https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225_Mriya
The Antonov An-225 Mriya (Ukrainian: ??????? ??-225 ???? (dream or inspiration),
NATO reporting name: "Cossack") is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft that was
designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. It is
powered by six turbofan engines and is the longest and heaviest airplane ever
built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes (710 short tons). It also has
the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service. The single example
built has the Ukrainian civil registration UR-82060. A second airframe with a
slightly different configuration was partially built. Its construction was
halted in 1994 because of lack of funding and interest, but revived briefly in
2009, bringing it to 60%-70% completion. On 30 August 2016, Antonov agreed to
complete the second airframe for Aviation Industry Corporation of China as a
prelude to AICC commencing series production.
The Antonov An-225, initially developed for the task of transporting the Buran
spaceplane, was an enlargement of the successful Antonov An-124. The first and
only An-225 was completed in 1988. After successfully fulfilling its Soviet
military missions, it was mothballed for eight years. It was then refurbished
and re-introduced, and is in commercial operation with Antonov Airlines carrying
oversized payloads. The airlifter holds the absolute world records for an
airlifted single-item payload of 189,980 kilograms (418,830 pounds), and an
airlifted total payload of 253,820 kg (559,580 lb). It has also transported a
payload of 247,000 kg (545,000 lb) on a commercial flight.
Role
Strategic airlifter
National origin
Soviet Union
Design group
Antonov
Built by
Antonov Serial Production Plant
First flight
21 December 1988
Status
In service
Primary user
Antonov Airlines
Produced
1988
Number built
1
Developed from
Antonov An-124
In the late 1980s, the Soviet government was looking to generate revenue from
its military assets. In 1989, the Antonov Design Bureau set up a holding company
as a heavy airlift shipping corporation under the name "Antonov Airlines", based
in Kiev, Ukraine and operating from London Luton Airport in partnership with the
Air Foyle HeavyLift.
The company began operations with a fleet of four An-124-100s and three Antonov
An-12s, but a need for aircraft larger than the An-124 became apparent in the
late 1990s. In response, the original An-225 was re-engined, modified for heavy
cargo transport, and placed back in service under the management of Antonov
Airlines.
Antonov An-225 at Gostomel Airport, Ukraine
On 23 May 2001, the An-225 received its type certificate from the Interstate
Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR). On 11 September 2001, carrying
four main battle tanks at a record load of 253.82 tonnes (279.79 short tons) of
cargo, the An-225 flew at an altitude of up to 10,750 m (35,270 ft) over a
closed circuit of 1,000 km (620 mi) at a speed of 763.2 km/h (474.2 mph).
Specifications (An-225 Mriya)
General characteristics
Crew: 6
Length: 84 m (275 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 0 in)
Height: 18.1 m (59 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 905 m2 (9,740 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 8.6
Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,317 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,410,958 lb)
Fuel capacity: 300,000 kg
Performance
Maximum speed: 850 km/h (528 mph; 459 kn)
Cruising speed: 800 km/h (497 mph; 432 kn)
Range: 15,400 km (9,569 mi; 8,315 nmi) with maximum fuel; range with 200 tonnes
payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,089 ft)
Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m2 (135.8 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.234
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