They feature the latest aviation technology, including more fuel-efficient engines and wider bodies for more cabin space. Photo by Dan Nevill/Wikipediaĭue to go into service in 2025, the new Boeing 777-9 and the freight version, the 777-8, are very impressive planes. Boeing 777X - 71.75m (when airborne) The Boeing 777-9 pictured on its roll-out, in March 2019. It is also one of the most successful and recognisable planes in the skies. For a decade it was the longest airliner in the world, before being succeeded by the Boeing 777X.Īlthough showing its age in some areas, the 747 can still fly 467 passengers around the world in comfort. The venerable 747 is still going strong after over 50 years in service, and the 747-8 variant is the biggest version of all. Boeing 747-8 - 68.45m A cargo version of the Boeing 747-8F, photographed in the skies above New York, USA. However, its huge cargo hold can hold tanks and other large military equipment and transport them anywhere in the world. It is well-known for being incredibly fuel-inefficient and unreliable among pilots and operators. In many areas though, the C5 is beginning to show its age. Updated engines and systems mean that a version of this plane will still be in service in 2040, which is a very long and impressive career by any measure. The C5 Galaxy is a military transport plane that has been in use with the US Air Force since 1969. Lockheed C5 Galaxy - 67.89m A Lockheed C5 Galaxy takes off. Only four Dreamlifters have been built to date, and the plane has become synonymous with transporting medical supplies around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the sheer size and versatility of this freighter have led to a long service life. This wide-bodied cargo plane was designed mainly to transport parts of another plane (The Boeing 787 Dreamliner) from factories to final assembly plants. Boeing 747 Dreamlifter - 64.44m A Boeing 747 Dreamlifter takes off from Paine Field Airport in Everett, Washington, USA. However, due to inefficiency and more modern aircraft taking its place, the jet is being phased out of service around the world. This means it has been able to fly non-stop from London to Perth, Australia, on one tank of fuel. It may be getting on a bit in commercial jet terms, but the A340-500 still has an impressive range of 14,484km. Airbus A340-500 - 63.45m An Airbus A340-500 of the Royal Thai Airforce takes off from Chiangmai Airport, Thailand. Another fun fact – the Dreamliner has the biggest cabin windows of any commercial jet, meaning that even passengers in the middle of the plane can get a glimpse of the horizon. Its clever wing design and state-of-the-art engines mean that is designed to be 20 per cent more efficient than the Boeing 767 it replaced. With the help of the jet stream, one 787-8 was unofficially clocked at a scarcely-believable 1289km/h in 2019. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner first entered service in 2011 and is one of the fastest commercial aircraft in the skies, reaching maximum propulsion speeds of 944km/h. Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images Boeing Dreamliner - 60.12m United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft as seen during take off from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. And thank you for flying with BBC Science Focus. So, ladies and gentlemen, please stow away your luggage and prepare to take a journey through the largest planes by wingspan in the air today. Improvements in efficiency and speed mean that passengers can travel the world quicker and in more comfort than ever before. Some of these huge planes can even carry trains on board, though probably not as carry-on items.Īircraft manufacturers are still pushing the boundaries when it comes to design. In a little over one hundred years, humans have gone from barely being able to stay airborne for more than a few seconds to flying hundreds of people around the world. Aeroplanes are a modern marvel of engineering.
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