The largest aircraft in the world: the history of creation and interesting facts

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The largest aircraft is the Airlander 10 hybrid airship, manufactured by a British company called Hybrid Air Vehicles. It was created specifically for the US Army. And the American military-industrial company known as the Northrop Grumman Corporation was directly involved in the project itself. However, about everything - in order.

Features

The largest aircraft embodies the useful qualities of a balloon (an aircraft lighter than air) and an airplane. Because this airship is a kind of symbiosis. It uses lift to reach a certain height and then propels itself through the air using helium.

The weight of this airship is 10,000 kilograms. It is 92 meters long, 26 meters high and 43.5 meters wide. Its takeoff weight is 20,000 kilograms.

The largest aircraft is set in motionfour 4-liter V8 engines equipped with turbocharging. They consume diesel fuel. Each of them produces 325 hp. With. The cruising speed of the airship is 148 km/h. The flight lasts 5 days in manned mode. If there is no pilot in the airship, then the period will increase to 2 weeks.

History of Creation

The largest aircraft is designed to conduct reconnaissance, observe and reconnaissance of ground forces. The project began to be developed in 2010, on June 14th. The airship was built quite quickly - already in 2012, on August 7, the first test flight was organized. It happened in the state of New Jersey, in the city of Lakehurst. The crew was on board during the flight, which lasted an hour and a half.

Then something strange happened. The US Army in February 2013 decided to abandon the project because it seemed too expensive. Well, Hybrid Air Vehicles decided to buy it back. They paid $301,000 for it. Ho only in 2014, the largest aircraft in the world got its name. It was then that the Airlander took its place at the base of the Royal BBC (in Bedfordshire, by the way). It was decided to use the vessel for civilian purposes.

Interesting facts

It is worth noting that the largest aircraft in the world in March of this year, 2016, came out in a new version. The latest version has received an entertainment purpose. It was decided to name the first copy "Martha Guin". This name, by the way, belongs to the wife of the head of the departmentcompanies. The airship left the hangar for the first time in August, that is, just a couple of months ago. And on the 17th Airlander 10 made its debut flight, which lasted 19 minutes.

As you can see from the presented photos, the largest aircraft in Britain (and in the whole world too) has a very ambiguous and original form, which just begs to be commented on. And even representatives of the company - the creator of the project with humor refer to their creation. Moreover, on their own website, they willingly mention a nickname that sounds like Flying Bum. Literally translated as "flying ass". But it really looks like it.

About the crash

At the end of August this year, 2016, the following headline thundered in many media: “The largest aircraft has crashed!”. Naturally, almost no one remained indifferent. But it turned out that there was only the fall of the largest aircraft in the world. When did it happen? August 24, to be specific. And even then it's hard to call it a fall. There is a video that shows everything perfectly. The vessel at minimum speed gently rests the bow on the ground, slightly repelled as a result. Then it "floats" for about 200 meters and stops.

The fact is that during the landing the gondola of the balloon was damaged. This is the control cabin of the airship, in which the crew and control devices are located. Ho the fall of the largest aircraft turned into world news. And naturallyeveryone was interested in it. Moreover, the information that the largest aircraft crashed was published on the official website of the British Air Force. By the way, the reason was also noted there. It turns out that during a test flight, the airship … crashed into a telegraph pole. Due to this trouble and the subsequent entry of the ship into the ground, serious damage affected the nose of the flying hybrid.

An-225 "Mriya"

Well, really everyone was able to surprise the UK. The largest aircraft looks truly huge and intimidating. But now I would like to pay attention to the An-225 Mriya, which is many times more powerful than an airship. This is the largest aircraft in the world. Differing besides the maximum loading capacity. It was designed in the period from 1984 to 1988 at the Kiev Mechanical Plant. Initially, two models were designed. And one of them is still operated by the cargo company Antonov Airlines.

The plane is 84 meters long, 18.2 meters high. The wingspan is 88.4 meters. An empty plane weighs 250,000 (!) kilograms. The maximum laden weight is 640,000 kg. At the same time, cruising speed is 850 km / h. The flight range is 15,400 kilometers, which takes 300,000 kilograms of fuel. If the load is 200 tons, then the distance will be reduced from 15,400 km to 4,000 km.

An-225 Mriya is powered by a D-18T turbojet 2-circuit engine.

Mi-12

Talking about the largest aircraft, it is worth noting attention and helicopters. Mi-12 is also known under the designation B-12 or the name "Homer". This is the heaviest helicopter, characterized by maximum payload, the design of which was entrusted to the Moscow plant named after M. L. Mile. Its distinctive feature is the screws on the wings of the inverse judgment, which have a lateral arrangement. They are powered by D-25VF engines (of which there are only four).

An empty plane weighs 69,100 kilograms. The maximum takeoff weight is 105,000 kg. At the same time, it can accommodate 196 passengers + 6 crew members. The Mi-12 is also capable of accelerating to a maximum speed of 260 km/h. The flight range is 1000 kilometers.

This aircraft was created in the 60s of the last century. The first flight took place in 1968, on July 10. And the very next year, in February, the ship lifted 31,030 kilograms of cargo into the air (at the same time, the height was 2910 m).

Mi-26

This is the world's largest mass-produced transport helicopter. It is produced at the Rostvertol plant. Its length is 40 meters. The empty helicopter weighs 28,200 kilograms and has a maximum takeoff weight of 56,000 kilograms. Inside is placed 6 crew members, 85 soldiers, 70 paratroopers, 3 doctors and 60 wounded. The maximum speed is 295 km/h. The flight range at maximum refueling is 800 kilometers, and the volume of fuel tanks is 12,000 liters.

Unfortunately, the Mi-26 is known as the victim of the largest helicopter crash in the world. Happeneddisaster in 2002, August 19, in Chechnya. A projectile from an anti-aircraft missile system called "Igla" was launched into the Mi-26. The number of victims is 127.

Other ships

Worth mentioning is the Hughes H-4 Hercules. It holds the record for an aircraft with a wingspan of 98 m. It was designed to transport an army of 750 soldiers over long distances.

A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a living American legend. This missile-carrying bomber has a top speed of 957 km/h and can cover a distance of 16,090 kilometers. It is equipped with an automatic 6-barrel gun M61 "Volcano", and the bomb load can be 31,500 kg. The Boeing 747-8, for example, is a 2-deck passenger aircraft with the longest length of any aircraft.

The German Dornier Do X is also worthy of attention. This is the world's largest passenger flying boat, which was developed in the 20s of the last century. She could accommodate 165 people (including the crew). And the maximum speed, by the way, was 210 km/h.

And finally, the Tu-160 with the beautiful nickname "White Swan". This is the most powerful and largest supersonic aircraft. With a mass of 110,000 kilograms (take-off maximum - 275,000 kg), the Tu-160 can reach a speed of 2220 km / h (at altitude)! And it's really impressive.

There are many more amazing aviation creations. But those that have been listed are the most significant, and all over the world.