22 Biggest Planes in Military History
Throughout the course of military history, there has always been a drive to create the biggest weapons possible. While at first many of these weapons seem scary, a lot of the time they ended up just becoming something more for show than anything else. This holds true with aircraft, especially during the arms race the existed during the cold war. Below is a list of the biggest planes in military history.
Martin JRM Mars
Unlike the other planes that are going to be listed, this is a giant that did see a fair amount of service during its life span. The JRM Mars has been referred to as being a giant flying boat. Originally it was going to be used as a bomber, but quickly become used as a transport plane before being used to fight land fires, such as forest fires.
Messerschmitt ME 323
The Messerscmitt ME 323 is actually a smaller version of another Messerschmitt. The original model that was created ended up being too heavy for any real practical combat use, so a smaller version was created. Even with the size being turned down, this plane still weighs in at over 220 tons and was used to transport military equipment. The service it saw was limited, since the size and speed made it an easy target to take down.
Blohm & Voss BV 238
During the Second World War, engineers where trying to utilize planes that were able to both carry gear and effectively land on water. The Blohm & Voss BV 238, while being slightly smaller than other types of planes, was still a giant of aviation. The use of this plane mostly occurred towards the end of the war and after Germany lost, the plane kind of just became another part of history. This plane not only was able to transport equipment, but it was also a flying fortress that was able to deliver effective attacks.
Boeing B-29 Super fortress
Super fortress planes are not something that you are going to commonly see being employed on the battlefield today. With the advances in technology, this form of weapon has reached the point where there are only a few gunships used that are built with the same idea in mind. The B-29 weighs over 37 tons and is stocked with bombs and machine guns that can effectively take part in combat at altitudes at over 40,000 feet.
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
The Convair B-36 Peacemaker is a plane that found itself being created at a time when jet fighters where replacing the older and larger prop planes. The plane had a 230ft wing span, but was equipped with gear that was already outdated. The biggest perk that this plane had was its ability to travel great distances, but because of its size it was very difficult to fly. Before it was able to see full service it was already being retired for more up to date models.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is the plane that ended up replacing the Convair B-36. Instead of using props, the B-52 uses jet engines. While having a smaller wingspan that it’s fore runners, the B-52 still has an impressive wing span of 159ft. On top of being able to transport equipment and containing a wide variety of different intelligence equipment, these planes are also able to deliver a nuclear payload.
Convair XC-99
The Convair XC-99 saw some service during the Korean War but was retired after only 11 years of service because of its difficulty to control and high level of maintenance that the plane needed. It was well over 180ft long and was at a size that was deemed too large. This one of the few planes, that while seeing service, didn’t make it past the prototype stage. Most of the service that these planes saw was for transporting parts for other large planes.
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
The C-5 Galaxy is a plane that went through a lot of issues during its early stages of development. This plane weights around 90 tons and has a wingspan that is around 220ft. This huge plane ended up being one of the main transports in the United States Army, but only after years of improving on the initial design. Unlike the other planes on this list, the Galaxy is a plane that is still seeing improvement being done to it.
Tupolev Tu-160
When it comes to Russian technology, it has been one of those things that is go big or go home. Some of the largest pieces of military equipment that has been created came out of the soviet research projects. The Tu-160 is a prime example of this. This plane weighs in at over 300 tons and is able to carry up to 44 tons of military equipment. Unlike some other models that where dated before they came out, the Tu-160 has some of the most advanced systems incorporated into its design.
Antonov An-124
The An-124 is the Russain answer to the C-5 Galaxy. These huge planes are able to hold up to 150 tons of equipment and have a wingspan that is over 230ft. While today, the An-124 still sees some military use, its primary function has shifted from the military sector and is commonly used as a civilian cargo plane. While they are primarily used for the civilian sector, the military is still able to use them whenever the need for them may arise.
Antonov An-225 Mriya
This is one of the largest airplanes in the world. The An-225 has enough space that it is able to carry up to 705 tons of equipment. When this weight is combined with the weight of the plane itself, you are able to see a plan that is well over 1,000 tons flying through the air. While this plane does have the ability to be an effective cargo plane, its primary use is to carry the Russian space shuttle Buran.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
The C-17 is a large cargo plane that is not just designed to carry a heavy payload, but it is also something that is aimed at being able to land and take off regardless of the type of terrain that is present. This plane has a wingspan that is over 170 ft and is able to carry over 80 tons of equipment without having to worry about the performance being affected. The usefulness of this cargo plane has made it so that the United States Air force has over 260 of these currently active in the field.
Antonov An-22
The Antonov An-22 was originally designed by the Soviet Army as an effect transport plane that could perform airlifts effectively. This huge plane that is able to carry over 80 tons of equipment is still used by the military today. Like the Globemaster, the An-22 is designed to be able to land and take off no matter the terrain that is present. Despite the plane still being used today, the number of them that exists is on the smaller side and can be more on the rare side when it comes to seeing them in action.
Airbus A400M Atlas
While many of the planes on this list have been I service for a while, the Atlas is more on the new side. First released in 2009, this cargo plane is something that is used by a variety of countries around the world. This fuel efficient plane that is made from extremely light materials, is able to effectively carry up to 40 tons of cargo without it having too many issues. This is one of the most impressive pieces of military air craft currently available on the market.
Ilyushin II-76
The II-76 was one of the first jet cargo planes produced by the soviets. This large aircraft prove that is was able to function effectively no matter the weather or situation that the crew found itself facing. This cargo plan was able to carry 50 tons of equipment and was able to do airlifts regardless of the terrain the army was working with. The II-76 is still being used today and is still a commonly sought after aircraft.
Antonov An-12
This is a model of plane that has many different variants currently being used to this day. The An-12 was the soviet’s answer the American Hercules. With the aim of the plan being able to carry more weight than other models in its class, this is a model plan that has seen some of the most use out of any other plane on the list. The Chinese version of this plan, has been upgraded to be able to have more power than its fore runners.
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is one of the most popular military crafts for cargo currently being used. This model is so effective at its job, that it is seeing employment in over 14 different countries. The Super Hercules is able to carry up to 20 tons of machinery and around 120 troops. Unlike other aircrafts on this list that use jet engines, the C-130 use props to get itself airborne. This plane also sees use in the civilian sector by being employed to manage wild fires.
Antonov An-124
Like other models of the An air crafts, the 124 model is aimed at being able to carry the most weight without interference with tis controllability. The turbo engines allow for it to carry upwards of 329 tons. This plane is engineered to handle awkward and heavy cargo while also being able to effectively conduct airlifts on unstable terrain.
Xian Y-20
The Y-20 is the biggest aircraft that China has built. This plan is aimed at being able to carry a payload of 60 tons and has a take-off power of 220 tons. While this plan is currently a newer model plan, it is a design that is still being built on. After years of experiments, the Y-20 is aimed at being available on the market by 2017.
HK-1
The HK-1, also known as the Spruce Goose, was one of the largest planes to be created during World War 2. This plane was later renamed the Hk-1 as the H-4 and become the basis for similar planes that would come out later on in history. This plane, while seeing a few flights, ended up not making it past the prototype stage as the rationing of materials and funding ended up being too much of burden to push the plane into full production. The maiden voyage, the plane flew for 70 feet before being landed again. This plane can be seen at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in Oregon.
Junkers JU 390
The JU 390 was a heavy transport plane created by the Germans in WW2 that also doubled as a long ranger bomber. The design of the aircraft became the basis for bombers after the war had ended. The plane say service in long rang assaults but was also used for maritime patrols. The 6 prop plane was able to lift the heavy plane while also making sure that the pilots were able to have good control of the plane while in the air.
Kalinin K-7
This was an aircraft that the Soviet Union start to develop during the First World War. This huge plane was designed to be able to land on both land and water. The wingspan of the plan was greater than that of the B-52 and was one of the most ambitious projects to be undertaken in aviation. Many of the early test flights of this plane end up in failure because the vibration of the engine. Even with a couple of successful test runs, Russia ended up giving up on the project and focus instead, on building more practical airplanes.
