Aviation continues to awe with engineering feats that defy gravity and imagination. From colossal cargo carriers to luxurious passenger giants, these sky titans push the boundaries of what’s possible. Below is a countdown of the Top 10 Largest Airplanes ever built, ranked by Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW), with insights into their unique roles and historical significance as of June 13, 2025. Buckle up for a journey through the giants of the skies! ✈️🌍
1. Antonov An-225 Mriya: The Unrivaled Colossus 🕊️
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Type: Cargo | Wingspan: 290 ft (88.4 m) | Length: 275 ft (84 m) | MTOW: 640 tons (1,411,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 250 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Antonov An-225 Mriya (“Dream” in Ukrainian) was the largest and heaviest aircraft ever built, designed in the 1980s to carry the Soviet Buran space shuttle. Powered by six turbofan engines, it could haul massive loads like wind turbine blades or entire locomotives. Its cargo hold was so vast that the Wright brothers’ first flight could fit inside! Sadly, the only completed An-225 was destroyed in 2022 during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but plans to rebuild using a partially completed second airframe are underway, with a $500 million price tag.
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Fascinating Fact: In 2001, it set a record by airlifting a 187.6-ton generator from France to Australia.
2. Stratolaunch Roc: The Wingspan King 🌌
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Type: Spacecraft Launch Platform | Wingspan: 385 ft (117 m) | Length: 239 ft (73 m) | MTOW: 590 tons (1,300,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 250 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Stratolaunch Roc, with the widest wingspan ever, is a dual-fuselage beast built to launch rockets mid-flight. First flown in 2019, it’s now being retooled for hypersonic vehicle testing, powered by six Boeing 747 engines. Its unique design makes it a game-changer for space access, dwarfing even the Hughes H-4 Hercules in wingspan.
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Fascinating Fact: Its wingspan is longer than a football field, enabling it to carry up to 550,000 lbs of payload to 35,000 feet.
3. Airbus A380-800: The Passenger Titan 🛫
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Type: Passenger | Wingspan: 261 ft 8 in (79.8 m) | Length: 238 ft 7 in (72.8 m) | MTOW: 575 tons (1,268,000 lbs) | Max Payload: ~150 tons (853 passengers)
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Why It’s Epic: The Airbus A380, the largest passenger airliner, redefined long-haul travel with its double-decker design, carrying up to 853 passengers in an all-economy setup (typically 450–550). Launched in 2007, it features luxurious amenities like onboard lounges and showers. Production ended in 2021 due to demand for fuel-efficient twin-engine jets, but airlines like Emirates still fly it.
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Fascinating Fact: Its wings flex upward by over 13 feet during takeoff, and its paint alone weighs 1,171 lbs
4. Boeing 747-8: The Queen of the Skies 👑
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Type: Passenger & Cargo | Wingspan: 224 ft 7 in (68.4 m) | Length: 250 ft 2 in (76.3 m) | MTOW: 448 tons (987,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 140 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Boeing 747-8, the longest passenger aircraft, is the latest iteration of the iconic 747 series, launched in 2010. Its freighter version rivals cargo giants, while the passenger model (747-8i) seats up to 467. Known for its humpbacked design, it competes with the A380 in long-range efficiency. The final 747 was delivered in 2022, marking the end of an era.
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Fascinating Fact: It’s set to become the next Air Force One, showcasing its strategic importance.
5. Antonov An-124 Ruslan: The Cargo Workhorse 🌍
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Type: Cargo | Wingspan: 240 ft 5 in (73.3 m) | Length: 226 ft (69 m) | MTOW: 405 tons (892,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 150 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the “little brother” to the An-225, is the largest operational cargo plane since the Mriya’s destruction. Introduced in 1986, its cavernous hold and nose/tail loading doors make it ideal for oversized cargo like helicopters or Atlas V rocket parts. Operated by Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr, it remains a global logistics staple.
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Fascinating Fact: By 2013, it had visited 768 airports in over 100 countries.
6. Boeing 747-400 Dreamlifter: The Cargo Specialist 🛠️
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Type: Cargo | Wingspan: 211 ft 5 in (64.4 m) | Length: 235 ft 2 in (71.7 m) | MTOW: 396 tons (873,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 113 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Boeing Dreamlifter, a modified 747-400, is designed to transport Boeing 787 Dreamliner components, with a bulging fuselage and swing-tail for massive cargo. Only four exist, operated by Atlas Air. Its cargo hold, once the largest, was surpassed by the Airbus Beluga XL. It played a key role during COVID-19, delivering medical supplies.
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Fascinating Fact: Its fuselage is 18 inches wider than the A380’s, despite carrying less volume.
7. Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy: The Military Behemoth 🛡️
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Type: Military Cargo | Wingspan: 222 ft 8 in (67.9 m) | Length: 247 ft 10 in (75.5 m) | MTOW: 381 tons (840,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 140 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, operated by the U.S. Air Force since 1969, is the largest military transport aircraft. Upgraded with modern avionics, it carries tanks, helicopters, or five Apache gunships over 5,500 miles unrefueled. It’s vital for military and humanitarian missions.
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Fascinating Fact: It can carry two M1 Abrams tanks, showcasing its unmatched cargo versatility.
8. Antonov An-22 Antei: The Turboprop Titan ⚙️
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Type: Military Cargo | Wingspan: 211 ft (64.4 m) | Length: 189 ft 7 in (57.9 m) | MTOW: 250 tons (551,156 lbs) | Max Payload: 80 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Antonov An-22 Antei, introduced in 1967, is the world’s largest turboprop-powered aircraft. Its four contra-rotating propellers enable it to haul heavy cargo to short, unpaved runways. Still used by Russian and Ukrainian operators, it’s a Cold War relic with enduring utility.
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Fascinating Fact: It was the first wide-body cargo plane, a pioneer in aviation design.
9. Airbus Beluga XL: The Flying Whale 🐋
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Type: Oversized Cargo | Wingspan: 197 ft (60.3 m) | Length: 207 ft (63.1 m) | MTOW: 227 tons (500,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 50 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Airbus Beluga XL, based on the A330-200F, replaced the Beluga ST in 2020. Designed to transport aircraft components, its whale-like fuselage offers the largest cargo hold volume (78,000 cubic feet). Five were built to support Airbus’s production network.
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Fascinating Fact: It has 30% more capacity than its predecessor, streamlining Airbus’s logistics.
10. Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose): The Wooden Wonder 🪵
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Type: Cargo (Seaplane) | Wingspan: 320 ft (97.8 m) | Length: 218 ft 8 in (66.7 m) | MTOW: 180 tons (400,000 lbs) | Max Payload: 68 tons
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Why It’s Epic: The Hughes H-4 Hercules, nicknamed the Spruce Goose (though made of birch), was the largest seaplane and wooden aircraft ever built. Designed by Howard Hughes for WWII troop transport, it flew once in 1947 for 1 mile at 70 feet. Now a museum piece, it held the wingspan record until the Stratolaunch.
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Fascinating Fact: Its single flight, piloted by Hughes, lasted less than a minute
Why These Giants Matter
These aircraft showcase human ingenuity, from the An-225’s record-breaking cargo hauls to the A380’s luxurious passenger experience. They serve critical roles in global logistics, military operations, and space exploration, much like the Plymouth well revealed hidden medieval wealth or the Basilica Cistern showcased Byzantine engineering. Their massive scale reflects ambition, just as myths of Tartary or Nazca tattoos hint at humanity’s fascination with the extraordinary.
What’s Next for Aviation Giants?
With the An-225’s potential rebuild and the Stratolaunch’s hypersonic ambitions, the future promises even bolder designs. The Boeing 777-9, expected in 2025, may join this list with an MTOW of 351 tons, continuing the legacy of innovation.
Which sky titan fascinates you most? Are you drawn to the An-225’s sheer size or the Stratolaunch’s futuristic mission? Tag an aviation enthusiast and share below! 👇💬
