The largest jet ever built was the Antonov An-225 Mriya.
According to the provided information, the six-engined Antonov An-225 was truly in a category of its own. It held the titles of both the heaviest aircraft ever built and, as the reference states, the largest wingspan of an aircraft currently in service at the time the information was compiled.
Key Characteristics of the Antonov An-225
Based on the description, the Antonov An-225 was notable for several reasons:
- Engines: It was powered by six turbofan engines.
- Weight: It holds the record for being the heaviest aircraft ever constructed.
- Wingspan: It had the largest wingspan of aircraft that were considered operational or "currently in service" according to the reference.
These characteristics combined to make the An-225 an unparalleled aircraft in terms of size and lifting capability. It was originally designed to transport the Buran spacecraft for the Soviet space program and later used for carrying oversized cargo.
While the single operational An-225 was tragically destroyed, its specifications set records that defined it as the largest jet by various metrics, including weight and wingspan.
