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!!

[HiJinx]

I just found a perfect panorama, but the pics are big and you're on dial-up.

Here's the link to that page with thumbnails...

Here's a smaller (bit size) picture...

[MeekMom]

Been hangin' in there Connie.
Hope you aren't too busy to have a peaceful night's rest!

((big hugs))

[luvie]

I'm glad it's over for you, Sis!

So far, so good. Just some beautiful-sounding rain and some
powerful lightning flashes. I am good till my battery runs
down, and it's not a very long-lived one. Less than an hour
now.

I am kinda tired, too. Though I was off and didn't do much.

[HiJinx]

Y'know, we only got three, and well...oh well, hold on..

[luvie]

Beautiful, Jinxy!

I look forward to seeing your neck of the woods next year...we hope!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Oh, that's lovely!
Thanks for the links too, Jinx!
Ms.B

[BIGLOOK]

Rack and roll, My. See ya tomorrow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep tight, "pumpkin". Thanks for helping honor our troops. ((HUGS))

[MEG33]

You can't steal it..I gave it to you. Remember?

[luvie]

I have a bit of time left on the battery, so I can wait! :D

[luvie]

Howdy, MM! (((hugs)))

Hope that means that you're having a pleasant week!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
Oh, that's right!
That is one of the lovelist pics I have ever seen...
How have you been, Meg?
All is well?
*HUG*
Ms.B

[Kathy in Alaska]

We put all our paper stuff in a big bin on wheels and then a truck, like a trash truck, comes and shreds right there in the parking lot.

[HiJinx]

Okay, Piper and her cousin ran around in circles - porch, bedroom, hallway, kitchen, dining room, porch - all afternoon. The first one is supposed to convey action. Whaddya think?

In this one, she is waiting for the little one (17 mos.) to negotiate that big step.

[HiJinx]

then a truck, like a trash truck, comes and shreds right there in the parking lot.

There is a service down here that comes around and picks up your locked bin and takes it to their facility for shredding. The hospital uses them.

The folks on post have their own industrial shredders, for obvious security reasons.

[Kathy in Alaska]

We had so much sun today that the parking lot has melted down to bare asphalt in big patches. It will all freeze tonight and be really SLICK in the morning.

[MEG33]

All is well..I have a "create a workable office "in my guest/computer room project done and the clean out and organize old paperwork, files, stacks, boxes, sacks..mostly done except shredding..and "take care of all the newer stuff"..moving along ...but not as fast as I'd like.
I have to build up some more steam.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Great pics!
My, how she has grown!
Ms.B

[luvie]

Ooooooooo...Jinxy!!! She is even more beautiful than before, if that is possible!

Thank you so much for sharing these with us.

That first one conveys a child who never slows down! LOL!

Her hair is getting so LONG!

Now...I gotta go. Thanks again for doing this for her fans! :D

[HiJinx]

My, how she has grown!

I know...it's so hard to remember that she's only 3. Her parents are already talking about pre-school.