Antonov An-225 Cossack

Summary

Description

The Antonov An-225 Mriya was considered the world's largest cargo aircraft. This heavy lifter was produced in Ukraine during the Soviet period and was given the NATO code name "Cossack". Designed for transporting extremely heavy loads, it was the longest and heaviest aircraft in service. However, the giant 8-engined H-4 Hercules seaplane, built by Howard Hughes in the 1940s, exceeded the An-225 in terms of wingspan.

Historically, the An-225 Cossack was an extrapolation of the An-124 Condor. The new aircraft was intended to transport the Russian space shuttle Buran, similar to the Boeing 747 Special Shuttle Carrier Aircraft used to transport American space shuttles.

The first prototype of the An-225 made its maiden flight in Kiev on December 21, 1988. Despite its size and weight, the An-225 was reputed to be flexible and maneuverable in flight, as demonstrated during the 1989 Paris Air Show when it banked at a 45-degree angle with a 62-ton space shuttle attached to its fuselage! To support the immense weight of the aircraft, the landing gear had 32 wheels.

During a 3-hour and 30-minute flight on March 22, 1989, the An-225 broke 106 world records, including the maximum takeoff weight (508.2 tonnes), payload (156.3 tonnes), and maximum altitude based on the payload (12,340 meters). With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the discontinuation of the Buran space program, the original mission of this unique aircraft was abandoned, and the aircraft was put into storage. A second aircraft under construction was abandoned in 1994.

In 2000, the An-225 underwent a rejuvenation with numerous modifications. These included a new navigation system, collision avoidance system, and noise reduction for commercial use. The aircraft was then designated An-225-100. The An-225 took to the skies for good in spring 2001 and made its return to the Paris Air Show that same year. Since then, it has been operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines for on-demand cargo flights. In 2006, Antonov Airlines merged with Volga-Dnepr to form Ruslan International, which currently operates this unique aircraft.

The main weakness of the An-225 Cossack was that it was not cost-effective to operate. As a result, it was only used in certain cases when the cargo was too large to be transported by a single An-124. Economically, it was more reasonable to use two An-124s instead of making a single trip with the An-225. However, it remained a spectacular technological showcase for Ukraine as each movement of this giant aircraft did not go unnoticed. Fully renovated in the summer of 2009, the aircraft's new and attractive livery further enhanced its "showcase" aspect.

Unfortunately, on February 27, 2022, three days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a fire broke out in the aircraft, which was stored in a hangar at Hostomel airport, located north of Kiev, during the Russian forces' assault on the airport, resulting in its destruction.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

No country is operating the An-225 Cossack in 2024.

All operators

Ukraine

Photo of An-225 Cossack

Credits: Anthony Noble