Length, height and wingspan are all popular ways to rank an aircraft, but truly giant planes are often judged by their maximum takeoff weight. Which plane outlifts them all, and should we expect other Goliaths in the future?
The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is the most a plane can weigh and still get off the ground; it incorporates not only the weight of the plane but also its fuel supply and cargo (human or otherwise). Using the MTOW criteria, it's not hard to pick a winner. It's the Antonov An-225.
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