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Aircraft technology continues to develop. Photo/Reuters
WASHINGTON – Airplanes are a technology that is developing very rapidly. In just over a hundred years, humans have gone from barely being able to stay in the air for more than a few seconds to flying hundreds of people around the world.
Some of these large planes can even carry carriages, although perhaps not as carry-on. Aircraft manufacturers are still pushing boundaries when it comes to design. Improved efficiency and speed mean passengers can travel the world faster and more comfortably than before.
Here are the 10 largest airplanes in the world, according to BBC Science Focus and Science Focus.
10. Boeing Dreamliner – 60,12 m
Photo/Reuters
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner first entered service in 2011 and is one of the fastest commercial airplanes in the sky.
The aircraft is capable of traveling with a maximum propulsion speed of 944km/hour.
Its wing design and advanced engines meant that the plane was designed to be 20% more efficient than the Boeing 767 it replaced. Another fun fact, the Dreamliner has the largest cabin window of any commercial jet. That allows even passengers in the middle of the plane to catch a glimpse of the horizon.
9. Airbus A340-500 – 63,45 m
Photo/Reuters
This may be a slight increase in terms of commercial jets, but the A340-500 still has an impressive range of 14,484 km. This means the plane can fly non-stop from London to Perth, Australia, on one tank of fuel.
However, due to inefficiencies and more modern aircraft replacing them, the jet was phased out of service worldwide.
8. Boeing 747 Dreamlifter – 64,44 m
This wide-body cargo aircraft is primarily designed to transport parts of another aircraft (Boeing 787 Dreamliner) from the factory to the final assembly plant. But the size and versatility of this freighter has led to a long service life.
Only four Dreamlifters have been built to date, and they have been synonymous with the transport of medical supplies around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Lockheed Galaxy C5 – 67.89 m
The C5 Galaxy is a military transport aircraft that has been in service with the US Air Force since 1969. Updated engines and systems mean this version of the aircraft will still be in service until 2040. It makes very long voyages and is impressive for its size.
