The military is known for their good equipment and of course that includes their planes. The commercial passenger planes will seem very small when you see these huge military planes. Some are even bigger than a five-story building. Here are the largest military aircraft that have ever seen the sky.
1. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
The C-5 Galaxy is truly breathtaking. It is one of the largest military aircraft in the world. It belongs to the U.S. Air Force and can easily carry heavy loads. The price range for the production of such an aircraft is from about $100.37 million to about $224.29 million.
2. Antonov An-124
In the 1980s, this giant was designed by the Antonov design bureau in the Ukrainian SSR. This 226-foot airplane has an empty weight of 180 tons. More than 50 machines of this type have been produced and used all over the world. For a full thirty years it was the heaviest cargo plane in the world.
3. HK-1
The HK 1, also known as the “Spruce Goose”, was made almost entirely of birchwood. It was actually intended as a transatlantic transport aircraft in World War II. However, it was not completed in time. There was only one prototype and that was flown only one time. Now it is in the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.
4. Blohm & Voss BV 238
The Blohm & Voss BV 238 was built by its namesake Blohm & Voss during the World War II. It was a German flying boat and on its maiden flight in 1944 it was the heaviest aircraft ever built. This aircraft had an empty weight of 120,769 pounds. However, since it was very costly to produce, only one was built.
5. Kalinin K-7
The Kalinin K-7 was built in the Soviet Union in the 1930s. The aircraft had large underwing nacelles that incorporated both a fixed landing gear and machine gun turrets. The Kalinin K-7 had its maiden flight in 1933, but crashed the same year after its seventh flight due to structural failure.
6. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
The C-17 Globemaster III was developed by McDonnell Douglas and produced from 1991 to 2015. The machine is gigantic and one of the largest military aircraft ever. One copy cost 218 million dollars. It was used for airlift, which included airdrops of other heavy aircraft or people, and medical evacuations.
7. Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 was built during the Cold War. There are still 1,000 in service worldwide. The aircraft originally developed for the USSR. Actually, the four-engine multi-role turbine aircraft was planned as a commercial cargo plane, but was then taken over by the Russian military. This aircraft can transport some of the heaviest military vehicles in the world.
8. Kawanishi H8K
The Kawanishi H8K was a flying boat of the Imperial Japanese Navy and was capable of very long flights and long distances. Its task was mainly the patrol over the sea. Moreover, the aircraft flew alone over the oceans without any support. During the war, she was nicknamed “Emily” by the Americans.
9. Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
The C-130J first took off for the U.S. Air Force in 1996 and has been delivered to 15 other nations. The name “Super Hercules” lives up to its name. The four-engine turboprop transport aircraft has been in sustained production longer than any other military aircraft. It is one of the longest built aircraft in the world.
10. Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 Stratotanker is a four-engine tanker developed in the 1950s for the United States Air Force (USAF). During the Vietnam War, the 136-foot aircraft was frequently used by the Americans. The KC-135 and the Boeing 707 were both developed from the same aircraft, the Boeing 367-80. That is fascinating.
11. Xian H-6 Bomber
In 1958, the H-6 bomber was first delivered to the Chinese military. While the Chinese at the end did not get too much use out of this aircraft, the Egyptian and Iraqi forces did. The Egyptian Air Force used this bomber until 2000, while the Iraqi Air Force retired the aircraft in 1991.
12. NASA Super Guppy
This is truly an impressive aircraft. It was the first plane produced by Aero Spacelines. Just by looking at this giant, you can see that this aircraft was produced for cargo transportation. NASA Super Guppy was the successor of Pregnant Guppy. It is probably clear how it got its name.
13. Airbus Beluga
Here you can also immediately see where it got its name: Airbus A300-600ST, or Airbus Beluga, really does look like a Beluga whale. The wide-body aircraft was built to carry oversized cargo. It entered service in 1995. This giant has a 124-foot-long cargo hold and can carry about 52 tons.
14. TU-154 Special Missions Aircraft
The Russian TU-154 Special Missions Aircraft was introduced in the early 1970s. Today, the aircraft is popular with Russian passenger airlines. The medium-range aircraft is equipped with three engines and was used for many years in the USSR. It was also a popular model for passenger flights in the former Soviet states until the mid-2000s.
15. Kawasaki XC-2
Take a look at this impressive aircraft. The X-2 was manufactured by Kawasaki for the Japan Air Self Defense Force and is used as a military transport aircraft. It has a maximum takeoff weight of about 141 tons, simply incredible. Currently, the aircraft is used for disaster relief as well as international missions.
16. Boeing E-3 Sentry
This plane looks really fascinating. The Boeing E-3 Sentry is used as an Airborne Warning and Control System. It is used by the U.S. Air Force for all-weather surveillance and control, for communications and continuous updates. By 1992, a total of 68 had been built. Then production was discontinued.
17. Boeing B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress was manufactured between 1943 and 1946. It was developed specifically for use in World War II. In fact, this aircraft was the most expensive weapons project produced by the US during World War II. The aircraft, with its four-engine propellers, was so effective during World War II that it was also used in the Korean War.
18. Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a fighter aircraft of the Russian Air Force. It was first used in1987 and is currently the largest and heaviest fighter aircraft in service. It is a supersonic aircraft, making it the largest and heaviest military aircraft capable of exceeding a speed of Mach 2.
19. Airbus A400M Atlas
The Airbus A400M Altas looks really impressive in the sky, doesn’t it? It is a large European military transport aircraft that was actually developed by Airbus Military for use as a commercial airliner. The aircraft can be used not only for transport, but also for medical evacuations or refueling other aircraft.
20. Messerschmitt ME 323
Look at this impressive colossus. The Messerschmitt ME 323, also known as the “Giant”, was a transport aircraft of the German air force. “Giant”, as the name suggests, was the largest land-based transport aircraft of World War II. A total of 213 examples of this aircraft were built during the war.
21. The Scaled Composites Stratolaunch
The Scales Composites Stratolaunch was introduced in 2017 and was built with the intention of being able to carry air-launch missiles into orbit. By wingspan, it can actually be compared to an American football field, making it the largest aircraft. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 590 tons and can carry a 250-ton payload.
22. Antonov An-22
The Antonov An-22 was produced between 1966 and 1976. The aircraft was developed in the USSR by the Antonov Design Bureau and has four turboprop engines powering the propellers. The Antonov An-22 was the world’s first wide-body transport aircraft. Seeing such a machine in the sky must be quite intimidating.
23. Linke-Hofmann R.II
A plane from history: The Linke Hofmann was built in 1917 and can even be traced back to the early days of aviation. These models are among the first bombers ever built. They were created when Germany was still the German Empire. A total of two of these planes were built.
24. Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 was built for cargo transport and for transporting soldiers. It is the largest helicopter ever produced in such a large number. It originated in Soviet production, but is still in use today in some regions of the world. The Mil Mi-26 can carry up to 20 tons of cargo.
25. Airbus A380-800
The Airbus A380-800 may not technically be a military aircraft, but there’s no denying that this plane really is a giant in the sky. The double-decker aircraft can carry up to 850 passengers, but usually only takes about 450 to 550 passengers. The Airbus A380-800 is popular with the United Arab Emirates.
26. Myasishchev VM-T
The Myasishchev WM-T Atlant was a Soviet transport aircraft for the Buran and Energiya space programs. It was realized in 1978 by conversions of the Myasishchev M-4/3M bomber developed by OKB Myasishchev. The VM-T in the Name of the plane stands for Vladimir Myasishchev. It had its maiden flight in 1982.
27. Antonov AN-225 Mriya
Look at this giant. The Antonov AN-225 Mriya is the heaviest and longest aircraft ever built. It was originally built to transport the Buran spaceplane for the USSR in the 1980s. The Antonov AN-225 Mriya can take to the air with a maximum weight of 640 tons. That is really impressive.
28. Convair B-36 Peacemaker
The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was a US long-range bomber. With its six piston engines, it was the largest bomber ever flown by the United States Air Force. It was used from 1949 to 1959. To this day, it remains the largest piston engine production aircraft ever built. The wingspan was 230 feet.
29. Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI
Let’s travel back in time a little. The Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI was one of the largest wooden aircraft built in the early 1900s. The four-engine bomber was built in Germany and served in World War I. It was one of the first military aircraft with enclosed cockpits. A total of 18 were built, of which only six survived the war.
30. Convair XC-99
This picture is incredibly impressive. The Convair XC-99 is not only one of the largest aircraft in the world, but also one of the oldest. The aircraft had room for 400 fully equipped soldiers on the double cargo decks. This giant had its maiden flight in 1947 and retired in 1957.
31. Martin JRM Mars
This aircraft immediately catches your eye. The Martin JRM Mars was the largest seaplane with its four engines and was used by the Americans and other Allied forces during World War II. Despite their effectiveness, only seven were built. After the war, they were used for a time as firefighting aircraft.
32. Caspian Sea Monster
Looking at this picture, you can see why this aircraft bears its name. In the 1960s, the Caspian Sea Monster was built by the Soviet Union. In 1980, it was damaged in a test accident. Until that time, it was the heaviest and largest aircraft in the world. Just look how small the crane looks next to this giant.
33. Junkers JU-390
This aircraft was revolutionary for its time (1943-1945). The Junkers JU 390 was built in Germany and served for only two years during World War II. It had six engines, making it unique. The JU-390 served the Germans as a long-range bomber as well as a transport plane, and patrol plane.
34. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range strategic bomber. It can fly up to 8.8000 miles without refueling. The United States Air Force has been using it since the 1950s. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress can carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons. Could you imagine what it’s like to fly a plane like that?
35. Douglas XB-19
This aircraft on the picture has long since had its day. The Douglas XB-19 was the largest aircraft built and used by the United States Army Air Force until 1949. However, it was scrapped in 1949 as better and better technologies emerged. Originally, the Douglas XB-19 was used to test various design elements for oversize bombers.
36. Antonov An-12
The Antonov An-12 had its maiden flight in 1957 and was officially built for mass use starting in 1959. More than 900 of these aircraft were actually built until Soviet production of them came to a halt. It is often compared to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules in both size and function.
37. HAV Airlander 10
The HAV Airlander 10 is a hybrid helium airship. It was built for the American military. However, the US abandoned the project, and it was handed over to Hybrid Air Vehicles from the UK. Can you believe, that this airship is currently the largest flying object in the world? Simply impressive.
38. XB-70 Valkyrie
The XB-70 Valkyrie was a nuclear-armed bomber and was built in North America. This bomber was developed for the US Air Force Strategic Air Command. It could fly up to Mach 3 and even faster, covering thousands of miles. The XB-70 Valkyrie was so advanced at the time that it seemed almost indestructible.
39. Xian Y-20
The Xian Y-20 is a Chinese transport aircraft. This plane was developed by Xian Aircraft Corporation (XAC), but with Russian and Ukrainian support. It is the first heavy airlifter, that was developed in China. The Y-20 had its maiden flight in 2013. In 2016, this military transport aircraft entered service with the Chinese Air Force.
40. Hughes XH-17
The Hughes XH-17, also known as the “Flying Crane,” had its maiden flight in 1952. Its rotor was 129 feet long, making it the largest ever used. To this day, the record for the size of the engine has not been broken. It could fly with a weight of over 50,000 pounds.
