Philadelphia Intl.

[elite marksman]

What is the largest plane that flys into Philly Intl. (KPHL) I walked outside, and throught the snow I saw a HUGE plane fly overhead. Plane was greyish, but it was kind of dark. 2 landing lights on either side of the nose. Wingspan was much larger than a 747, looked about 1.5x-2x the size. I'm thinking either A380 or maybe a An-124, it was HUGE, and really loud, much louder than a 747!

[Nexus]

Doesnt the yanks still use that gigantic Lockheed transporter? That one is a giant allright  :o

[elite marksman]

No it was too low and going the wrong way to be heading to McGuire. It was heading almost due west. Mcguire AFB is north/northeast and Willow Grove NAS ist north/northwest, and a lot farther away. Id say it was about 1000' AGL, gear down on final for RWY 27L at KPHL.

[jrpilot]

Just did a search and found the biggest thing to fly into PHL was a B777 on January 14.

What date was it that you were there?

[Triple_7]

not sure how common they might be but heres the C-5 Gallaxy taking off from 27L

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=983986

Having only seen one in my entire life I remember it to be quite huge

[beefhole]

Willow Grove NAS is N/NE

Chances are more than likely it was a military plane, C-5s do operate out of McGuire, possibly out of Willow Grove.  The fact that it wasn't heading in their direction is no indication it didn't originate from there.

777s are considered to be bigger than 747s?

Jr, 747s routinely operate out of PHL.

re-edit: and, as triple7 just found, c-5s do operate out of PHL.

[elite marksman]

I'm in Jersey, Willow Grove is about an hour and a half NNE from me. It definatly wasn't a 777, every once in a while I see them fly over my school, wings were nowhere close to the same length.  Its probably a military plane, which makes it the C5, it was too big for a 17. And it was last night. Jan 13 at about 2100 Local.

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

I have personally stood next to an AN124....and that is one giant monster.......I was looking like a wimp in front of it....it's one huge giant

[jrpilot]

Being that today is the 15th of January and last nite was the 14th of January, I am not sure exactly were you got January 13?


Ill do a search though and see what aircraft I find

[elite marksman]

Sorry, it was the 14th then. My mind shut itself down for a 3 day R&R period after 1430 local on Friday afternoon.

[flyboy 28]

Definetly not an A380. The only one flying is still in Europe I think. And no runways in the US are long enough.

I'm thinking C-5 though.

[Nexus]

Definetly not an A380. The only one flying is still in Europe I think. And no runways in the US are long enough.

I'm thinking C-5 though.

 ;D  ;D
No runways are long enough for the A380? Dude, the aircraft wont use more rynway than a Boeing 747.
And AFAIK,  the A380 has been to Dubai, Australia etc  :)

[flyboy 28]

That's why I said in the US. O'Hare has spent millions in lengthening their runway to support it.

[Willit Run]

Elite, I was at Beck a couple Sundays ago and saw what you seem to be descibing.

[Nexus]

That's why I said in the US. O'Hare has spent millions in lengthening their runway to support it.

I think you  have misunderstood some things here.
The A380 is not an aircraft that requires a whole lot of runway. In fact an older 747-200/300 will eat up more runway during take off roll than the A380.

The problem in most cases are NOT the lenght, but the structural strength.  

So let's just kill that myth right away. Below is the diagram for the A380. MTOW for the initial model is around 550.000kgs. How can you say that no runway in the US is long enough  ???