aircraft's landing gear has high maneuverability, thanks to which the AN 12 can take off from unpaved airfields without any problems. Loading is carried out through a cargo hatch with a ramp, located at the rear of the fuselage and freely allowing large equipment to pass through. Unloading is possible in the same way or by dropping cargo by parachute. The process of loading and unloading and mooring is greatly facilitated by an onboard loading device capable of lifting objects weighing up to 2.5 tons, and a winch that pulls non-propelled loads into the cabin. Delivery of goods from China, Japan, Korea, European countries, North and South America using the AN 12 aircraft makes it possible to transport goods with a total weight of up to 18,000 kg in one voyage.
Characteristics of the AN 12 aircraft
Maximum load - 18000 kg
Maximum volume - 90 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 13.5 x 3.0 x 2.4 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.0 x 2.4 m

Aircraft AN 22 "Antey" made according to the high-wing design. The design provides for a cargo hatch of impressive dimensions - 4.4 × 16 m. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with an inclined ramp, which can be installed at different levels, and four hoists, each with a carrying capacity of 2.5 tons. The gangway ramp and hoists make the AN 22 independent of the presence of loading and unloading devices at airfields. It is also possible to transport large cargo on an external sling: on the fuselage or under the wing. The multi-post 12-wheel chassis, characterized by increased cross-country ability, allows you not only to land on and take off from unpaved surfaces, but also to land even if one or two struts are not released or the pneumatic shock absorbers and struts are destroyed. Thanks to these characteristics, the delivery of goods from China, North America and other major economic centers of the world becomes not only fast, but also as safe as possible, and the unique carrying capacity of this aircraft (up to 50,000 kg) allows you to save money and transport all the cargo in one flight.
Characteristics of the AN 22 aircraft
Maximum load - 50000 kg
Maximum volume - 650 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 26.4 * 4.3 * 4.1 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 4.3x4.1

Transport aircraft AN 26 traditionally used for transporting cargo and small equipment over distances of up to 2000 km. This vessel is characterized by amazing stability and ease of control, thanks to which the aircraft can be controlled by moderately qualified pilots. And the unique take-off and landing qualities, coupled with the high-pass landing gear, make it unpretentious to the type of runway and make it possible to operate in almost any weather conditions on pebble, dirt, sand, “soaked” and snow-covered airfields of very modest size. The monoplane design and the wide opening of the cargo hatch allow the installation of a special ladder flap, which facilitates and speeds up the process of unloading and loading from the ground or the vehicle body. The speed of unloading and loading operations is also beneficially affected by the overhead crane built into the aircraft, which is capable of lifting weights of up to 1,500 kg. Our company’s specialists will be happy to organize the delivery of goods for you by AN 26 aircraft, as well as provide customs services, resolve paperwork issues and monitor each stage of transportation.
Characteristics of the AN 26 aircraft

Maximum volume - 45 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 11.1x2.2x1.6 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 2.2x1.6

AN 74 - a unique aircraft, which was created for the purpose of transporting goods and equipment at any latitudes under any climatic conditions. It operates smoothly at temperatures ranging from -60 to +45 °C, in the mountains and plains, at the equator and the poles. Typically used on medium and short distance routes. AN 74 is suitable for operation on both equipped and unequipped airfield sites with concrete, pebble, dirt or snow surfaces. Capable of taking off and landing at any time of the day. The cargo compartment is optimized for the dimensions of the most typical cargo and allows for the transportation of cargo in containers, rigid pallets, non-standard containers (barrels, bales), as well as wheeled vehicles. The opening of the loading compartment is closed by a ramp, which the OptiLog VED company recommends using as a ladder. The aircraft is also equipped with an on-board loading device with a lifting capacity of up to 2500 kg.
Characteristics of the AN 74 aircraft
Maximum load - 8000 kg
Maximum volume - 45 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 10.0x2.15x2.1 m
Cargo hatch size (width×height) - 2.1x2.1

AN 124 (Ruslan) belongs to the class of heavy transport aircraft and is designed to transport large cargo around the world. Excellent aerodynamic characteristics and, as a result, a long flight range are ensured thanks to the wing of a thick swept profile and a carefully thought-out shape of the fuselage. The multi-post 24-wheel chassis allows the AN 124 to be used on unpaved runways of airfields, as well as to change the angle of the fuselage and the parking clearance, which greatly facilitates the process of loading and unloading operations. The special design of the fuselage requires the presence of two cargo hatches, one of which is located in the forward part of the fuselage, the other in the tail. The aircraft is also equipped with on-board mobile cranes and other loading and unloading equipment with a total lifting capacity of 20 tons and mooring equipment, making loading and delivery of cargo from China and other countries much faster. The AN 225 (Maria) aircraft is very similar in design and characteristics to the AN 124 and allows the transport of heavy bulky cargo weighing up to 200 tons.
Characteristics of AN 124 aircraft
Maximum load - 120000 kg
Maximum volume - 800 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 36.5x6.2x4.2 m

Characteristics of AN 225 aircraft
Maximum load - 200000 kg
Maximum volume - 1100 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 43.0x6.2x4.2 m

Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 6.2 x 4.1 m

Airbus 300 B4 was specially designed for transporting large structures, equipment and instruments over medium and short distances (up to 2700 km). It features a larger fuselage, an upward-opening nose cone and a reinforced floor. In front of the wing on the left side of the fuselage there is a cargo door measuring 3.58 x 2.56 m. The cabin can simultaneously transport up to 20 cargo pallets and another 20 LD3 type cargo containers in the lower cargo compartments. The aircraft is equipped with an impressive complex of loading and unloading equipment.
Characteristics of the Airbus 300 B4 aircraft
Maximum load - 43500 kg
Maximum volume - 280 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 39.0 x 4.77 x 2.23 m

Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.58 x 2.56 m

Boeing 737 belongs to the class of short-range transport aircraft. More than a quarter of a century ago, it became the leader on short-haul airlines on most continents. The aircraft's high lifting power, excellent performance at low speeds, providing opportunities for short landings and takeoffs, as well as efficiency at high speeds and low altitudes allow it to remain competitive to this day.
Characteristics of the Boeing 737 aircraft
Maximum load - 16000 kg
Maximum volume - 105 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 21.0 x 3.1 x 2.2 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.4x2.15 m

Boeing 747 is one of the most load-carrying aircraft. At the same time, it has low fuel costs per ton-mile, and the flight range can reach 8,000 km. That is why this aircraft is ideal for organizing economical and most cost-effective delivery of goods from China and other remote countries. The Boeing 747 freighter has a reinforced cabin floor, an impressively sized side cargo door, and a standard set of loading and unloading equipment.
Characteristics of the Boeing 747 aircraft
Maximum load - 110000 kg
Maximum volume - 750 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 49.0 x 4.8 x 3.04 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.25x3.1 m

Boeing 757 designed to transport cargo weighing up to 39 tons. The aircraft cabin can simultaneously accommodate 15 standard pallets. The cargo hatch, through which loading and unloading is carried out using winches and an on-board loading device, is located on the left side of the fuselage. Without refueling, the aircraft is capable of covering a distance of 4,670 km.
Characteristics of the Boeing 757 aircraft
Maximum load - 39000 kg
Maximum volume - 185 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 33.2 x 3.53 x 2.18 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.4 x 2.18 m

DC 8 - long-range cargo aircraft, created by the efforts of American specialists from the Douglas company. With its help, the delivery of goods from France, Italy and other countries in Europe and the world becomes as accessible as possible. The maximum flight range of this vehicle is 8950 km. The aircraft is equipped with all the necessary equipment for quick and convenient unloading and loading.
Characteristics of the DC 8 aircraft
Maximum load - 45000 kg
Maximum volume - 200 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 34.0 x 3.17 x 2.03 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.55x2.0 m

DC 10 can be classified as a wide-body long-range aircraft. Some modifications are capable of flying over distances of up to 11,000 km, so the OptiLog VED company recommends this vessel to its clients when there is a need to deliver large cargo from remote corners of the planet. Loading into the DC 10 is done through the side door. The cargo compartment can freely accommodate up to 30 LD3 containers. A standard set of loading and unloading equipment is installed on board.
Characteristics of the DC 10 aircraft
Maximum load - 65000 kg
Maximum volume - 450 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 37.25 x 3.56 x 2.34 m
The size of the cargo hatch (width x height) is 3.5 x 2.54 m. The Fokker 27 cargo aircraft is traditionally used on local airlines, i.e. for domestic transportation. At the rear of the fuselage of this aircraft there is a large cargo hatch equipped with pneumatic doors. Loads weighing up to 6 tons are delivered to the cabin using a specially designed winch. The underside of the aircraft is characterized by an excess strength factor, thanks to which well-packed cargo remains safe even in the event of an emergency landing with the landing gear retracted.
Characteristics of the Fokker 27 aircraft
Maximum load - 6000 kg
Maximum volume - 58 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 13.36 x 2.1 x 1.9 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 2.28 x 1.75 m

Airplane IL 76- an ideal option for the prompt delivery of large-sized cargo, machinery and equipment along medium-length air routes located in different geographic latitudes. The IL 76 is suitable for almost any deployment conditions. A chassis with increased cross-country ability, powerful wing mechanization and impressive power supply ensure take-off from unprepared unpaved airfield strips and landing on them. At the same time, takeoff and landing distances are quite insignificant for an aircraft of this size. Delivery of goods from China to Russia, as well as transportation of goods from other countries, is possible in air or automobile containers of any type, pallets and other containers used for international transport. This versatility is achieved thanks to the special design of the cargo compartment, equipped with various on-board facilities and devices for loading and unloading, and its dimensions.
Characteristics of the IL 76 aircraft
Maximum load - 47000 kg
Maximum volume - 175 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 18.5 x 3.3 x 3.25 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.3x3.25 m

L 100-30 - medium-lift transport aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed. The flight range at maximum load is 3,790 km, thanks to which the delivery of cargo from France and other European countries with a total weight of up to 21 tons can be organized. The main cargo hatch is located in the rear of the cabin. Loading and unloading operations are accelerated thanks to a special hydraulically driven ramp. It is worth noting that these aircraft often take part in operations to organize and provide humanitarian assistance.
Characteristics of the L 100-30 aircraft
Maximum load - 21000 kg
Maximum volume - 140 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 17.0 x 3.02 x 2.74 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.02 x 2.74 m

MD 11 - wide-body long-range aircraft, which is capable of transporting cargo over a distance of up to 7500 km. It allows you to place up to 6 standard containers on the main deck, the rest of the cargo is located in the lower compartments. Loading is done through an upward opening door measuring 3.55x2.55.
Characteristics of the MD 11 aircraft
Maximum load - 80000 kg
Maximum volume - 640 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 48.0 x 3.5 x 2.45 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.55x2.55 m

The Saab 340 aircraft can be called a cantilever low-wing aircraft. It is used on short lines. The latest modifications have the capability of short takeoff and landing, which allows this aircraft to be used even at small airfields. The relatively small payload coupled with impressive maneuverability makes the Saab 340 an ideal option for transportation in remote corners of the country.
Characteristics of the Saab 340 aircraft
Maximum load - 3800 kg
Maximum volume - 35 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 11.2 x 1.62 x 1.7 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 1.3 x 1.28 m

Airplane TU 204 ideal for medium-haul airlines. The flight range at maximum load is about 4,700 km. With the help of this aircraft, cargo delivery from France, Germany, Spain and other European countries to Russia can be organized. The fuselage of the vessel has a side cargo door measuring 3.4x2.0. The cargo compartment can accommodate up to 14 standard pallets, while the lower cargo compartments can freely accommodate 12 containers of the 2AK-0.7 type. For the convenience of loading and unloading operations, the floor of the cargo compartment is equipped with roller tracks, ball panels and other equipment.
Characteristics of the TU 204 aircraft
Maximum load - 28500 kg
Maximum volume - 178 m3
Cargo compartment size (length x width x height) - 29.5x3.25x2.8 m
Cargo hatch size (width x height) - 3.4 x 2.0 m