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List Of Top 10 Largest Cargo Planes In The World 2025
1. Antonov An-225 Mriya
The Antonov An-225 Mriya, meaning “Dream” in Ukrainian, was the world’s largest cargo plane and a symbol of engineering, human ambition, and aviation’s potential. The An-225 was the heaviest and longest aircraft until its February 2022 crash in Ukraine. Mriya was a unique aircraft designed by the Soviet Union’s Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s to transport the Buran space shuttle. With six turbofan engines, 88.4 meters (290 feet) wingspan, and 640 tonnes (1.41 million pounds) maximum takeoff weight, it dwarfed all other aircraft. Its massive cargo hold, 43.3 meters (142 feet) long, 6.4 meters (21 feet) wide, and 4.4 meters (14.4 feet) high, could carry loads no other aircraft could. Mega generators, wind turbine blades, and bridges were included.
2. Antonov An-124 Condor
Antonov An-124 Condor: Heavy Lift Workhorse
A major aviation achievement, the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, NATO reporting name “Condor,” is one of the world’s largest and most capable cargo aircraft. In 1986, the Soviet Union’s Antonov Design Bureau introduced the An-124, which has since become essential for transporting massive cargo worldwide. An-124’s maximum payload is 150,000 kg (330,693 lbs), second only to the now-destroyed An-225 in operational aircraft lifting power. Its wingspan of 73.3 meters (240 feet) and length of 68.9 meters (226 feet) show its massive size. However, its innovative heavy-lift design distinguishes the An-124. Its hinged nose cone allows cargo front-loading by “kneeling” while lowering the nose landing gear. A large rear cargo door with a ramp allows simultaneous loading and unloading.
3. Antonov An-22 Antei
In aviation history, the Antonov An-22 Antei (Ukrainian for “Antaeus”—a Greek mythological giant) is the largest turboprop-powered aircraft ever built. After its 1965 debut, the Antonov Design Bureau’s An-22 became a symbol of Soviet heavy-lift capability. The An-22 stood out with its four massive Kuznetsov NK-12MA turboprop engines driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers during a time when jet engines were common. For military operations in diverse terrains, the An-22 needed powerful engines like the Tu-95 bomber’s to provide immense thrust and operate from short, unpaved runways.
4. Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
ApoThe Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is one of the most unusual and beautiful aircraft ever built, showing ingenious engineering solutions driven by specialized needs. The 1960s-designed Super Guppy was designed to transport oversized aerospace components, particularly for NASA’sllo program. The Super Guppy’s “Guppy” name came from its massive, bulbous fuselage grafted onto the wings and tail of a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, a derivative of the B-29 bomber. Most notable is its hinged nose, which opens to load massive payloads directly into its massive cargo bay. Transporting rocket stages, satellite components, and entire spacecraft sections that would never fit in cargo planes required this unique capability.
5. Airbus A300-600ST Beluga
The Airbus A300-600ST, known as the “Beluga” for its resemblance to the beluga whale, is a specialized cargo plane that transports Airbus’s large aircraft components. In 1994, Airbus’s internal logistics were transformed by the Beluga, based on the A300-600 wide-body airliner. Beluga’s biggest feature is its bulbous upper fuselage, which holds a lot of cargo. The cockpit is below the main cargo deck, allowing the fuselage’s forward section to hinge upwards for large loads. The Beluga can transport Airbus wings, fuselage sections, and tail assemblies from European manufacturing sites to final assembly lines due to its unique design.
6. Airbus A400M Atlas
Airbus A400M Atlas have greatly improved European airlifting capabilities. Designed to meet the tactical and strategic airlift needs of several European NATO nations, the A400M first flew in 2009 and has since been used by various air forces. The versatile A400M bridges the gap between tactical transports like the C-130 Hercules and strategic airlifters like the C-17 Globemaster III. Four Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprop engines drive an eight-bladed propeller, providing impressive thrust and efficiency. The A400M can carry 37,000 kg (81,571 lbs) over long distances.
7. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is the largest US Air Force aircraft and one of the largest military transport aircraft worldwide. The C-5, designed for intercontinental strategic airlift, has powered America’s global power projection and massive payload delivery since 1970. The C-5’s wingspan of 67.9 meters and length of 75.3 meters (247 feet) are impressive. Its main purpose is to transport tanks, helicopters, other large military vehicles, and humanitarian aid to forward operating bases worldwide. Its 127,460 kg (281,001 lbs) payload makes it a heavy-lift champion.
8. Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Super Hercules is the latest and most advanced model of the legendary aircraft family, which has been continuously produced for over 60 years. The C-130J modernizes its legendary predecessors, building on their reliability and versatility. Although not a “heavy-lift” aircraft like the An-124 or C-5, the C-130J dominates tactical airlift. It is known for operating from short, unimproved, and even unprepared runways in harsh environments, making it ideal for delivering personnel and cargo to the front lines or remote areas. Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines and six-bladed propellers power its robust four-engine turboprop design, which improves STOL performance and fuel efficiency.
9. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
10. Boeing 747 Dreamlifter
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter, officially the Boeing 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF), is one of the most unique and specialized aircraft in the world. It is a modified Boeing 747-400 passenger jet designed to transport large Boeing 787 Dreamliner components between manufacturing sites. The Dreamlifter’s upper fuselage was extensively modified to accommodate the 787’s massive fuselage barrels and wings, giving it its popular “Dreamlifter” name. While its payload is 113,400 kg (250,000 lbs), its true value is its three-times-larger internal volume than a 747-400 freighter.
