Kyiv: On the very first day of the invasion of Ukraine in February, when Kyiv’s Hostomal Airport (Antanov Airport) was destroyed, Ukraine’s proud symbol, Antonov, also lost its wings. The giant Antonov AN-225 ‘Mria’ was the world’s largest and heaviest aircraft. Within days, Ukraine released the image of the crashed Antonov. But the authorities have confirmed the good news that the Antonov is coming back like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Antonov, the manufacturer of Antonov The company itself informed about this. A second version will be created on the model of the original Antonov. Design work for this has started. The company says 30 percent of the components from the original Antonov can be used in the second version. Construction costs are expected to be at least 500 million euros. At the same time, the company says that more information about the project will be released after Ukraine wins the war.
A giant born in the Soviet era
Antonov was designed to carry Buran-class orbiters and rockets as part of the Soviet Union’s space program in the 1980s. The Soviet Union used the Antonov 124 to carry the Buran class orbiters. The Antonov 225 was introduced by the Soviets in 1988 as a larger version of this aircraft.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Antanov came into Ukrainian hands, as the Antanov was built in territory under the control of Ukraine. However, in 2001, Antonov 225 was able to return to its former glory. The Antonov company made some repairs and returned the Antonov 225 as a cargo aircraft.
On September 11, 2001, Antonov flew again with four battle tanks weighing 253.82 tons. Antonov holds the record of being the first cargo plane in the world to carry such a weight. Owned by Antonov Airlines, Antonov’s first commercial flight was in 2002 from Germany to Oman.
A broken dream!
Antonov AN – 225 Mrya – “Mrya” means “dream” in Ukrainian
The heaviest aircraft in the world for three decades
The plane with the largest wingspan in the world
Highest payload capacity of any cargo aircraft in service in the world
???? Duty-bearing capacity – Weighs 640 tons
Length – 84 meters
Wheels – 32
Engines – 6