• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

3

Current price of oil as of July 6, 2026

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

3

Current price of oil as of July 6, 2026
Stratolaunch airplane

See How the World’s Biggest Aircraft Dwarfs Earlier Planes

By
Stacy Jones
Stacy Jones
and
Aric Jenkins
Aric Jenkins
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Stacy Jones
Stacy Jones
and
Aric Jenkins
Aric Jenkins
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 2, 2017, 11:54 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen rolled the Stratolaunch out of its hangar for the first time on Wednesday. Dubbed the “world’s biggest airplane,” it’s complete with six Boeing 747 engines, 28 wheels, and a wingspan longer than a football field.

The Stratolaunch’s wingspan and the amount of weight it’s equipped to carry (over 500,000 pounds) is what earns the plane the top honor; there are other planes bigger in terms of length and height. Allen aims to use the aircraft to send rockets into orbit in order to make space access more “convenient, reliable, and routine,” according to the company’s website. The magnitude of the plane’s size alone means Allen and his team will have their work cut out for them.

See how the world’s biggest plane compares to other large aircrafts throughout aviation history.

Stratolaunch, Hughes H-4 Hercules, Airbus A380, Antonov AN-124 Ruslan, Boeing 747-100, Millennium Falcon

Hughes H-4 Hercules (aka the “Spruce Goose”)

Until construction of the Stratolaunch was recently completed, the all-wooden H-4 Hercules had the largest wingspan of any aircraft in history. Completed in 1947, the “Spruce Goose” — a nickname the press had for the plane made from birch — held the distinction of the largest airplane to ever fly until 1952. With a length of nearly 219 feet, just about 20 feet shorter than that of the Stratolaunch, the Spruce Goose reflected its designer’s ambition: famed investor, film tycoon, and pilot Howard Hughes. The plane was originally intended to transport troops and materials during World War II, but it could not be finished in time to be used during the conflict. Still, Hughes managed to fly the enormous aircraft once in November 1947 at an altitude of 70 feet for approximately one minute.

Airbus A380

Manufactured by European aircraft-maker Airbus, the A380 is the world’s largest passenger airliner that continues to fly more than 300 commercial flights a day, according to Airbus’ website. With a length of 238.7 feet, the A380 actually eclipses the Stratolaunch’s length by seven inches. But the latter has the A380 firmly beat when it comes to wingspan, with a whopping 385-foot range compared to the A380’s approximate 262 feet. The Airbus’ wide, double-deck body is impressive in its own right thanks to engineering that allows it to provide premium service for passenger. First introduced for commercial flights by Singapore Airlines, Emirates has now taken over as the airliner’s primary user.

Antonov An-124 Ruslan

First designed within Soviet Union borders that are now part of Ukraine, the An-124 took its first flight in 1982 and remains the largest military transport aircraft in the world. Similar to the Airbus, the length of the Ruslan rivals the Stratolaunch at just over 226 feet. But the Stratolaunch wingspan tops the An-142 by 145 feet. And as a cargo transport plane, the An-124 is outmatched once again: its 893,000 pound maximum takeoff weight is among the heaviest in the world, but the Stratolaunch can fly weighed down by a whopping 1.3 million pounds. While production of the An-124 halted in 2014, the plane is still in service.

Millennium Falcon

While the Star Wars movies make the fictional freighter look gigantic when Han Solo (and even Chewbacca) is beside it, the Millennium Falcon is nothing compared to the Stratolaunch here on Earth. Its technical classification is a “light freighter,” which allows it to travel at quick speeds and dodge the laser cannons of the Empire’s starfighters. According to the official Star Wars website, the Falcon measures at 34.75 meters, which comes out to about 114 feet, which the Stratolaunch exceeds by more than 100 feet. But while Earth’s largest plane is supposedly capable of tethering rockets into space orbit, the Millennium Falcon has one key advantage: hyperdrive. The Falcon made the Kessel Run hyperspace route in less than 12 parsecs — if its notorious smuggler captain is to be believed.

About the Authors
By Stacy Jones
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Aric Jenkins
By Aric Jenkins
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Commercial property insurance explained: What it covers for businesses
Personal FinanceInsurance
Commercial property insurance explained: What it covers for businesses
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 7, 2026
1 hour ago
European Parliament members call for a probe of FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his Trump call before the decision to let Balogun play
PoliticsDonald Trump
European Parliament members call for a probe of FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his Trump call before the decision to let Balogun play
By The Associated PressJuly 7, 2026
1 hour ago
Bill Holland gesturing
SuccessCareers
He went from working in a factory to being rich enough to retire at 32—but 3 decades later, this millionaire still works and takes public transport
By Preston ForeJuly 7, 2026
1 hour ago
What is covered by home insurance? What’s included and common exclusions explained
Personal FinanceInsurance
What is covered by home insurance? What’s included and common exclusions explained
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 7, 2026
2 hours ago
Tech worker walks to office
SuccessJobs
AI start-ups are snubbing entry-level talent in favor of Silicon Valley men with top degrees, research shows
By Emma BurleighJuly 7, 2026
2 hours ago
South Korean law targeting ‘fake news’ takes effect, but journalists say it discourages critical reporting and can lead to self-censorship
AsiaSouth Korea
South Korean law targeting ‘fake news’ takes effect, but journalists say it discourages critical reporting and can lead to self-censorship
By The Associated Press and Kim Tong-HyungJuly 7, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
AI
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 5, 2026
2 days ago
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
Success
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
By Preston ForeJuly 6, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of July 6, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 6, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 6, 2026
1 day ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 6, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 6, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 6, 2026
1 day ago
The man who ran Bernie's campaign says Democrats are still making the same mistakes with Democratic Socialists, and they should laud Mamdani's win
Politics
The man who ran Bernie's campaign says Democrats are still making the same mistakes with Democratic Socialists, and they should laud Mamdani's win
By Catherina GioinoJuly 6, 2026
20 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.