Super Structures: Antonov 225 Part 5

Copyright Discovery Channel

From Wikipedia

The An-225 Mriya (Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-225 Мрія, NATO reporting name: Cossack) is a strategic airlift transport aircraft which was built by the Antonov Design Bureau, and is the largest flying airplane ever built. The design, built to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan. Mriya (Мрія) means "Dream" (Inspiration) in Ukrainian. Two An-225s have been produced.
The Antonov An-225 is commercially available for flying any over-sized payload due to the unique size of its cargo deck. Currently there is only one aircraft operating but a second mothballed airframe is being reconditioned and is scheduled for completion around late 2008.

FINAL

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• antonov
• 225
• super
• estructuras
• discovery
• channel
• soviet
• structures
• documental
• 124
• worldsbiggestairplane

[BALTAZARFAP]

russians and ukranians are both great people...capable of wonderfull machines...like this beautiful heavey jet. Congrats to you all.

[ravenssx]

Great Russian/Ukrainian engeneers. Powerful and beautiful plane!

[TheRaginTiger]

Imagine what would happen nowadays if the USSR formed up again!

[Truthseeker4449]

@polaris92220 Another might be pride. It would be kinda embarsing to use your arch enemy's plane to transport your shuttle (which already resembles the US's Shuttle).

[yamahonkawazuki]

@polaris92220 well one reason the 124 had a single tail fin, which the tail fin of the buran interferes with ( or would) i think the wieght of the buran would put the 124 above its limits

[polaris92220]

Great set of videos, my only question is, what was the reason the An 225 was needed to haul the Soviet's shuttle? It didn't have it's own engines, theoretically, it would be even lighter than the American shuttle, which is piggy-backed on a Boeing 747. They claim the An 124 could carry a heavier load than the 747, why couldn't they haul their shuttle on it? I'm sure there was a good reason, I just don't know what it is.

[icars98]

Well, Everything is possible!!

Even such a beast can fly!!!

[TimArmst]

"it doesn't require a big pilot" - just giant balls

[bennyc333]

@MadDawgAce03 I bet it would be a pain in the arse to change the tyres on a 225.

[eotunun]

A) What phantastig machines, deeply imprtessing!

B) Finally a really well made and decent documentary by the Discovery Channel, I wish they'd made more like that!

[manifestgtr]

you have to hand it to the soviets...they built this humongous aircraft that is not only awe inspiring but ultimately very practical...30 years ago, if you wanted to move a massive generator several thousand miles, you would do it at either an astronomical expense on the ground or simply wouldn't bother

as far as aviation feats go, this one us absolutely remarkable

[superwout]

@gladragsakshay how about a typewriter ....