


“The desire to fly is an idea passed down to us by our ancestors, who, in their exhausting off-road travels in prehistoric times, looked with envy at birds that soar freely in space, at full speed, without any obstacles on the endless road of air”, - once said Wilbur Wright.
Could the Wright brothers, back in 1903, imagine what their idea of controlled flight in the air would turn into? Now you will not surprise anyone with supersonic aircraft and winged colossus capable of transporting not only people, but also heavy equipment. Well, even if we cannot fly like birds, we can, if we wish, fly on one of the largest planes in the world. Choose which of these giants you like the most.
10. ANT-20
Role: multipurpose aircraft.
Developer: KB Tupolev, USSR.
This aircraft, created at the Voronezh Aviation Plant in 1934, became the largest aircraft of its time. Its wingspan reached 63 meters, and the maximum take-off weight was 42,000 kg. The ANT-20 was serviced by a staff of 5 people, and the aircraft could take 48 passengers on board. When the "dad" of the Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupéry arrived in the USSR, he flew the ANT-20. But the life of this model was short-lived. In 1935, during a demonstration flight, the plane took off together with an I-5 fighter, which was supposed to demonstrate the difference in size for newsreels.
During the performance of aerobatics I-5 entered the Nesterov loop, lost speed and crashed on top of ANT-20. That, in turn, began to fall apart in the sky and fell on the holiday village Sokol. The accident killed 49 people. At the Novodevichy cemetery, a memorial has been preserved, topped with a huge granite bas-relief of the crashed plane.
9. Boeing 747 LCF (Dreamlifter)
Role: transport aircraft.
Developer: Boeing.
An unrivaled aircraft in terms of fuselage roominess. The volume of its transport compartment is 1840 cubic meters. It is used exclusively to transport parts of the Boeing 787 aircraft that are constructed by third-party suppliers. A total of 4 Dreamlifters were put into operation. 0 Source: basetop.ru The Boeing 747 LCF looks ugly, for which it has even been compared to the Wienermobile, a bun-shaped car used to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products in the United States. And the head of Boeing, Scott Carson, jokingly apologized to Joe Sutter, the head of the Boeing 747 development team, for what he had done with his plane.
8. Boeing 747-8
Role: passenger airliner.
Developer: Boeing.
At Boeing, they know how to design aircraft that set records. The 747-8 became the longest passenger aircraft in the world. Its length is 76.4 meters. The Boeing 747-8 is a representative of the new generation of the Boeing 747 series (eighth in our list). It features a longer fuselage, improved wing, and greater cost efficiency.
7. Boeing 747
Role: passenger airliner.
Developer: Boeing.
Once upon a question about what is the largest aircraft in the world in terms of passenger capacity, the designers of the double-deck Boeing 747 proudly answered: "Our"! Depending on the modification, the aircraft can accommodate up to 624 passengers. But then the Airbus A380 appeared and pushed the Boeing 747 off the plinth of the most capacious aircraft. If you've watched Casino Royale with Daniel Craig as James Bond, you may remember the SkyFleet S570 that the terrorists wanted to blow up.
The role of this airliner was the Boeing 747-236B, which was built in 1980 and flew until 2002. A worthy end to your career. And one of the largest plane crashes in the world is associated with the Boeing 747. It happened in 1977 on the island of Tenerife. In the fog, two Boeing 747s collided with each other on the runway, killing 583 people.
6. An-22
Role: transport aircraft.
Developer: OKB im. O.K. Antonova.
This winged aircraft, named "Antey" in honor of the invincible giant
from ancient Greek myths, is still the world's largest turboprop aircraft. Transportation of goods during the war in Afghanistan and during the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, transportation of refugees and military personnel from Eastern Europe and the near abroad - this is not a complete "track record" of An-22. And on one of the passenger flights organized during the air bridge between Egypt and the Soviet Union in 1972, Antey set a record, taking on board almost 700 people. This is a real hard worker, reliable and unpretentious in operation.
5. An-124
Role: transport aircraft.
Developer: OKB im. O.K. Antonova.
The five largest aircraft in the world are opened by Soviet development, which before the appearance of the Airbus A380 (the fourth number in the list) was considered the largest of the serially produced aircraft.However, the title of "the largest military aircraft" from the An-124 has not yet been taken away, as well as the title of the world's most cargo-lifting serial transport aircraft. 0 Source: basetop.ru And although the production of Ruslan, as Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov called this aircraft, is now suspended, the existing aircraft fleet will be modernized. This was announced in July 2018 by Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov.
4. Airbus A380
Role: passenger liner.
Developer: Airbus.
The largest commercial aircraft in the world (of mass production) and one of the largest aircraft on Earth. When you watch a video of one of the largest planes in the world, it's hard to believe that such a colossus is capable of taking off. 0 Source: basetop.ru Airbus A380 is capable of carrying up to 853 passengers in economy class configuration. By comparison, the A380's main competitor, the Boeing 747 passenger airliner, carries only 624 people in full economy class configuration. It's not just airlines that own the luxurious Airbus A380s. By order of the Saudi prince Al-Walid ibn Talal, a private jet was built, which cost the owner $ 488 million.
3. Airbus A340-600
Role: passenger liner.
Developer: Airbus.
It is the largest member of the Airbus A340 family and the third longest aircraft in the world (75.36 meters). Aircraft of the Airbus A340 type were produced until November 2011, but they could not compete with the Boeing 777. However, they still carry out passenger traffic in various countries of the world. 0 Source: basetop.ru It is curious that for the entire period of operation (since 1993) only five A340 aircraft were lost. However, not a single passenger or crew member was killed.
2. An-225 (Mriya)
Role: cargo plane.
Developer: OKB im. O.K. Antonova.
It is the largest transport plane ever built. Its maximum take-off weight is 640 tons, and its payload is 250 tons. 0 Source: basetop.ru An-225 is capable of transporting vehicles, construction and military equipment and other bulky goods to different parts of the world on its fuselage. But this giant was intended for a different, much larger purpose. It was created as part of the Buran reusable spacecraft project. It was assumed that the An-225 will transport the components of the Buran and the launch vehicle from the place of creation and assembly to the place of launch. 0 Source: basetop.ru The first flight of Mriya (a dream translated from Ukrainian) took place in December 1988, carrying a Buran weighing sixty tons. However, after the collapse of the USSR, the "dream" was left without work. They began to operate it again (after appropriate modernization) only in 2000, for commercial transportation. More recently, in September 2018, the giant plane set a new record by making a thirteen-hour non-stop flight from Ukrainian Gostomel to the American airport in Auckland. He covered a distance of 9800 km. ×
1. Stratolaunch
Role: carrier plane.
Developer: Scaled Composites.
This huge plane will not carry ordinary cargo. Rather, it will serve as another way to deliver objects, namely satellites, into the stratosphere before launching them into space orbit. This mode of transport will be more reliable and less expensive than traditional rockets. 0 Source: basetop.ru Unlike the largest aircraft in the world - the Ukrainian Mriya - the American Stratolaunch does not fly yet. Its first demonstration took place in May 2017. In terms of a wingspan of 117.3 meters, it is much superior to the An-225 (88.4 meters, respectively). The Stratolaunch is currently the largest wingspan in the world. However, the American is inferior to the Ukrainian "colleague" in maximum take-off weight (589,670 kg and 640,000 kg, respectively) and length (73 meters for Stratolaunch versus 84 meters for An-225). The exact dates of the new Stratolaunch tests are still unknown. Engineers hope this aircraft will enter service within the next 10 years.
2022 French Open: Roland Garros schedule, ticket price, location and other facts you need to know

The French Open tennis championship is held every year in Paris, organized by the country's tennis association. Roland Garros (this is the more well-known name of the event) is one of the Grand Slam tournaments, it is on the list of the most prestigious and grandiose international competitions.
Matches can be watched both from the stands of the courts and live on a huge screen installed in Paris on the square in front of the City Hall. The screening is free, and there are not many seats in front of the screen, so the audience lands anywhere: on benches, fences, platforms and on the ground. Dates: 05/30/2021 - 06/13/2021
In total, five titles will be played on the courts of the Roland Garros tennis center:
- men's singles;
- women's singles;
- men's doubles;
- women's doubles;
- mixed doubles.
Singles are the most popular among fans. In the men's part of the tournament, the most titled participant in the tournament is Rafael Nadal, who already has 11 titles in the French Grand Slam. In women's tennis, everything is less predictable: over the past five years, not a single tennis player has managed to become the champion of the French Open twice. Who will win Roland Garros 2022? Should we expect sensations? Will any of the favorites disappoint? Let's try to figure it out!
2022 French Open schedule
Roland Garros 2022 qualification matches will begin on May 10 and will be held in three rounds. The main tournament starts on May 16 and will last for two weeks. The women's final will take place on June 4, while the men will face each other in the main match on June 5. On the way to the title, the future champion will have to overcome seven rounds.
2022 French Open favorites for men
The most titled tennis player in Roland Garros is Rafael Nadal, who has already won 13 titles in France. In Nadal's 16-year history at the French Open, he has suffered only three defeats: in 2009, a surprise victory was won by Swede Robin Soderling, and in 2015 and 2021, Nadal was knocked out by Novak Djokovic. Since 2005, there has only been another champion four times: in 2009, in the final, Roger Federer beat the same Robin Soderling, in 2015, Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic, and a year later, Djokovic himself turned out to be stronger than Andy Murray. And in 2021, Djokovic was able to put the squeeze on Stefanos Tsitsipas, losing the first two sets.
Of course, the main favorite after Rafael Nadal is the only person among the current athletes who managed to beat the Spaniard twice on the courts of Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic was able to overcome the most difficult segment of his career, during which he was worried about an elbow injury. Starting in 2018, the Serb did not just begin to resemble his former self and even established himself as the best tennis player in the world, taking eight Grand Slams in less than four years.
Other contenders for high places include primarily Stefanos Tsitsipas, who last season made very serious progress in the game on clay and even reached the final of last year's Slam in Paris. A month before Roland Garros, the Greek almost stopped Nadal in Barcelona, losing in a dramatic game in three games.
In addition to the Greek, it is worth noting Dominic Thiem, the winner of the US Open-2020 and the finalist of Roland Garros-2019, who fell under the hand of Rafa. Although last year the Austrian performed more successfully on hard. In the last two draws of this tournament, Diego Schwartzman announced himself, having lost twice to Nadal in the later stages. The last time the Argentine was able to take the game from the titled Spaniard.
Alexander Zverev is increasingly reaching the later stages of big tournaments, including Roland Garros. So last year he almost reached the final, losing to his direct competitor Stefanos Tsitsipas in five games. It seems that NextGen is on the heels of the Djokovic-Nadal-Federer trio.
Tennis, unlike all team sports, is very subject to unpredictability. The result of the meeting does not depend on the whole team of players, where the result is the sum of the actions of all the elements of the team, but on one athlete, who at any moment can get injured or an ordinary illness, which will lead to his defeat.
French Open 2022 Women's Favorites
The women's part of the Roland Garros tournament is famous for its unpredictability. So last year, the unseeded Czech tennis player Barbora Kreychikova became the winner of the French Open, defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final - 6:1, 2:6, 6:4.
As for the world elite, even the legendary Serena Williams won only three titles in France, while she has seven trophies in Australia and the UK, and six in the USA. The main favorites for the 2022 French Open are the winners of 2018 and 2019, Romanian tennis player Simona Halep and Australian Ashleigh Barty, who won Wimbledon last season.
Serena Williams cannot be discounted, who in the very first season after returning to big-time sports was able to reach the final of the US Open. There is every reason to believe that in the upcoming season she will be able to return to her former unstoppable level and compete with her young rivals.
Novak Djokovic to miss French Open 2022? ATP sets a marker and informs players about mandatory vaccinations for Roland Garros
Novak Djokovic was unable to defend his title at the Australian Open in Melbourne as he was sent home. The Serb's visa was canceled twice and his second appeal was rejected. The 34-year-old athlete is not vaccinated, so he even risks competing at the 2022 French Open.
Now the ATP, the leading organization in men's tennis, has set a marker and informed players that they need to be vaccinated to participate in Roland Garros, which will take place in May-June. An email sent to ATP players reported that the subject of the email read: "IMPORTANT: Vaccination requirements in France."
The statement adds that in order to compete in the 2022 French Open, players must be vaccinated and only a medical exception due to an adverse reaction to the vaccine can be considered. However, the final requirements will soon be available to all players.
French Open 2022 requires vaccination against COVID-19
It was thought that the French Open could be the only Grand Slam where Novak Djokovic could compete without being vaccinated. However, according to the latest letter from the ATP, the Serb must get the jab if he is going to compete in Paris.
“The French Tennis Federation has informed us that the French government will soon pass a law banning unvaccinated athletes from participating in any sporting events. The law is awaiting final adoption, but is likely to come into force in the coming days." read the letter.
The letter also added that the rules are expected to be in place indefinitely and further clarification is pending. French tennis hopes to avoid the confusion created by Tennis Australia, the Australian government and the Victorian government's bad communication that led to the Novak Djokovic visa fiasco.

A 24-year-old woman from Moscow, Russia, amazed the whole world when she revealed that she is the mother of 21 children, 20 of them born in the last year and a half, with the help of surrogate mothers. Now, however, she claims she wants a large family with her husband, a 57-year-old businessman.
Kristina Ozturk is only 24 years old and is married to 57-year-old businessman Galip Ozturk, whom she met during a vacation in Georgia. Although the age difference between them is 33 years, the two love each other a lot and, in addition, share the same desire, namely to have a large family.
The couple, who want 105 children, revealed that they spent almost 170,000 euros on surrogate mothers between March 2020 and July 2021 and, in addition, have 16 nannies, which they pay $ 96,000.
Kristina, who has a six-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, claims to be with her children all the time and does "all the things that moms normally do." She admits, however, that the expenses for caring for the 20 children are high, but she does not complain, as her partner is a successful businessman.
"It costs us about $ 5,000 to $ 6,000 a week, which is essential for all children. Sometimes a little more, sometimes less”,said the young mother, who lives in a three-story house.
The couple's first child was born in March 2020. It is about a little boy named Mustafa, and the youngest is only three months old, being born in July of this year.
"I tell you the truth - my days are never boring. Every day is different, from planning the work schedule of the collaborators, to the purchases made for the family. ”, she confessed.
The woman also says she does not plan to have more surrogate children in the next period, but does not rule out having more children naturally.
"I want to plan a pregnancy, but not immediately, because for now I have to be close to my babies. It is difficult to be a mother for 21 children when you are pregnant ", she added.
Who is Galip Ozturk
The woman's husband, Galip Ozturk, is a successful businessman working in tourism, transport and finance. He is originally from Turkey, but has lived in Georgia for more than seven years.
He is the founder of the Turkish company Metro Holding and has a $ 500 million investment in Georgia.
Ozturk was previously married to Hulya Ozturk, with whom he has nine children, who live and work in Turkey.
15 unique photofacts about everything in the world that you should learn to broaden your horizons

Sometimes you can learn a lot of useful things from the Internet by simply leafing through pictures. In this post Bemorepanda collected different facts about everything that will help broaden our horizons, as well as distract for a couple of minutes from the routine.
1. In 2016, a Chinese businessman Xiong Shuihua demolished all the houses in his native village and built villas in their place.
2. You would be confused to see such a door in your entrance for the first time. This is just a drawing with an optical illusion.
3. The Varani people live in Ecuador. After lengthy litigation, they won a case against an oil company claiming their land. In the photo, members of the Amazon tribe in the courtroom.
4. In 2015, Ford installed wide-angle front and rear 1-megapixel cameras on its cars that allow "seeing from around the corner." The problem of "blind" zones has been solved.
5. Animal rights advocates have figured out how to protect elephants from poachers: they painted the animal tusks with pink paint, which is marked with banknotes in banks. It does not harm the animal, but it is impossible to wash it off. Buyers do not need such tusks.
6. Does it look edible? In fact, in the photo there is not grapes, but a mineral called "grape chalcedony".
7. This is the cross sea. It looks like this because of wave systems moving at different angles.
8. This is a tree called Jabuticaba (or Brazilian grape tree). Its fruits grow directly from the bark.
9. The guy took off the lightning for 2 hours and then combined all the frames in one.
10. City in Peru around the oasis in Huacachina.
11. In the Congaree National Park, the water in the lake turns different colors at a certain temperature.
12. Blacks couples born white baby. No, the DNA test confirmed that the spouses are the biological parents of the baby. Perhaps these are white dormant genes or mutating albinism.
13. Scientists have tracked eagle movements using GPS for 20 years. Here are his flights.
14. Trace after a needle prick on the skin, taken with a microscope.
15. This is how entrants of the GITIS acting faculty are evaluated in the era of coronavirus.