Whether you're a self-confessed aviation expert or have never heard of Howard Hughes, you can't fail but be impressed by the world's most enormous planes. From wooden seaplanes built in the 1940s to the aircraft making space travel possible, we've taken a look at some of the world's most gigantic planes and the astonishing stories behind them.

Click through the gallery to learn about the largest planes in history, ranked by wingspan from smallest to largest...