Antonov An-225 Mriya – Photos & Videos

Den Antonov An-225 Mriya (Ukrainsk: Антонов Ан-225 Мрія, lit. 'drøm' eller 'inspirasjon'; NATO-rapporteringsnavn: Cossack) er et strategisk luftløftfraktfly som ble designet av Antonov Design Bureau i den ukrainske SSR i Sovjetunionen på 1980-tallet. Den drives av seks turbofanmotorer og er det tyngste flyet som noen gang er bygget, med en maksimal startvekt på 640 tonn (710 korte tonn; 630 lange tonn). Den har også den største vingespennet av alle fly i operativ tjeneste.

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The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a remarkable aircraft that was designed and built by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It is the largest and heaviest aircraft ever flown, with a wingspan of 88.4 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes. The name Mriya means “dream” or “inspiration” in Ukrainian, reflecting the ambitious nature of the project.
The An-225 was originally developed in the 1980s to transport the Buran space shuttle and the Energia rocket boosters for the Soviet space program. It made its first flight on 21 December 1988, carrying the Buran on its back. The An-225 has six turbofan engines, a twin tail, and a 32-wheel landing gear system. It can carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo internally or externally, and has set several world records for airlifted payloads.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the cancellation of the Buran program, the An-225 was mothballed for several years until it was refurbished and returned to service in 2001 by Antonov Airlines, a Ukrainian cargo operator. Since then, the An-225 has been used for various commercial and humanitarian missions, transporting oversized and heavy items such as locomotives, generators, wind turbines, and military equipment. The An-225 has also attracted a lot of public attention and admiration for its unique appearance and capabilities.
The An-225 is a one-of-a-kind aircraft, as only one example was completed. A second airframe was partially built but never finished due to lack of funding and demand. There have been several proposals to complete or build more An-225s, but none have materialized so far. The An-225 remains a valuable asset for Antonov Airlines and a source of pride for Ukraine.