Aircraft with most crew members (minus cabin crew)
I've just been reading A Pictorial History of Pan American World Airways by P. St John Tuner. At the end of Chapter 6 (Clippers to Europe) he says that B-314 seaplane had a flight deck the size of the DC3s passenger cabin, 21ft 4in long 9ft 6in wide with seven work stations. The crew consisted of Captain, First Officer, Second Officer. Navigator, Engineer, Radio Officer & Junior Flight Officer. I don't know how often supplementary crew would have been carried. The typical passenger load was 35 so that's five passengers per flight crew member. Things gave changed a bit since then!
How about Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI.
Apparently crew of ten: commander, two pilots, two copilots, two radio operators, and fuel attendant in the cockpit, one mechanic in each engine nacelle.
I'd hate to be the in-flight mechanic, though.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin-Staaken_R.VI
Apparently crew of ten: commander, two pilots, two copilots, two radio operators, and fuel attendant in the cockpit, one mechanic in each engine nacelle.
I'd hate to be the in-flight mechanic, though.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin-Staaken_R.VI
Mention of Zeppelin brings me to point out that airships were airborne for many days at a time so needed at least two shifts of crew. R101 had 54 POB when it hit France, of whom only about 12 were not crew.
Since the OP wrote "aircraft" I think it can include airships. . .
Since the OP wrote "aircraft" I think it can include airships. . .
The BAC 1-11 (XX919) and Comet 4 (XV814) at RAE Farnborough were routinely operated with 4 on the flight deck; 2 up the front plus Nav and AE; mind you they needed the nav 'cos a lot of trials were done away from radio navaids.
The Comet actually had seating for 5; I know because I did a trip in the 5th seat where the 'transponder operator' sat; yes really, the pilots couldn't operate it because it was on a panel behind them!
The Comet actually had seating for 5; I know because I did a trip in the 5th seat where the 'transponder operator' sat; yes really, the pilots couldn't operate it because it was on a panel behind them!
The E-4B "doomsday plane" has up to 112 crew.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-She...e/104503/e-4b/
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-She...e/104503/e-4b/
I remember a "Straight and Level" pic in "Flight" that had a large crew about to board some vintage aircraft with a balloon caption saying "One more and we'll have a cricket team".
Cunning Artificer
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Surprised no-one has mentioned the ten man crew of a Shackleton, but surely the E-3 AWACS beats the lot with the 4 flight deck and 18 operators.
Spruce Goose
According to Wikipedia, when Howard Hughes flew the Spruce Goose his crew included a copilot, two flight engineers, 16 mechanics, and two other flight crew. It also carried seven invited guests from the press corps and an additional seven industry representatives. In total, thirty-six people were on board.
According to Wikipedia, when Howard Hughes flew the Spruce Goose his crew included a copilot, two flight engineers, 16 mechanics, and two other flight crew. It also carried seven invited guests from the press corps and an additional seven industry representatives. In total, thirty-six people were on board.
