List of large aircraft
Wikimedia list article

This is a list of large aircraft, including three types: fixed wing, rotary wing, and airships.
The US Federal Aviation Administration defines a large aircraft as any aircraft with a certificated maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of more than 12,500 lb (5,700 kg)
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) defines a large aircraft as either "an aeroplane with a maximum take-off mass of more than 12,566.35 pounds (5,700.00 kilograms) or a multi-engined helicopter."
Fixed-wing
Projects
Rotary-wing
Proposals
Yakovlev Yak-60 – Mil V-12 size helicopter design
Yakovlev VVP-6 – Mil V-12 size helicopter design
Lighter than air
Proposals
Hydrogen carrier airship (2.45 km long) and balloon (727 m wide), 28,000-tonne MTOW both.
Geostationary Banana Over Texas, a 300-meter-long (980 ft) helium-filled airship with an outer shell supposed to be made of paper and bamboo, shaped like a yellow banana.
High Altitude Venus Operational Concept
See also
List of largest machines
List of largest passenger vehicles
Wide-body aircraft
References
Further reading
Jarrett, Philip (2008), The Colour Encyclopedia of Incredible Aeroplanes, Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 978-1-4053-3598-0
Kaplan, Philip (2005), Big Wings, Pen & Sword Aviation, ISBN 978-1-84415-178-3
Layton, Julia (2011), What's the world's largest airplane?, How Stuff Works
Malone, Robert (2007), "The World's Biggest Planes", Forbes
Patterson, Thom (2013), Stalking world's biggest planes makes for photos that say 'wow', CNN
Robinson, Douglas (1973), Giants in the Sky, University of Washington Press, ISBN 978-0-295-95249-9
Ruffin, Steven (2005), "Goliaths of the Air", Aviation's Most Wanted, Potomac, pp.
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