FReeper Canteen~The Antonov An-225 Mriya~29 March, 2007

The Canteen Crew

[AZamericonnie]

The Antonov An-225 Mriya


The Antonov-225 at Munich Airport

Antonov An-225 "Mriya" is the world's largest aircraft. When it was built, it surpassed any airliner built before by 50%. It was designed for the transportation of the Russian Space Shuttle "Buran" by the Antonov Design Bureau (HQ in Kiev, Ukraine), which already had built good and large cargo aircraft such as the Antonov An-124 "Ruslan". The basic configuration of the An-225 is the same as the An-124, except the An-225 is longer, has no rear ramp/door assembly, and incorporates a 32-wheel landing gear system (two nose and fourteen main wheel bogies, seven per side, each with two wheels).


An-225 carrying the Buran shuttle

An-225 "Mriya" ("Mriya" is Ukrainian word for "dream) is also capable to transport other oversized objects/cargo. It is not a military aircraft, but it could find many military uses, because of the ability to transport cargo that no other aircraft is capable to.

The plane had the first flight in early 1988 and entered service in 1989. It's first flight took 75 minutes. After the cancellation of the Buran space program, the only An-225 built was stored in spring 1994, and it's engines were used for An-124s. In 2001 the aircraft was made airworthy again, and made it's new first flight on May 7. There were rumors that the European Space Agency had plans to launch the unmanned British HoTOL (Horizontal Take-Off and Landing) from the An-225, though these rumors appear to be unfounded. Although, some possibilities for deployment have already been found. Plenty of customers are to be found in the USA. According to Bruce Bird, Director of the Charter Division of Air Foyle, parts of rocket launchers like the Delta and Atlas could be transported in the An-225. Lockheed's planned Venture Star could be transported on its back. Additionally the Mrija could serve as a launch platform for the X-34B. Furthermore big sections of aircraft could be transported in it. The complete assembled fuselage of a Boeing 737 can be fitted in the hold.

General characteristics
Crew: 6
Payload: 250,000 kg (551,000 lb)
Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21.0 ft)
Length: 84 m (276 ft)
Wingspan: 88.40 m (291 ft 2 in)
Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
Wing area: 905.0 m² (9,741 ft²)
Empty weight: 175,000 kg (385,800 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,411,000 lb)
Powerplant: 6× ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229 kN (51,600 lbf) each
Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload

Performance
Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
Cruise speed: 750 km/h (400 knots, 465 mph)
Range:

With maximum fuel: 14,000 km (8,700 mi)
With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.234

A size comparison between four of the largest aircraft. Put on yer glasses to read this!:)

Shuttle Buran & Antonov AN225 Mriya Video

THE WORLDS BIGGEST PLANES!!

[AZamericonnie]

Glad all went well!

I got no time to visit!:(

Hopefully tomorrow!

[Plains Drifter]

Thank you,very nice.

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Connie!

Yeah the Antonov is a bit bigger but the C-5 Galaxy serves real coffee.

JJ and Puppypusher, the C-5 visits here a couple times a year out of Stewart AFB. We look for it in the sky and in the parking area and visit to see it up close. Whether on the ground or in the sky, you can't miss it.

[HiJinx]

Cool...the Spruce goose still ranks up there as one of the largest planes ever built!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Carencia de sueño. LOL!

[luvie]

Thank you. I'll know by in the morning, I hope, whether I'll get to visit.

The caprock is pretty in it's own way.

[luvie]

Evenin' Mrs.N! How did your day off go today?

Mine was great!

((((hugs))))

[Army Air Corps]

Long nights, eh?

Well, we are getting power fluctuations here.

[luvie]

It's not a big story. :D

Yep, they fly over a lot...seemingly so sloooooow that we wonder what keeps them up. LOL! Very loud, too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Things to do, and not enough time to do them. d:o)

Did I see that you are expecting storms?

[AZamericonnie]

Bless you dearheart! Likewise & I hope to see you tomorrow! *Hugs*

[BIGLOOK]

Howard's End....

[Army Air Corps]

This will be the second wave today.

The second front is moving in as I type (the wind is fierce).

[SevenofNine]

That true OMGG GUYS for people who have cable watch South Park this week on reruns they did brutal reset on 24 Hillary Clinton and terrorism LOLOLOL!

[MEG33]

*HUGS* It was warm! I have the sliding door open to let in some cooler night air. My kitty wants to climb the screen and I won't let her..She is most unhappy with me.
No "visitors" yet.

[SevenofNine]

OMGGGGG I been on tourist thingy here Spurce goose I went inside as kid on field trip REMEMBER FOLKS I am from SO CAL it really next doort to Queen Mary 1 in Long beach Cali

[mylife]

Theres something you dont see everyday! A submarine IN an airplane

[MEG33]

I am in Central Texas and our"weather" should hit tomorrow afternoon..We need all the rain but not wind or hail!

[Fred Hayek]

A fair number of the big Antonov's fly in and out of Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX. Fits the bill perfectly for transporting large equipment for oil production, petrochem and refinery plants. And they can operate from not so paved fields.

[Army Air Corps]

Well, the nasty stuff is heading north easterly. You might get some rain from the system, but the winds are currently pushing the front to the northeast.