Big Bad Military Planes: 25 of the LARGEST Aircraft in Military History

While the civil sector may have edge developing technology for things like liposuction or cosmetic dentistry, it is the military that progresses our bigger technology. Today we are going to take a look through the ages to the 25 biggest planes to ever be commissioned for usage in the military. These were used to win wars, transport soldiers, and move cargo. You’ll be shocked by some of these beautiful mechanical birds!

Martin JRM Mars

We are going to kick our list off by heading back to 1943. Here we see the Martin JRM Mars: a dual purpose plane that could fly and land in the water. This plane was utilized during WW2 as a transport carrier. When the war ended they were sold and used as gigantic fire extinguishers. Cooler than dental implants, right? The military develops all of the fun tech.

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

How is that for a name? This ‘strategic bomber’ boasted a wingspan that surged to 230 ft in length. At the time of its production the Convair was the largest aircraft ever made with a piston engine. Yeah, we don’t mean to harp on our dentist but that feat is a little more impressive than a quality teeth inplant.

Messerschmitt ME 323

This German made plane was simply known as ‘The Giant’. It weighed 30 tons and was primarily used as a transporter for men, equipment, and other vehicles. The Messerschmitt was the largest plane produced in World War II, out of all countries involved, but it was colossally slow and had a short shelf life.

Tupolev Tu-160Tupolev Tu-160

The Tupolev Tu-160 comes to us by way of the Russian military. This was one of the heaviest planes ever made for military application — for good reason. The Tupolev Tu-160 could carry up to 44 tons of weaponry along with a large quantity of soldiers. This bird is fast too so stay strapped in or you’ll be shipped off to an implantat center after busting your mouth.

Blohm & Voss BV 328

When the German’s go all in, they really go all in. The Blohm & Voss BV 328 was a boat/plane hybrid that found the majority of its use toward the end of WWII. Fortunately for the Allies, this plane never saw the front lines when the war was in question. It was a brutal device loaded to the brim with firepower.

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

When your job is to haul around helicopters and tanks then you likely need to be pretty big. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster had a wingspan of bout 170 feet and it was flexible to take off and land on paved and non paved areas.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

This bad boy really eraned its name — and we do mean bad. This plane was charged with carrying over 10 tons of bombs, explosives, and other weapon goodies for use during battle. The entire plane weighed in at 37 tons. This is the plane that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan.

Ilyushin II-76

This is another Russian plane and it found some serious usage during the Cold War. The Ilyushin II-76 is durable and able to push through even the worst weather conditions. This was a cargo plane that could move 50 tons of gear at a time.

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Starting to see a Boeing pattern here? You’d have to get liposuction done to slim down how many amazing, large planes this company produced for the military. The Stratofortress was almost 160 feet long and it was used primarily in the Cold War.

Airbus A400M Atlas

The Airbus A400M is European plane that first soared in 2009. Since its inception the Atlas has been purchased by countries all over the world for usage.

Convair XC-99

The Convair XC-99 was a massive aircraft carrier that was used to transport over 400 soldiers and 50 tons of military equipment. The XC-99 was 180 feet long and it is considered the largest transport plane in military history. It was put out of commission in 1957.

Antonov An-12

This Soviet cargo machine is one of the most popular planes in the world. While the Antonov found its primary use in the military it has since been sold into private sector usage around the planet.

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

This is a massive plane that’ll take your breath away. The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy weighs 190 tons and it has a wingspan that pushes 220 feet. The plane first joined the American Airforce back in 1968 and it is still in use today.

Antonov An-225 Mriya

You can fit four full sized tanks, end to end, inside of the Antonov An-225. This gigantic plane weighs over 700 tons and it sports a wingspan of nearly 300 feet! This is one of the heaviest planes on our list.

North American XB-70 Valkyrie

Now we’re back to the United States Air Force. The XB-70 Valkyrie was created to carry nuclear bombs on board. The goal of the plane was to be able to move at altitudes that would move past any potential receptors. The project started in 1960 and burnt through over $1.5 billion dollars.

Antonov An-124

The An-124 replaced the An-225. This was an airlift jet that, at its launch, was one of the heaviest cargo planes in the world. There are still 40 of these planes around but they are all in circulation as commercial vehicles.

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules

The Super Hercules began production back in 1996 and there are now over 280 units in the air for 14 countries. The C-130J can carry 120 soldiers and 20 tons of gear and machinery. This is a fast plane that can also use its water reservoirs like an extinguisher.

Antonov An-22

We’ve been mentioning the Antonov line more and more — and for good reason. The An-22 at one point in time was one of the largest planes in the world. The An-22 launched in 1965 and was used by the Soviet air force.

Linke-Hoffman R.II

This bizarre plane comes to us from Germany. This was a biplane that featured the largest propeller ever affixed to an aircraft. This plane was developed for WWI but due to delays and development issues it was never available until after the war had ended.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

This Hercules wasn’t so super but it was still gigantic. The H-4 only ever saw the air once before being permanently grounded. Now the Hughes H-4 Hercules resides within the Evergreen Aviation Museum.

Mil V-12

We’re sort of cheating here. The Mil V-12 is technically a helicopter — and one of the largest ever constructed. There are four turbine engines that give the V-12 enough power for serious cargo transportation.

Kawanishi H8K

Look at at this oldschool beauty. The Kawanishi H8K was developed by the Japanese for usage during World War II. This was the largest plane that Japan developed and it was retired in 1945 — no longer being needed.

Douglas XB-19

The XB-19, otherwise known as PROJECT D, was a gigantic bomber that quickly ran into production and timeline issues. By 1941 the Douglas XB-19 would take its first, and only, flight.

Kalinin K-7

Just look at this bizarre ship. The Kalinin K-7 was developed by the Soviet Union in the ’30s and it hit the air in 1933. Still, despite taking flight it was quickly shelved — the Kalinin was too unstable.

LZ 129 Hindenburg

How could we end this list any other way. The LZ 129 Hindenburg was the largest aircraft to ever take flight. What most people don’t realize is the Hindenburg was more than a passenger ship. It was used to spread propaganda for the Nazi regime.