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AntonovAn-225 Mriya
ASCC code****: Cossack
Heavy Transport
DESCRIPTION:
Currently the world's largest airplane, the An-225 Mriya (dream) is an enlarged version of the An-124. The original purpose of the An-225 was to ferry large components used in the Soviet space program. These duties were formerly performed by a modified M-4 Molot bomber, but this aircraft did not have the payload capabilities required by the rocketry developments of the 1980s. Antonov was called upon to develop a new aircraft capable of carrying the Buran space shuttle, components of the Energiya rocket, or other large cargos required by the construction and mining industries.
To minimize the An-225 development effort, Antonov used the existing An-124 as a starting point. This design was modified by lengthening the fuselage, increasing the wingspan, adding two engines, and redesigning the tail with twin vertical fins. The rear cargo doors were also removed although the An-225 retains a nose door. The greater weight of the An-225 also required four additional pairs of main landing gear tires.
The An-225 took to the air for the first time in 1988 and quickly set 106 world records in just one flight. The massive plane, complete with the Buran orbiter attached, also made quite a stir at the Paris air show in 1989. However, the abandonment of the Buran program after the collapse of the Soviet Union led to the grounding of the sole An-225.
The An-225 remained in storage in Ukraine for several years until 2000. At that time, Antonov spent $20 million to upgrade the aircraft with new avionics and other modern equipment. The updated An-225 entered service in 2001 as a commercial transport for heavy and oversized freight. The plane is operated jointly by Antonov and the British firm Air Foyle.
Construction of a second An-225 had also begun during the 1980s but was stopped in 1994. Should operations with the existing An-225 prove profitable enough, it is possible that the second aircraft could be completed for service, though it seems unlikely. Last modified 12 April 2007
HISTORY: First Flight (An-225) 21 December 1988
(An-225 with Buran) 13 May 1989 Service Entry
originally 1989
returned to service in 2001
CREW: six: pilot, co-pilot, four cabin crew
PASSENGERS: 70
ESTIMATED COST:
$300 million [2005$]
AIRFOIL SECTIONS: Wing Root unknown supercritical Wing Tip
unknown supercritical
DIMENSIONS: Length 275.58 ft (84.00 m) Wingspan 290.00 ft (88.40 m) Height 59.67 ft (18.20 m) Wing Area 9,742 ft2 (905.00 m2) Canard Area
not applicable
WEIGHTS: Empty 628,315 lb (285,000 kg) Typical Load unknown Max Takeoff 1,322,750 lb (600,000 kg) Fuel Capacity 661,375 lb (300,000 kg) Max Payload
internal: 440,925 lb (200,000 kg)
external: 551,150 lb (250,000 kg)
PROPULSION: Powerplant six Lotarev D-18T turbofans Thrust 309,540 lb (1,377 kN)
PERFORMANCE: Max Level Speed at altitude: 530 mph (850 km/h)
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 495 mph (800 km/h) Initial Climb Rate unknown Service Ceiling unknown Range typical: 2,430 nm (4,500 km)
ferry: 8,310 nm (15,400 km) g-Limits unknown
ARMAMENT: Gun none Stations none Air-to-Air Missile none Air-to-Surface Missile none Bomb none Other none
KNOWN VARIANTS: An-224 Original designation for the An-225 except it retained the rear cargo door of the An-124; not built An-225 Heavy transport designed to ferry the Buran space shuttle and components of the Energia rocket; 1 built An-225-100 New designation for the An-225 after being modernized in 2000 with updated communications gear, navigation equipment, a collision avoidance system, and noise reduction features for use as a heavy commercial transport; 1 converted An-325 Proposal for an enlarged variant of the An-225 with an additional engine mounted on each inboard pylon and able to carry an increased payload, proposed primarily as a possible launch platform for Russian or foreign space vehicles; not built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
none
KNOWN OPERATORS: Civil Antonov Airlines Military Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)
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