Antonov Year-225

The Antonov Year-225 Mriya (“ the Ukrainian dream ” in ) is a Transport aircraft very-large-carrier, which was produced in Ukraine and received as code name for NATO “Cossack” (the Year-124 had that of “Condor”). This plane with impressive dimensions is able to transport bulky and heavy loads at considerable distances. It is the longest plane of the world, but the second in term of scale, behind the giant Hydravion H-4 Hercules.

According to Anatoli Boulanenko, the Year-225 was never yet used to the maximum of its potential and, always according to him, an-225 is as handy as a fighter plan. Indeed, during a demonstration above the Le Bourget, it transfered with an angle of 45° with the Soviet space shuttle Bouran of 62 ton S fixed on its fuselage.

The only specimen of the completed Year-225 took the air for the first time the December 21st 1988, took off with the Bourane space shuttle the May 13rd 1989 and took part in the Paris airshow in June 1989.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the stop of the space program, the initial mission of this apparatus was abandoned.

It was given in flight to spring 2001 and appeared with the Paris airshow this same year. Since it is exploited by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines for flights cargo liners with the request.

The construction of a second specimen had been started, but the apparatus was stored before being finished. Antonov could complete it if the request appeared sufficient.

Other characteristics

The Year-225 is a six turbo-jet aircraft very-large-carrier. It is able to transport a load in the neighborhoods of 250 tons in a compartment of 43,32 m length, 6,4 m broad and 4,4 m in height. To give an order of ideas, the wings have a clearance of almost 6m!

Antonov Year-225 is the largest plane (in length, and maximum mass on takeoff, but not in scale) existing at present.

See too

List of the civil aircrafts
Biography of the manufacturer Antonov

External bonds

Site over the Year-225

Simple: Antonov Year-225

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