5 Biggest Airplanes in the World in 2023

2. Antonov An-225 Mriya

The Antonov AN-225 Mriya, also known as ‘The Dream,’ was the largest cargo aircraft in the world and was the only aircraft that was powered by six Ivchenko-Progress D-18 turbofan engines, which provide a maximum thrust of up to 300,000 pounds (1.3 million newtons) in total. A modern engineering marvel, the aircraft was the only one of its kind ever built to completion, and was able to transport up to 250 tonnes of cargo, including single pieces weighing up to 200 tonnes, over short and medium-haul routes.

The mighty aircraft was part of numerous humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, and was also used for transporting oversized cargo such as power plant equipment, wind turbines, and even a 117-ton generator for a hydropower plant in Armenia. Unfortunately, the supergiant was confirmed to be destroyed in an airfield near Kyiv, Ukraine, in February of 2022, much to the dismay of the aviation world.