What is the biggest aircraft in the world?

[Bombardier101]

I would like to know which aircraft is biggest in the world ever!

[Theis]

biggest aircraft ever (only flown once): hughes "spruce goose"

Howard Hughes "flying boat" was nicknamed "Spruce Goose" after and angry senator dubbed it "the flying lumber yard." The plane was originally conceived as a low-cost way to create aircraft for the war effort. It was constucted entirely of wood (some spruce but mainly birch) and is still the largest aircraft ever built. Unfortunately it took so long to construct it wasn't finished until after the war. It flew once and is now in a museum.

Biggest aircraft still flying: Antonov 225
Read more here
Photos of AN225
Cheers Theis

[beaky]

The biggest airplane  that ever flew, the Hughes HK-1 flying boat, had a 320-foot wingspan,  but it only flew once, and probably didn't weigh as much as a C-5 or the Russian AT-22. Right now, I think the biggest is still the AN225 (292 ft. wingspan). Thought the new Airbus had it beat, but it's not quite as big.

[Saratoga]

Yup AN-225 Ruslan, 6 engine pure genius cargo plane designed to carry the Russian Space Shuttle is the biggest.

[Ivan]

and as there is much demand for it, there are plans to finish the second one

[Saratoga]

Truly Ivan? It's about bloody time! That aircraft is amazing and it suprises me there isn't a fleet of them flying around. Good to hear the second one is coming along though.

[Bombardier101]

Thanks guys!

[C]

Truly Ivan? It's about bloody time! That aircraft is amazing and it suprises me there isn't a fleet of them flying around. Good to hear the second one is coming along though.

I imagine that because of the An-124 there isn't the demand for the 225...

[Saratoga]

Ya...it's a beautiful plane. Super heavy lifting capability. In my opinion, and I've been there so I can say it, the USAF outta replace their C-141s with the AN-225s. You could probably fit the cargo of two 141s in the 225 easy since the 141 fuselage is so narrow. It's virtually impossible to get it to max takeoff weight.

[C]

Ya...it's a beautiful plane. Super heavy lifting capability. In my opinion, and I've been there so I can say it, the USAF outta replace their C-141s with the AN-225s. You could probably fit the cargo of two 141s in the 225 easy since the 141 fuselage is so narrow. It's virtually impossible to get it to max takeoff weight.

The US has a replacement for the '141 - the C-17...

[Saratoga]

Ya I know, but I was suggesting the AN-225. Could probably get more done for less in gas. And there are things the -225 could pull off that a C-17 just can't do.

[Bombardier101]

Yep, the Russian machine is better... :-/

[Hagar]

Unfortunately I missed the An 225 at the 1990 Farnborough air display. http://www.jetsite.com.br/mostra_galeria.asp?tipo=24
It's a very impressive aircraft but its sheer size might make it unsuitable for most military applications. I saw photos of it setting the grass alight on both sides of the runway when it took off. I don't know what its STOL capabilities are but I have seen the C-17 displayed several times & been amazed at its short-field performance. It's also extremely quiet. http://www01.peoplebank.com/staff/damir/videos/farnborough-2000/wmv/c-17.wmv

There's not much point in carrying large loads if you can't get them to where they're needed.  It all comes down to what you want the aircraft for.

[Woodlouse2002]

And do you really think that America is ever going to go to Russia for military hardware?

[C]

Ya I know, but I was suggesting the AN-225. Could probably get more done for less in gas. And there are things the -225 could pull off that a C-17 just can't do.

And the USAF has the C-5...