Which Aircraft Holds the Title of the World's Largest?

Since the dawn of time, humans have been captivated by the dream of flight, inspired by birds gliding effortlessly through the skies. This fascination, combined with our relentless drive to create bigger, better, and faster innovations, has led to the development of extraordinary flying machines.

This article explores the aircraft that earns the title of the world's largest plane and the methods experts use to determine this distinction. While ranking aircraft can be challenging, one widely accepted metric is maximum takeoff weight.

One aircraft stands above the rest in terms of its ability to lift massive weights off the ground.

A Brief History of Flight

As far back as 400 B.C., Chinese inventors utilized kites to study weather patterns [source: NASA]. Over two millennia later, the Montgolfier brothers launched the first hot air balloon, transporting a rooster, duck, and sheep to a height of 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) for over a mile [source: NASA].

Progress accelerated from there, with advancements in gliders, steam-powered aircraft, and ultimately the Wright brothers' groundbreaking biplane achievement over the following 120 years [source: NASA].

Notably Large Aircraft

Once motorized airplanes became a reality, humanity's instinct to scale up took over. Howard Hughes' legendary H-4 Hercules seaplane, also known as the Spruce Goose, made its sole 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) flight in 1947 and boasted a wingspan of nearly 320 feet (97.5 meters), setting a record [source: Malone].

The U.S. Air Force's C-5 Galaxy, introduced in 1968 and still in service, doesn't match the H-4's wingspan, measuring nearly 223 feet (68 meters). However, it surpasses the Spruce Goose in length at 247 feet, 10 inches (75.5 meters) compared to the Goose's 218 feet, 8 inches [source: Malone].

The Airbus A380, often discussed for its production challenges but unmatched in scale, exceeds the C-5 in wingspan (261 feet, 10 inches or 79.8 meters) and the Spruce Goose in length (239 feet or 73 meters).

Despite its impressive size, the A380 is not the largest aircraft in existence—not even by a significant margin.

The Biggest Airplane in the World

While factors like length, height, wingspan, and empty weight are important in comparing aircraft, the aviation industry primarily relies on maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) to determine the largest plane. MTOW represents the maximum weight a plane can carry, including its own weight, fuel, and cargo (whether passengers or goods), and still achieve liftoff.

Based on MTOW, the Antonov An-225 stands out as the clear winner, a fact recognized by the Guinness World Record.

Managed by Antonov Airlines, the An-225 is a cargo aircraft that, until 2022, delivered vehicles, supplies, and humanitarian aid across the globe.

However, its initial purpose was entirely different.

The Cargo Capabilities of the An-225

The An-225 was initially designed to transport the Buran, the space shuttle of the former Soviet Union. When the Russian space program ceased in the early 1990s, the aircraft was left unused and stored away.

More than ten years later, one of the two An-225s ever built was repurposed as a commercial cargo plane (the second remains incomplete and stored to this day). Its massive size and impressive maximum takeoff weight make it perfectly suited for this role.

With 46,000 cubic feet (1,300 cubic meters) of cargo space, it can accommodate up to five military tanks or eight double-decker buses [source: BC]. Crucially, its maximum takeoff weight of 1.32 million pounds (600,000 kilograms) allows it to lift these heavy loads and transport them nearly 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) [source: Aerospace, Eisenstein].

How the An-225 Stacks Up Against Other Giant Aircraft

To put it in perspective, both the Boeing 747 and the An-124 (the predecessor to the An-225) have maximum takeoff weights of 900,000 pounds (405,000 kilograms) [source: Aerospace]. The Airbus A380 comes close with a takeoff weight of 1.24 million pounds (560,000 kilograms), making it the heaviest passenger aircraft [source: GA]. The Spruce Goose, despite its massive size, had an MTOW of 400,000 pounds (181,000 kilograms), still holding the record for seaplanes [source: Aerospace].

While the An-225 remains unmatched in size and the A380 leads among passenger planes, advancements in aircraft design could pave the way for even larger models in the future.

The use of lightweight composite materials is enabling larger designs without added weight, while innovations in aviation technology and aerodynamics are making it easier to lift heavier loads [source: FG].

The An-225 and Its Fate During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The world's largest aircraft is currently out of service after Russian forces attacked Hostomel Airport in Ukraine, destroying this iconic piece of aviation history. Antonov estimates that restoring the wide-body aircraft would require $500 million.

A Few More of the World's Biggest Planes

Scaled Composites' Stratolaunch completed its maiden flight in April 2019. Designed and built by Paul G. Allen's company, the aircraft measures 238 feet (72.54 meters) in length and boasts a wingspan of 385 feet (117.35 meters).

According to Scaled Composites, "The concept of a large aircraft has been a passion of our founder, Burt Rutan, for over two decades. Various designs were explored as interest from potential customers fluctuated. In 2011, Paul Allen committed to the project. Before finalizing the contract, Scaled worked to reduce fabrication costs by creating prototypes to optimize material and labor efficiency. This approach influenced the aircraft's design, resulting in flat-sided fuselages and a predominantly straight wing."

The Airbus Beluga, officially known as the Airbus A300-600ST Beluga, is another massive aircraft. It is used to transport art, humanitarian aid, and even helicopters, with a maximum operating altitude of 35,000 feet (10,688 meters).

The Airbus A380-800 holds the record for maximum passenger capacity, accommodating up to 853 passengers. Airbus launched this largest passenger aircraft in 2007.