Those with an interest in aviation, engineering and travel will be interested to learn about the Astonishing Antonov AN-225 - the largest cargo aircraft in the world. This enormous aircraft is world-famous amongst aircraft enthusiasts and it is easy to see why as it is quite unlike any other plane in the world, with a long and interesting history.

A Close Look

The Antonov AN-225 (meaning “Dream” in Ukrainian) was developed during the Cold War in the 80’s as a way to airlift the Buran spacecraft for the Soviet space program. It has held the title of the biggest commercially used freighter in the world for over 25 years and it is the biggest heavier-than-air aircraft in terms of length and wingspan.

It is 85.3 metres long and has a wingspan of 88 metres and it is powered by six turbofan engines - this allows it to be capable of carrying up to 250 tonnes of cargo (the Boeing 747-800 can carry 140 tonnes).

Early History

There is only one operational AN-225 in the entire world so it is no surprise that people try to get a glimpse of it whenever it makes a voyage. Although it seems revolutionary, the AN-225 is actually an extension of the AN-124 Ruslan freight aircraft with the hull and wingspan being increased by a huge 15 metres.

The AN-225 took its maiden voyage in on December 21st 1988 and was presented to the world 6 months later at the Paris Air Show complete with the Buran on top.

Fall of the Soviet Union

There were plans to build more AN-225s but the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the shuttle programme scuppered these plans which is why there is just one in existence. The Antonov Group acquired the AN-225 following this and searched for ways to make the plane profitable.

The Antonov Group partnered with Ukrainian manufacturer Motor-Sich and together they spend $20 million upgrading the enormous aircraft.

Recent History

Its first commercial flight took place on January 2nd, 2002, when it flew from Stuttgart, Germany to the Persian Gulf. The AN-225 hauled 216,000 prepared meals for American Military personnel operating in the Gulf. It has also been used to take aid to a number of disaster scenes, including the Haiti 2010 earthquake and the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The Anton AN-225 is a breathtaking example of engineering. The world’s largest aircraft has remarkable facts and figures with over 200 world records to its name, plus it has also provided a very important service to the world in recent times and continues to be used to this day.

Picture credit: Alex Beltyukov - http://www.airliners.net/photo/Antonov-Design-Bureau/Antonov-An-225-Mriya/2178900/L/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22569287