Modern man cannot imagine his existence without airplanes. To date, more than two thousand aircraft have been designed, which have their own characteristics and purpose. They differ in size, functionality and support. The difference is amazing. If you compare a small plane designed for one pilot and a passenger airliner, the first will seem like just a speck of dust against the background of the second. Today there is the largest Boeing in the world - the Boeing 747.
The Boeing 747 is the first large passenger aircraft to become popular around the world. Pilots and passengers even come up with various nicknames for it; for almost 40 years, the Boeing 747 has held the record for passenger transportation. To date, there is only one record left behind him - this is the maximum length for an aircraft. The Boeing 747 first saw the light of day in 1969, and its history began from then on. Specialists and designers are still designing and improving this model to this day.
Background to the Boeing 747
In the early 1960s, the world began to actively develop in terms of trade, large, large-scale air transportation was needed. The predecessor of the Boeing 747, the Boeing 707, could no longer cope with the volume of traffic. The flow of people wishing to fly quickly and comfortably increased every day, Boeing designers began to develop an analogue.
Joe Sutter in 1965 was the main developer who explored the consumer market as much as possible. After his research, he was the senior designer in charge of the Boeing 747. In those years, there was no bet on passenger transportation; inventors dreamed of sonic airplanes. Therefore, from the very beginning, the Boeing 747 was a cargo aircraft and only then a cargo-passenger aircraft. The designers designed all the aircraft as cargo planes, and this is precisely what they focused on. They freed up space as much as possible, and even moved the cockpits to accommodate more cargo.
In 1966, Boeing designers first showed a mock-up of a new aircraft labeled 747. In its original form, the aircraft had two decks, but many problems arose with this design. Soon an option was proposed: to make it in the form of a capsule, enlarging the sides. After the final version was presented, an order was received for the production of the Boeing 747 from PanAm in the amount of 25 units.
This company made some changes to the design of the aircraft, thanks to it the length of the wings and the design of the landing gear were changed, and it was also decided to increase the weight to 308,443 kilograms.
Main characteristics
The Boeing 747 has four jet engines, an interesting body and large dimensions. The main advanced characteristics set Boeing apart from other aircraft, and, undoubtedly, today it is the leader in transportation and the most sought-after aircraft in the world. It is worth highlighting some perfections:
- Aerodynamics have been improved.
- New solutions make it possible to reduce inductive resistance.
- The interior design has been changed, a comfortable cabin for the crew and a comfortable cabin for passengers.
One of the noticeable improvements to this aircraft are the wings, which have changed in size and become more functional. After a number of changes, the wings became 6 feet high, the airfoil was slightly turned up and protruded outward. After all the innovations, flight duration has increased and fuel consumption has decreased. Due to these savings, Boeing has reduced fuel consumption by up to 4%. If you calculate the total amount for all time, it turns out to be a huge amount. The Boeing 747 is the fastest passenger aircraft, whose speed can reach 940 km/h.
Specifications
The Boeing 747 is much more spacious than its counterparts due to the modified deck. These innovations make it possible to accommodate 1,075 passengers, with high levels of comfort in both business and economy class. Today, the cockpit has also been completely changed: all instruments have been replaced with new digital elements, due to which the number of pilots has been reduced to two people, and the control of the aircraft has become simplified. All important information was displayed on the LCD screen.
On board the aircraft, for ease of movement, straight staircases were designed rather than spiral ones, which made movement as easy as possible.
The interior of the aircraft has also changed. Now passengers had more free space, which made flights more comfortable. Shelves for luggage and personal items have been increased in volume. In addition, special broadcasting systems for watching films and videos were installed on board the aircraft.
Due to the fact that the upper deck was lengthened, several additional exits were installed on it. The parts of the new Boeing are updated engines from well-known manufacturers, characterized by good quality and endurance. Thanks to this, they received a Boeing with a maximum speed of 940 km/h and a weight of 350 tons.
Boeing 747 technical data:
- The total length of the aircraft is 70.7 meters.
- The height of the aircraft is 19.5 meters.
- The wingspan is 120 meters.
- The width of the cabin for passengers is 6 meters.
- Wing area – 1022 sq.m.
- Speed – 940 km/h.
- Flight range – 12500 km.
- Weight without passengers - 175,000 kg.
- The height inside the aircraft is 13755 m.
Economy class has 580 seats. The aircraft crew included two pilots and one engineer. Due to the popularity of the model, Boeing was invented for cargo transportation and Boeing passenger, but with a shorter flight duration.
The purpose of the Boeing 747
Since the start of Boeing production, carrier companies have been distrustful of the airliner. At the same time, some organizations began to develop smaller aircraft with three engines. Many believed that they would be able to displace the Boeing, because the large dimensions of the Boeing called into question its efficiency on long-haul routes. Also, due to its large dimensions, the infrastructure of some airports could not match the record holder. Of course, passenger transportation companies were concerned about the high fuel consumption that the Boeing required to fly. Some airlines immediately refused to purchase the aircraft, fearing that ticket prices would rise due to high fuel consumption.
Boeing 747 – king in the sky
Companies' concerns about this were justified, because in 1970, during the fuel crisis, fuel prices jumped sharply. Due to this, passenger traffic has been reduced to the maximum extent possible. The Boeing 747 went on flights half empty. Some airlines resorted to a trick: they decided to remove several rows of passenger seats and install bars and musical instruments in these places in the hope of attracting as many passengers as possible in this way. But, as practice has shown, this turned out to be not enough. Many of the airlines converted the planes into cargo planes or resold them to other owners.
In populated countries today, the Boeing 747 is used on short-haul flights or to destinations that are in high demand. Of course, the Boeing 747 is still used for long flights. The national company of Japan had the largest number of Boeings, namely 73 units. At the moment, all equipment has been written off, and the last flight of the Boeing took place in March 2011.
In Russia, the Boeing 747 was operated by the largest private airline, Transaero, which ceased operations in 2015, and by the largest cargo carrier, AirBridgeCargo.
There was a time when people only dreamed of flying in the sky; people did not imagine that they could soar in the sky like a bird. But with the advent of airplanes, flying among the clouds became a reality. Scientists and designers around the world did a colossal amount of work before the world saw the first samples of flying “machines.” So, among them there are leaders, models that are superior to their competitors in transporting people or equipment. Let's talk about what are the largest planes in the world flying nowadays.
It’s hard to believe that these multi-ton machines fly at such great speed.
Now the largest aircraft in the world in passenger transportation is called the Airbus A380-800. It appeared in 2005, displacing the Boeing 747, which had been in the lead for 36 long years. The length of the Airbus A380-800 is 73 meters, the wingspan is almost 80 meters, the height of the giant is 24 meters, and the weight of the machine is 280 tons. The maximum number of passengers carried on an Airbus A380-800 can reach 853 people on a charter flight!
Before Airbus was released, about 12 billion euros and 10 years of painstaking work by designers were spent on its development. Without refueling, this aircraft can fly a distance of 15,400 kilometers. The Airbus A380-800 is a very fuel-efficient aircraft among airliners of its class. To ensure low fuel consumption, the shape of the wing and body must be made very precisely. To achieve such precision, the world's most precise milling machines from Japan are used, which were developed specifically for the production of this aircraft. Fuel consumption per 100 km for 3 passengers is only three liters.
It should be noted that the Airbus has more capacity compared to the Boeing 747, while its production costs 15% less. The first airline to operate the largest passenger aircraft in the world was Singapore Airlines. The airline served the Singapore-Sydney flight with this aircraft.
Below you can see in the photo the cabin of an Airbus A380-800 economy class.
Record holder for flights without refueling
The Boeing 777-300ER, developed in 1990 and made its first test flight in 1994, can fly over distances of over twenty thousand kilometers without refueling. This is the world's first airliner, during the design of which not a single drawing was drawn on paper. Virtual computer assembly was used for the first time, which made it possible to avoid typical joining errors at the design stage. With the old technology using drawings, these errors were identified at the stage of pilot production, and full-scale modeling, which was very expensive for aviation. The software used was CATIA, one of the first 3D modeling programs.
The airliner has the most powerful GE90-115B turbofan engines known to date; this model has an increased maximum take-off weight and has additional fuel tanks. The introduction of this modification made it possible to reduce fuel consumption by 1.4%, which was especially important at the height of the fuel crisis.
It also holds the record for the largest twin-engine jetliner to carry passengers, which it can accommodate 305-550 people.
The airplane with the largest wingspan
The aircraft with the largest wingspan, the Hughes H-4, was built from wood in 1947 for military use. The plane is built entirely from birch plywood. Structural elements were cut out and bent according to templates. The aircraft's capacity is 750 people, not including equipment. The wooden giant is now on display in a museum in Oregon, its parameters are:
- Aircraft height - 24 meters;
- The length of the aircraft is over 66 meters;
- The wingspan is 98 meters.
The largest cargo plane
The largest cargo aircraft in the world has remained the An-225 Mriya for many years. This huge machine was designed in Ukraine back in 1988, and is still used in military transport cargo transportation. The first flight of the Mriya took place on December 21, 1988.
The characteristics of this aircraft are as follows:
- the length of this giant is 73 meters;
- height is just over 24 meters (the height of an eight-story building);
- weight is 250 thousand kilograms;
- the total carrying capacity is 600 thousand kg.
The largest cargo plane in the world
The plane has six engines. At the moment, only one copy of the An-225 has been built in the world; it is at the disposal of Antonov Airlines. It was originally planned that the An-225 would help deliver rocket parts to the cosmodrome, because At that time, the Buran space program was actively developing. Now they are building another similar aircraft, but its construction has not yet been completed.
On board the An-225, up to 88 people can easily be accommodated to accompany the cargo. The cockpit can accommodate 6 people. As they say, which aircraft is the largest in the world in size will not be as cool in performance. In Mriya, absolutely all control systems are repeated (duplicated) four times.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of production of some elements, after 25 years it is impossible to produce another such aircraft. But even one copy allows you to constantly earn money from transporting goods that previously could only be delivered by land or sea. In addition to commercial transportation, the aircraft is used to deliver cargo in emergency situations, disasters, earthquakes, etc.
The largest mass-produced cargo aircraft
Military transport aircraft C-5 Galaxy
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy was considered the largest transport and cargo aircraft until 1982. it is now operated by the US Army and can accommodate up to 270 soldiers. The aircraft was put into service back in 1968. Over the years, it has proven its effectiveness and excellent performance properties. A lot of improvements were made to the design, the most important change being the development of a completely new wing, because the old design showed rapid wear and tear.
The aircraft will continue to be produced; a complete transition to digital modern technologies of control systems and all avionics is planned. The aircraft without refueling can fly over five thousand kilometers and rise to a height of 10 km, the maximum speed developed by the machine is 920 km.
In contact with
There are a huge number of different airliners in the world, but the Airbus A380-800 is the aircraft that is really worth paying attention to. There are not very many similar airliners on the planet. The fact is that this is the largest passenger wide-body aircraft, equipped with two decks. Let's consider what technical characteristics the A380 has, as well as the layout of the A380 aircraft cabin.
In order to understand how large and spacious the Emirates A380 is, you need to understand its technical characteristics in detail. Let's start with how much the Airbus A380 weighs. So, the mass of the aircraft is:
- without passengers - 276 thousand kg;
- without passengers and fuel - 361 thousand kg;
As for other parameters, the capacity of the Airbus A380 is 853 people in a single-class model and 525 passengers in a three-class cabin. The length of the aircraft is 72.7 meters, height – 24 meters, and wingspan – 79 meters.
Extra options:
- wing area – 844 m2;
- take-off length – 2000 m;
- run length – 3000 m;
- a path capable of covering 15,000 km when fully loaded;
- fuel tank capacity – 310 thousand liters.
This airliner has a special cockpit for pilots, where the most modern technologies have been introduced. The A380 is equipped with a glass cockpit and remote control of the steering wheel when operating electric drives. As for the devices on which data is displayed, this aircraft has 9 interchangeable LCD screens, of which:
- 2 are for navigation data;
- 2 main ones for flight information;
- 2 indicators of the functioning of fuel units;
- 2 – multifunctional;
- 1 main one, which shows general information.
If we talk about engines, they are super powerful and modern. Mixtures of aviation kerosene with GTL from environmentally friendly gas are used as fuel. Composite materials are used in the design of this aircraft. Weldable aluminum alloys are also used.
Detailed diagram of the Airbus A380-800 aircraft
As for the noise level, the Emirates A380 engines are practically inaudible. This makes it significantly superior to the Boeing 747. The airliner also has high air pressure, which is another of its features. Both decks are connected by a comfortable and spacious staircase. Although it is not easy for passengers whose seats are located near these stairs, because it is very difficult to fall asleep if you are constantly walking. But some still buy tickets for them.
The cabin width is 5.9-6.5 m. In the one-class version, passengers are offered 700 seats, and in the three-class version – 555 seats. There is also a shower, a lounge, a bar and a store on board. Let’s take a closer look at the layout of the cabin of this aircraft, as well as the best places for long-distance flights.
Airbus A380-800 Emirates: interior layout
Thanks to the photo of the Airbus A380 interior attached to this article, you can see how the passenger seats are located. The ship has two floors in total. On the 2nd there are seats for first and business class tourists. The 1st floor is designed for those flying in economy class. First class is more comfortable. Even those passengers who are having a hard time traveling in this class will be able to relax and forget about their poor health.
Rows 1-4 are just used for first class. There, everyone can reach their destination in comfort, because everyone is accommodated in a separate compartment with a door, thanks to which they can be completely private. Travelers also have comfortable chairs that can fold out 180 degrees, thus transforming into a bed. In addition, the first class cabin has free Internet access, sockets for recharging mobile gadgets, a minibar and, of course, individual lighting, which allows you to read books, magazines, and newspapers.
Those who have ordered food in advance have the opportunity to have a hearty lunch or dinner with gourmet dishes, as well as taste cold or warm drinks. Among other things, there is a shower cabin where you can freshen up. First class feels like a real five-star all-inclusive hotel. In such comfort, the flight passes unnoticed. Moreover, there are places where it is especially convenient to sit. You need to know about this if you want to get to the right place as comfortably as possible. So, the most convenient places are those further away from the kitchen and toilet, since they are always quiet, calm and cozy: this is where you can read books, listen to music or communicate via email.
Travelers who choose business class are seated in rows 6-26. These places are also particularly comfortable. If you want to fly easily and discreetly, then business class is a very suitable option. The only thing, It is not advisable to occupy rows 7, 20, 21 and 23, since then you will have to sit near the toilets, bar and kitchen. There are always a lot of people near these premises, and the activity does not decrease even at night, which is why it is unlikely that you will be able to fully relax. The remaining places are more comfortable and have all the necessary amenities. Passengers can charge their gadgets, watch movies, play video games, chat on social networks and much more thanks to Internet access.
Economy class is an option for those who want to save money on their flight. For such passengers there are as many as 399 seats in rows 43-88. Of course, it’s difficult to call them comfortable. However, all of these seats have outlets for charging electronic devices, a separate screen and a video and audio entertainment system. However, those who want to get to their desired destination in silence will have to get used to some noise, passenger activity and conversations. But for a special fee, you can connect to the Internet, turn on loud music, put on headphones and “go crazy” until your arrival. The rows are spaced 80 cm apart.
Interior layout
Airbus A380-800 cabin layout: the best seats in economy class
If we talk about the most comfortable seats here, these are the seats in rows 45, 54 and 82. The 45th row features extra legroom for a more comfortable commute. This advantage is especially noticeable if the flight is long. The 54th row also allows you to stretch your legs freely, lean back, and there is also a kitchen and no restroom, so unpleasant odors are not as noticeable as on the 67th row. Row 82 is reminiscent of row 45 in that it offers the opportunity to stretch your legs and visit the galley.
As for other seats, the 43rd row is considered one of the most comfortable, but due to the fact that the seats there do not recline and the armrests are blocked, it is not included in the list of the most comfortable. Also, you can constantly hear the flight attendants talking and walking there, because there is a room for on-board conductors nearby.
Row 50 is located near the emergency exit block. If you are afraid of flying, then the seats in this row are just for you. In the event of a disaster, you will have the opportunity to be the first to leave the emergency aircraft. However, the seats there are not very comfortable, since they do not recline. Passengers in row 51 are also limited in this opportunity. That is why the 50th and 51st rows can safely be called the most uncomfortable, since a sitting position for 4-5 hours causes great discomfort. The seats in row 55 are also uncomfortable due to the lack of legroom.
Some disadvantages are also present in rows such as 78, 79, 65 and 66. They are located near the toilets, and the seats are not equipped with reclining backs.
Thus, getting to such places is extremely inconvenient, especially since unpleasant odors and constant queues in the toilet make it difficult to rest. Seats in row 67 are suitable for those traveling as a couple. The fact is that there are only two chairs in a row, and there is also the opportunity to recline your legs and straighten your knees. However, there is also a minus - the proximity of restrooms, which prevents you from getting a good night's sleep.
One of the not entirely comfortable seats is in the 87th row, because there are also restrooms nearby. The seats in the 88th row are restless due to non-reclining backrests, stairs and toilets, which do not allow for a full rest. That is why you should not purchase tickets for these places. But they are cheaper, so they are chosen by fans of budget transportation.
Parameters of seats in the cabin
If we go deeper into the numbers, there are 12 seats in first class, 66 in business class, and 399 seats in economy class. The seat spacing in first class is 83 inches, in business class it is 74.5 inches, and in economy class it is 32 inches. Other data:
- First grade. The monitor has HD extension.
- Business Class. Monitor 15.6 inches.
- Economy class. 11 inch monitor.
So, we examined in detail the layout of the A380 aircraft cabin. Obviously, this is a very spacious and comfortable aircraft on which you can quickly and comfortably fly to your destination. Now let’s figure out what people who have already flown on this plane think about the conditions in the Airbus cabin.
Airbus A380-800 interior
Advantages and disadvantages of the A380-800
As we have already found out, this aircraft is very spacious and large-scale. It’s not surprising, because this is the largest aircraft in the world. It was specially created so that it could carry a large number of passengers. We can safely say that the Airbus A380 has brought back the romance and excitement of flying to seasoned travelers. Anyone who has flown on this air transport will confirm that it has its own characteristics and flies to the most favorite places of tourists, namely London, Los Angeles, Paris, New York, Moscow, Dubai, Tokyo, Beijing, etc. It is thanks to this geography that passengers give preference to this aircraft, regularly flying on it. During the holiday season, flights on this Airbus are especially frequent.
Speaking about the advantages of the A380, it is necessary to note its spaciousness and spaciousness. It also takes off easily and lands just as easily. When flying over mountains or the sea, the vibrations are practically unnoticeable. Moreover, the salons are equipped with wide and comfortable seats. This is especially noticeable in those places where there are armrests, a reclining backrest and legroom. In addition, passengers note that the cabins are always very clean and comfortable. All maneuvers in the air are easy and pleasant.
Also, many travelers note that the lunches and breakfasts on board are very tasty, and the flight attendants are always friendly and polite. It must be said that not every aircraft has such good conditions for passengers. Many passengers call the A380 an aircraft whose conditions are comparable to the best brands of cars.
To summarize, it must be said that the Airbus A380-800 is a powerful flying machine in which everything is thought out to the smallest detail so that passengers can fly in comfort. Those who want to fly in comfort choose business class. There you can not only sleep, but also surf the Internet, reading e-books, listening to music and watching videos. It is very important to choose seats in time so that you can relax on the plane.
You can purchase air tickets both at the ticket office and through the official website of the airline that serves the flight. After reviewing the above information, you can decide in advance which place is better and make a purchase. In general, we have become familiar with the technical characteristics of the A380, and photos of the A380 aircraft will allow us to visually evaluate the capabilities of this aircraft. Today, many people prefer to fly on it, since compared to other airliners it is one of the most convenient and comfortable. That is why, if you want to get to your desired resort destination in comfort, then choose the A380, because it was specially created for large passenger transportation.
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The giant double-deck Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the history of world aviation, with a maximum capacity of 853 passengers in a single-class configuration. The first copy was delivered to the customer in 2007; to date, more than 110 vehicles have been built! Today I want to show the A380 assembly line at the Toulouse plant, the scale and size of what I saw is impressive... Well, for a big plane - big photos in the report!
Many spotters, and not only them, consider the plane aesthetically unattractive. I categorically disagree with this statement, moreover, I think it is especially beautiful and elegantly heavy. The A380 taking off slowly is beautiful!
Now let's go to the factory...
This is a diagram of the location of production facilities at a plant in the town of Balagnac near Toulouse, orange is the A380 assembly shops.
Each A380 aircraft consists of approximately 4 million individual components and 2.5 million parts, manufactured by 1,500 companies in 30 countries.
The main elements of the A380 fuselage cannot be transported by air, so they are transported by sea and river on specially adapted barges, and then twice a month by car - this is called "night convoy".
Especially for this aircraft, Airbus has developed a unique logistics system that involves sea, river, air and road transport. From the town of Lisle-Jourdain, approximately 30 km from Blagnac, at exactly 22:00, the night convoy begins moving at a speed of 15-20 km/h, so as not to interfere with traffic - six trailers on which all parts of the aircraft are placed depart in a two-hour way to the final point - the final assembly line in Blagnac.
Fuselage sections with a diameter of 7 meters are transported straight through the narrow streets of the town. But this is the only possible and most optimal point for delivery of aircraft elements to the plant.
At the first station, the fuselage sections are assembled and connected to each other
Then the wings and vertical stabilizer are installed:
The wing area of the A380 is 845 m2, which is 54% more than that of the Boeing 747-400!
And it's not just a tail... it's FIVE giraffes! :)
Preparation of engine pylons:
The aircraft is assembled and the passenger compartment and cockpit are installed at the following positions:
Each of the main landing gear can withstand a load of up to 260 tons, which is equivalent to the weight of 200 Golf cars
And finally, the last assembly station, where the installation of engines and passenger seats is carried out:
The A380 can be equipped with two types of engines: Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP7000. Only two of the four engines are equipped with thrust reversers.
Reducing noise levels was an important design requirement for the A380, which was partly reflected in the design of the engines. Both engine types enable the aircraft to meet London Heathrow Airport noise limits QC/2 on departure and QC/0.5 on arrival.
The A380 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its category. This is the only long-haul airliner that consumes less than 3 liters of fuel to transport a passenger per 100 km (typical layout of 525 seats)
The total area of the A380 cabin is 554 m2. Two full decks: the main deck is the widest passenger cabin in the world (6.5 m); the upper deck is a full-fledged cabin of a wide-body aircraft (5.8 m). The aircraft's air conditioning system is equipped with the most modern filters, which ensure uniform air supply to all parts of the aircraft. The air in the aircraft cabin (volume 1570 m3) is completely replaced every three minutes! The A380 has the quietest passenger cabin in the history of world aviation, I was personally convinced of this on the way from Frankfurt to Singapore.
This A380 will presumably be transferred to a private customer. And behind it, the A300B is the first aircraft produced by Airbus. This aircraft revolutionized civil aviation in the 70s, becoming the first wide-body twin-engine aircraft.
The circular structure on the right is the static engine testing area, with barriers around the circle limiting the distribution of the sound wave.
To date, more than 110 A380 aircraft have been produced; an average of 2.5 aircraft are produced and delivered to customers every month. The order backlog is another 160 aircraft! Currently, the A380 is in service with 20 airlines.
Here are some interesting statistics on B777/B747 replacement on some flights:
And the A380 occupancy rate is also not lower than 80%:
Emirates has the largest A380 fleet:
Five A380s were built for demonstration and testing purposes. The first A380, serial number MSN001 and registration F-WWOW, was unveiled at a ceremony in Toulouse on January 18, 2005, and first flew on April 27, 2005. Here is the very first A380:
The assembly shops of the Airbus plant can be visited by everyone! 2-3 hour tours are organized both in Hamburg and Toulouse, costing 10-15 euros. Pre-reservation is required (!), especially if it is important to get into a group with an English-speaking guide; read the links for additional and current conditions.
These giants plow the skies with ease and grace, and, looking at them from the ground, no one would think that these steel birds represent such a huge structure that the height of the tail of one of these airliners - the A-380 - is five giraffes, set Each other. The Airbus A-380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but this article will not only talk about it.
"Boeing 747"
Among passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 have the maximum size. These are airliners capable of simultaneously carrying more than five hundred passengers. In particular, the A380 is capable of lifting 853 passengers into the air. Before the advent of this giant, the Boeing 747 with a length of 70.6 meters and the Boeing 747-8 with a length of 76.25 meters (the longest passenger aircraft) were the most spacious airliners in the world (the maximum number of simultaneously transported passengers reached 600 people). The Boeing 747-8 is more fuel efficient than the Boeing 747, which first flew on February 9, 1969. The designers originally planned a double-deck aircraft design, but the upper deck was shortened due to technical problems. The Boeing 747 was the first airliner in the world to have two aisles between seats. This aircraft is certified to fly on three engines, and if one of the four fails, the aircraft can fully take off, fly and land on the remaining three engines. At the same time, the cruising speed of the Boeing 747 passenger aircraft is 913 km/h.
Giant A-380
The giant double-deck “French” airliner A380, the first copy of which rolled off the assembly line in 2005, is the largest passenger aircraft in the history of world aviation. Indeed, its creators have something to be proud of - the cabin of the Airbus A380 can accommodate 853 passengers. To date, more than 110 machines have already been built and put into operation. The monthly production volume of these aircraft is 2.5 aircraft. Today, these giants are used by 20 airlines, with Emirates airline having the largest fleet.
The cruising speed of the A380 passenger aircraft reaches 1020 km/h. Each aircraft consists of about four million individual parts and components, which are manufactured in thirty countries around the world by one and a half thousand manufacturing companies and delivered using a unique logistics system developed by Airbus, which includes routes by water, as well as by air and road transport. Each landing gear can withstand a load of about 260 tons (200 passenger cars). For comparison with its predecessor, the wing area of the A380 aircraft is equal to one and a half wing areas of the Boeing 747-400 and is 845 square meters.
The world's largest passenger aircraft can be powered by two types of low-noise engines: either the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or the Engine Alliance GP7000. At the same time, the A380 is the most economical airliner in its segment - fuel consumption for transporting a passenger per 100 km with a cabin layout of 525 seats does not exceed three liters.
The dimensions of passenger aircraft are impressive; the A380 cabin area is 554 square meters. The liner has two decks - the main one, the width of which is a record high - 6.5 meters, and the upper one with a width of 5.8 meters.
An air volume of 1,500 cubic meters is replaced every three minutes by the air conditioning system; during the flight, there is a pleasant silence in the aircraft cabin, the hum of the turbines is practically inaudible.
Russia is proud of them
What does the domestic aviation industry offer us? The largest turboprop aircraft in the world is the Antonov An-22. Its length is about 60 meters, flight speed is 580 km/h. The first airliner was released in 1965.
"That"
The legendary Tu-134 is a passenger airliner for medium-distance flights, up to 2800 meters. It is designed for a maximum of 96 seats, its cruising speed is 850 km/h at an altitude of 11,000 m. The Tu-154 is a larger capacity aircraft, 158 people can be accommodated in the cabin of three classes, 180 in economy class. The maximum flight speed of this airliner is 950 km/ h, and the Tu-154M modification is capable of covering distances of up to 5200 km.
The Tu-204 can accommodate 214 passengers, and the cruising speed is slightly lower than its previous “brother” - 850 km/h.
"Su"
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is not the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but it is famous for being the first Russian airliner designed using digital technologies. It is designed for flights up to 3,000 kilometers on lightly loaded airlines. The maximum number of passengers is 98 people.
"Il"
Speaking about domestic aircraft, one cannot fail to mention the Ilyushintsy. Russian passenger aircraft presented by this design bureau have several main types that are well known to us. Let's talk about each of them in more detail.
Let's start with the simplest one - the IL-62, an airliner that has been produced since 1971 and is designed for medium-distance flights - up to 10,000 kilometers. This aircraft accommodates 198 passengers and five crew members. Its maximum speed at cruising altitude is 850 km/h.
As for the Il-86 aircraft, it is also designed for medium-distance flights; the cabin, containing two classes, can accommodate 234 passengers; if the aircraft is three-class, then 314 people. At the same time, 11 flight attendants serve customers. The aircraft are equipped with twelve emergency slides and all the necessary modern rescue systems. The cruising speed of the Il-86 is 950 km/h, the distances over which it flies do not exceed 5,000 kilometers with a maximum flight duration of eight hours.
IL-96
Now about the largest representative of the Ilyushin family - the Il-96 airbus. It is designed for long distance flights. Three hundred people in economy class and 262 passengers in three classes - this figure is practically no different from the previous described model of this family. The airliner flies at a maximum cruising speed of 900 km/h and is capable of covering a distance of up to 12,100 km. Its improved “model” - Il-96M - can accommodate a larger number of passengers - up to 435 people in the charter version.
Near term, or domestic developments
Today, the largest Russian aircraft project is the Irkut MS-21. Within its framework, it is planned to produce short- and medium-haul passenger airliners. Now the Irkut company is carrying out development and construction, the first copies of the aircraft according to the plan will be certified in 2016, and flight tests will begin at the same time. The start of serial production of MS-21 is expected in 2017-2018. On the Russian passenger aircraft market, these airliners should replace the Tu-154 and Tu-204 and will be operated on domestic and international routes.
The project is not developing the largest passenger aircraft in the world, but the family of airliners being created will include various aircraft of three types in length and passenger capacity - with 150, 180 and 210 seats. The model range will contain aircraft with an increased flight range. The vessel's cruising altitude will be 11,600 kilometers, the speed that the liner will develop will be 870 km/h, and the maximum fuselage length will be 39.5 meters. The crew will consist of two people.
As for the progress of work, the base of the project is the Yak-242. The development of the new wing belongs to the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company, fuselage work is carried out directly by the Irkut corporation and the Yakovlev Design Bureau.
It is expected that the new airliners will be more economical due to the use of modern composite materials, as well as new generation engines. The aircraft will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines; in the future, it is possible to install domestic Perm PD-14 engines.
