Aviation History’s Marvel: Antonov AN-225 ‘Mriya’ Cargo Aircraft!

The Antonov AN-225 ‘Mriya’ was the largest and heaviest cargo aircraft in the world. Sadly, it was completely destroyed in February 2022 during the Russia-Ukraine war.

Originally designed in the 1980s by the Antonov Design Bureau of the former Soviet Union, its chief designer was Viktor Tolmachev.

Construction finished in 1985, and the aircraft made its first successful flight on December 21, 1988. After the Soviet Union collapsed, it was transferred to Ukraine.

This giant aircraft was used from 1988 to 1991, during the Cold War, to transport the ‘Buran’ space shuttle for the Soviet space program. Later, Ukraine operated it solely as a cargo aircraft until 2022.

Powered by six D-18 turbofan engines, the AN-225 had an empty weight of about 285 tons and a maximum take-off weight of 640 tons. In practice, it could carry payloads of up to 250 tons.

Its dimensions were impressive: 275 feet long, 59 feet high, and a wingspan of 290 feet. Equipped with 32 wheels, it could reach a maximum speed of 850 km/h and had an operational range of about 15,400 km. Its fuel capacity was nearly 300,000 kg of Jet A-1 kerosene.

Encouragingly, plans are underway to rebuild the aircraft by combining parts of the destroyed AN-225 with the unfinished second unit. The estimated cost is around €500 million.

Even in the 21st century, the AN-225 ‘Mriya’ remains a symbol of remarkable engineering and aviation history.

(Information and image collected)

Author:

Sherazur Rahman

Teacher & Science Writer,

Bangladesh.

Note:

This is an original writing. AI tools were used only for language improvement and fact-checking.