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!!

[rahbert]

Mriya visits Alliance Airport in Ft Worth every so often,
maybe they are taking out oilfield equipment? Its for rent,
will fly anywhere in the world (as long as the runway is
big enough).

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thanks for tonites thread Connie!
Good evening Ma!
Good evening Canteeners and Troops!
What a crummy day I had!
*fuming*
I'm lookin' to turn it around!
Is it okay to keep my grouchy self here for awhile?
Hugs alla round!
Ms.B

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha My!

Looks like a DSRV but you're right.....a sub in the tube....and a tractor-trailer too.

[MEG33]

Thanks..I don't see a blip on the radar.Strong hunderstorms possible in my forecast.

[mylife]

Yeah its a DSRV

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Little Devil!



Stay frosty and sharp is the word.

[AZamericonnie]

Ugh...the paper chase! I know what you mean!

Have you noticed these days that you have to run about 3/4's of your mail through the shredder? I need a new shredder! lol

[mylife]

Howdy Ms B

[Army Air Corps]

Central Texas, eh?

San Antonio is my hometown.

[luvie]

MS.BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

(((((((((hugs)))))))))).....maybe? =\

Is it all right to get near you right now
or are you going to go up in flames! :D

[NYTexan]

How bad could it have been? Yer here with us!

[mylife]

Hey! theres a pile of us coming to your town on the 14th
We should met up

[luvie]

Ungh! They just put up a tornado watch in my area, too. No cloud build-up yet, but they come up really fast. Rats!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Hiya Kathy!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Ahhhh..
Thanks big guy!
"LIL DEVIL HUG*
Ms.B

[Army Air Corps]

Sure. Sounds like a spiffy idea!

[luvie]

I would love to see one of those big suckers take off!

[Army Air Corps]

Well, the NWS shows front activity headed toward you.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hiya my!
*HUG*
How ya doing?
Ms.B

[BIGLOOK]

As I looked at that photo, I couldn't forget the Russian sub that was lost when the Russians dilly dallied over rescue assistance a few years back. Haven't any data to connect the photo with the incident....but we don't fly DSRVs around routinely.