Airplanes have come a long way since the Wright brothers’ first flight. Thanks to their ever-increasing size, they can now fly at sonic speeds and carry an impressive number of passengers; in fact, one has even earned the title of the longest airplane worldwide. Keep scrolling to find out which one!
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What Is The World’s Longest Aircraft?
Boeing once more takes the lead in producing the currently longest plane – the Boeing 747-8I, with a remarkable length of 250 feet 2 inches. However, the race for the longest plane in aviation history has seen multiple contenders.
In the past, the Boeing 747 had reigned supreme for almost fifty years at a length of 231 feet 10 inches before AIrbus took over. In 2001, Airbus shook up the game with the A340-600. Its 247-feet measurement easily surpassed the 747 at the time, challenging the latter’s (and Boeing’s) dominance in the skies.
By the middle 2000s, the industry trended towards small twin-engine models like the Boeing 787 and the A350, leaving behind the era of massive quad-engine planes like the A380 Airbus.
Boeing took this chance to finally respond to Airbus’ 2001 record with the new Boeing 747-8I. It immediately reclaimed the title of the longest plane for the following decade.
Will Boeing 747 Always Stay The Longest?
In an unexpected twist, the title of the longest aircraft will change within the next two years! Sure, the Boeing 747-8 still holds the record, but its younger sibling, the Boeing 777-9, is set to take flight by 2025.
There’s only a tiny difference in length between these massive planes — about 2.6 feet (0.8 meters). Specifically, the 777-9 measures 250 ft 9 in (76.7 meters), slightly longer than the 747-8 (250 ft 2 in or 76.2 meters). This small margin aside, the new 777-9 offers all the perks of 747 but with better fuel efficiency, thanks to its two powerful engines instead of four.
Another concerning question arises: Will the 777-9 become the longest jet-liner ever built for commercial services?
While the current trend seems to favor smaller, more efficient twin-engine jets, important factors like growing demand, pilot shortages, and airport slot limitations may still leave room for massive jet models. Let’s see how the future unfolds.
5 Other Long Planes In The World
1. Antonov An-22 Antei (190 feet)
The An-22, also known as Antei, used to be crowned the heaviest aircraft in the world for quite a long time.
Its quad-engine design features, impressive range, and remarkable length (190 feet) firmly established its spot among other aviation giants. First introduced in the late 1900s, the Antei is now operated by the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines (specializing in heavy cargo transportation) and Russian Aerospace Forces.
2. Airbus Beluga XL (206 feet)
After over two hundred test flights, Beluga XL finally completed its maiden operational flight four years ago (2020). This mammoth aircraft is now officially part of Airbus’s extensive fleet, transporting oversized cargo worldwide.
This gigantic model measures 206 feet in length and boasts the biggest cross-section for any cargo jet worldwide. It’s powered by a couple of Rolls-Royce 700 Trent turbofan engines and, thus, easily floats in the air despite its hulking size.
Another outstanding improvement over its predecessor, the A300-600 Super Transporter, is its ability to handle two enormous A350 XWB wings. Meanwhile, the original Beluga could only carry one.
3. Antonov Ruslan An-124 (226.8 feet)
Next is the Antonov Ruslan An-124, a Ukrainian-produced giant known for its maximum range, cargo volume, and length (226.8 feet).
It was designed primarily for military use but has transitioned into a commercial aircraft. Even more impressively, it’s holding the title of the world’s heaviest cargo jet still in service!
The Russian Aerospace Force is among its main operators. However, in recent years, civilian cargo airlines like Volga-Dnepr (Russia) and Antonov Airlines (Ukraine) have also relied on it for their heavy lifting needs.
4. Scaled Stratolaunch Roc (238 feet)
Stratolaunch is a unique aircraft type with two connected fuselages (238 feet long each) and 28 wheels. One fuselage houses the cockpit, where the pilots, co-pilots, and flight engineers sit, while the other holds all the vital data systems.
Roc took its first flight in 2019 and has been owned by CCM (Cerberus Capital Management) since. By last year, it had completed 10 successful flights, three of which involved hypersonic test aircraft (thereby marking it as fully operational).
5. Lockheed Martin Super Galaxy C-5M (247.1 feet)
We have the Lockheed Martin Super Galaxy C-5M, a massive aircraft in service with the USAF (United States Air Force) since 1969. With its incredible length (247.1 feet) and impressive capacity to carry up to 180,000 lb, C-5M is integral to numerous military missions and humanitarian aid across the globe.
What Is The Shortest Passenger Plane?
The shortest plane in the skies today is the A318 by Airbus, measuring 103 feet (or 31.44 meters). Air France and a few other airlines still use six of them. Surprisingly, it’s even shorter than the Airbus A220, which is technically smaller but measures 114 feet 9 inches (35 meters).
Turning to Boeing, the shortest plane in their lineup is the 737-100, coming in at 94 feet (29 meters). However, none of the 31 Boeing 737-100 planes are flying anymore; the ones left are mostly kept in museums as part of historical records.
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Conclusion
The Boeing 747 still holds its title safely, but all eyes are now drawn to the future release of the Boeing 777-9. With Boeing and Airbus keeping the competition alive, we can look forward to another groundbreaking invention that will shake up the aviation industry.
