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!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Congratulations, Mayor, on the new addition to your "stable". Sending prayers for your safe journey.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

How about a donut?

Coffee is always on........

Or a sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[Pusterfuss]

Good morning Kathy.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your contuined service to our country.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[tomkow6]

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning, Connie!!!!

Good morning, Canteen Crew !

Good morning, EVERYBODY!

 

GOOD

MORNING

TROOPS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tomkow6]

 

Today's FEEBLE

YOKE:

A doctor upon completing a medical examination on a women, takes the husband aside, and says, "I don't like the looks of your wife at all," 

"Me either Doc," replies the husband. "But she's a great cook and very good with the kids."

[tomkow6]

FIRST PLACE Chicago CUBS!!!!!!!

 

Countdown to

HOME OPENER!!

 

10 DAYS

SEASON OPENER

4 DAYS

FIRST PLACE Chicago CUBS!!!!!!!

 

Countdown to

HOME OPENER!!

 

10 DAYS

SEASON OPENER

4 DAYS

[beachn4fun]

WELCOME TO

(where our troops, allies and their families can refresh themselves)

Good morning, Everyone. Good morning

Thank you, Connie, for preparing the Canteen for today's activities. That's one big muther! I saw in the paper over the weekend, where they compared a whale to that new Airbus 380. It was like unbelievable.

DC Metroland weather report ~ Today....A mix of clouds and sun this morning with more sunshine this afternoon. High 64F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. ~ Tonight.....Mainly clear skies. Low near 35F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. (YUCK! low 35??? ENOUGH, already)

I've got to check out my pings and make a run through the Canteen. There are a lot of posts this morning, over 300. But, I'm caught up on my work and can spend a little more time in the Canteen, today and tomorrow.

But, you stay right where you are. Don't touch that dial. Don't change that channel. Put down that remote. Don't leave the room. Keep your eyes on your monitor. Cause...............I'll be bock!

And, for the rest of you………..

Now remember, the Canteen is

So, come on in and sit for a while. There's always plenty of coffee, pancakes, conversation, silliness, and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ....

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

(WOW......swoon....thunk)

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and

our allied military and the family members of the above.

Honoring those who have served before.

(many thanks to wonderful Sonora for the cute smiley woo hoos)

[MeekMom]

Mornin' Tom
T-4 days!

[tomkow6]

[StarCMC]

Awww! Man it's hard to believe how grown up that little princess is!

[StarCMC]

Morning Tom!

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How's it going?

[tomkow6]

Morning, Star!

[Robert A Cook PE]

Air flows and designs have to be similar if the two aircraft are to be able to fly efficiently.

But having said that, it's more true that they "overbuilt" this to be bigger than the C-5, rather than "just" support the USSR-clone of the Space Shuttle.

Propaganda was the source of much of the Soviet pressure in military spending: typically, they'd either make "one of" a bigger or more capable US machine, or many tens times a replacement for the more capable US machine. They'd make one plane (their SST) before the Concorde and Boeing supersonic transport, but it would not be as successful. Or they'd make several thousand MORE tanks, but each tank was less capable - but delivered faster, than the US M-1.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Can I ask something real silly but sincere? How do the pilots get into the cockpit?


There are stairs inside to go up from the cargo deck to the cockpit. Its about high enough that a semi-truck can drive in under the flight deck through the hinged front door. My son builds and maintains them out at Travis AFB, says that their is a ladder back INSIDE the tail you can use to get all the way up to the electronics and hydraulics at the top of the tail.... A lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng climb.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning and (((HUGS))) EG. Going pretty good for me.

How about you? Did you get hit by the storms?