Top 3 Best Giant Aeroplanes or Aircraft in the world Names: Antanov, Boeing, Airbus
1. Antonov An-225 Mriya
Antonov An-225 "Mriya" is the world's largest aircraft. When it was built, it surpassed any airliner built before by 50%. “Antonov An-225 Mriya” is an extra-large cargo aircraft. Antonov Design Bureau is behind the development of this giant. This organization is based in the Ukraine (HQ in Kiev). The plan to build this giant started in early 1980’s and the first operational flight took place on December 21st, 1988. It is only one of its kind in the whole world. This giant plane was originally built to function as a Russian Space Shuttle carrier aircraft to assist Buran space shuttle of the Soviet Space Program. The collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 saw the cancellation of the Buran space program and the Antonov contracts. By 1994 the lonely giant’s future was in doubt. Engines were removed and were placed in storage along with other incomplete Antonov. In 2000, the need for strategic heavy equipment lifting brought him back in service and by 2006 demand was great. At this point work started to complete the second Antonov but numerous delays caused the second aircraft unfinished in 2009.
2. Airbus A380-800
Airbus A380 is the world’s biggest passenger aircraft and second largest airplane after Antonov. In total 67 A380’s are in use worldwide. Airbus first began studies on a very large 500 seat airliner in the early 1990s. The European manufacturer saw developing a competitor and successor to the Boeing 747 as a strategic play to end Boeing's dominance of the very large airliner market. On July 24, 2000, Emirates became the first customer making a firm order commitment, followed by Air France, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. Together these companies completed the 50 orders needed to launch the program. Some key facts about Airbus A380 are as follows.
Origin: Multi-national
First flight: April 27, 2005
Introduction: 25 October 2007 with Singapore Airlines
Main users: Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Lufthansa
Number built: 82
Maximum seating: 853
3. Boeing 747-800
Boeing launched the airplane on Nov. 14, 2005 after they had firm orders for 18 747-8 Freighters: 10 from Cargolux of Luxembourg and 8 from Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan. The combined list price value of the orders is approximately $5 billion. The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and 747-8 Freighter are the new, high-capacity 747s that offers airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger or freighter airplane-while providing enhanced environmental performance. Not only it has the capability to fly with large number of people or freight but it presents companies with economy as well.
