5 Biggest Airplanes in the World in 2023

1. Stratolaunch Roc

Topping our list is the Stratolaunch. The brainchild of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the aircraft – broadly based on the Boeing 747-400 – is a bizarre-looking 28-wheel, six-engine, twin-fuselage plane designed as a launch platform to put payloads into the stratosphere, from where they would launch into space orbit.

Codenamed ‘Roc’ after the mythical bird, it has a wingspan of approximately 383 feet, the largest of any plane in the history of aviation. Unlike existing gargantuan aircraft that are used to carrying cargo or passengers from point to point, the Roc will be used to haul other aircraft, missiles and vehicles. What makes it unique is that its aircraft will separate and launch its payload mid-flight.

Earlier this January, Stratolaunch made history by breaking its record for the longest sustained flight of the Roc. The aircraft proved capable of staying airborne for extended periods at a higher altitude than ever before. The new record is a significant milestone for the company as it demonstrates the project’s progression.

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