What is the Largest Airplane?

There are a number of ways in which the largest airplane could be determined. Most record-keeping agencies agree that the AN-225 Mriya, an aircraft developed by the Antonov Design Bureau, is the largest airplane in the world. However, a few other craft vie for the title, including the infamous Spruce Goose and the Airbus A380. It's a bit difficult to track down an AN-225, since the aircraft has not been mass-produced and it is only used for specialty cargo, but the plane is still in active use, so most authorities consider giving it credit as the largest aircraft in the world. The maximum takeoff weight of the AN-225 is 1.3 million pounds (600,000 kilograms), and the plane has a wingspan of 290 feet (88 meters). The plane can be configured to carry a variety of cargo, including cargo mounted to the superstructure of the plane, as in the case of space shuttles which have been transported by the AN-225. As of 2008, only one AN-225 was in operation, although there were plans to ...  more