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]

In the Air Force they take the escalator, stop by Star Bucks for a latte, read the paper and then the mission orders, take a Lazy Boy with controls in front of them and check the NYSE and Dow Averages prior to take off.

You are sooo bad!LOL

I loves ya Bigs....:)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
You so funny!
Ms.B

[luvie]

ROFL!!!

[luvie]

Hope it's just a thunderstorm.

See ya next time!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Yes....scowling causes wrinkles....so stop it. d:o) You have lots of company coming and it would never do to have wrinkles!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Well, Dang!
LOL
I was enjoying it so much!
Ms.B

[BIGLOOK]

Just kidding, My. But when at DaNang, across from Gun Fighter Village, Navy and Marines waited for a call from our good buddies in the AF to come over to visit...a meal in an on-base restaurant, drinks at the club and a pizza to go. There was a big difference in the amenities.

[mylife]

Yeah they get fed pretty well L0L

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Okay, We have word now...

SOUTH PORTLAND - A 24-year-old South Portland native who was killed Sunday while serving in the Army in Iraq enjoyed poetry and was so proud of his military service that he wore his uniform back to South Portland High School to talk to students and teachers, his friends and family said Monday.
Army Sgt. Jason Swiger was the second Mainer -- and the second South Portland High graduate -- to die in Iraq this month when he and three other soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber in Diyala province, according to family members. Swiger was on his third tour in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.
"He's my hero and I will love him forever," his wife, Alanna, said Monday in a prepared statement. The couple met during a poetry reading at a coffeehouse in Fayetteville, N.C., and were married last May. They moved in with his wife's parents in Fayetteville, and Swiger began his third tour in Iraq in August.

Ms.B

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Night Owl!

Haven't a clue what that means but sure hope the guys visiting Japan have sizable balances in their checkbooks or like Ramen.

[mylife]

Heck remember slim pickens in dr strangelove? Paraphrasing...1000 rubles, 2 Mg atropine, 4 hershey bars 12 condoms, 2 pair of silk nylons... heck a fellow could have a pretty good weekend in vegas with all that"! ;0)

[BIGLOOK]

I can't remember having one of those in a long time...global warming strikes again!

Like you'd miss 'em.

[mylife]

Cyall later

[luvie]

REST IN PEACE
ARMY SGT.JASON SWIGER
PORTLAND, MAINE
..AND THE OTHER THREE
LOST IN IRAQ
YOU ARE MY HEROES

[luvie]

Nite, MY!

See ya next time!

15 more days! :D

[luvie]

Like.......no! LOL!

[mylife]

W00t!

[luvie]

We have thunder in the area. I could have to log off if my battery runs down. If I disappear, you'll know why! LOL!

Of course, sleep has to happen sometimes in the next hour or so anyway! :D

[luvie]

Yup!

A wOO and a hOO! :D

[Kathy in Alaska]

Wrinkles are not allowed. You can scowl for 5 more minutes. Then no more.....