Marabou stork was moved into the genus "Leptoptilos" and the ending was modified to "crumeniferus" and used by many authors until it was noted that the correct masculine ending to match the genus is "crumenifer". The marabou stork is a massive bird: large specimens are thought to reach a height of and a weight of . A wingspan of was accepted by Fisher and Peterson, who ranked the species as having the largest wing-spread of any living bird. Even higher measurements of up to have been reported, although no measurement over has been verified. It is often credited with the largest spread
IAE VUT Marabou and the vertical tail are composite. Seats are in tandem with the forward one well ahead of the wing and the raised rear seat just forward of its leading edge. The canopy, with a smooth and rising profile, is divided into two single-piece transparencies. A 60 kW (80 hp) Rotax 912 flat-four engine is mounted immediately behind and above the rear seat in pusher configuration. The fuselage is a wholly composite structure. The Marabou has a low tricycle undercarriage with fuselage-mounted, glass reinforced plastic cantilever mainlegs. The nosewheel is steerable and the mainwheels have hydraulic brakes. The first flight was