33 years since the An-225 “Mriya” took to the skies for the first time and has set more than 200 world records. Let us recall the history of the largest aircraft in the world — in 15 photos (from “Babelʼs” archive)
- Авторы:
- Serhii Pyvovarov, Евгений Спирин
- Дата:
Wikimedia
On December 21, 1988, the first flight of a prototype of the worldʼs largest transport aircraft An-225 "Mriya", created by the Kyiv "Antonov" plant, took place. It was initially built for the space industry ― it could transport rockets and serve as a "flying spaceport" for spacecraft. But the USSR soon collapsed, and the "Mriya" was mothballed in a hangar until the end of the 1990s. In the early 2000s, it was reconstructed and modified to carry extra-heavy and oversized cargo, such as locomotives or multi-ton generators. And "Mriya" was often used to deliver humanitarian cargo promptly. Until now, there was only one copy of the An-225. But it has already went down in history by setting about 250 world records for speed, height, and carrying capacity. The Russian invaders destroyed "Mriya" at the Hostomel airport near Kyiv in the first days of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the "Antonov" enterprise has already launched a fundraiser for the restoration of the aircraft. "Babel" recalls the worldʼs largest aircraft history in 15 photos.
The development of the aircraft began in 1985. The chief designer of the project was Viktor Tolmachev. In the photo: General Director of the Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after O. Antonov Petro Balabuev, who led all the development of the An series aircraft, demonstrates the An-225 "Mriya" model during a press conference. December…
ЦГКФФА Украины им. Г. С. Пшеничного
The development was completed in record time — 3,5 years. In the photo: A rally dedicated to the completion of the construction of the An-225 "Mriya" aircraft at the "Kyiv Aviation Production Association" (now the State Enterprise "Antonov"), November 1988.
ЦГКФФА Украины им. Г. С. Пшеничного
The basis for developing the new aircraft An-124 was "Ruslan", before "Mrіya" it was the largest aircraft in the world. In the photo: The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft in the hangar, November 30, 1988.
ЦГКФФА Украины им. Г. С. Пшеничного
"Mriya" is still the largest transport aircraft in the world. Here are some of its characteristics: wingspan — 88.4 meters, length — 84 meters, height — 18.2 meters, can lift about 250,000 kilograms of cargo. In the photo: The An-225 "Mriya" aircraft near the hangar, November 30, 1988.
ЦГКФФА Украины им. Г. С. Пшеничного
For the first time, "Mriya" was lifted into the air by a crew led by test pilot Oleksandr Halunenko. In the photo: A rally dedicated to the first test flight of the An-225 "Mriya" aircraft at the "Kyiv Aviation Production Association" (now the State Enterprise "Antonov"), December 21, 1988.
ЦГКФФА Украины им. Г. С. Пшеничного
An-225 was initially created for the Soviet space industry. It could not only carry the "Buran" spacecraft on its "back" but also serve as a "flying spaceport" from which the ship could launch into orbit. In the photo: Anatolii Bulanenko, Deputy General Aircraft Designer of the Experimental Design Bureau named after O. Antonov, gives an interview t…
ЦГКФФА Украины им. Г. С. Пшеничного
In the photo: Аn-225 "Mriya" with "Buran" made a real sensation at the 38th International Aerospace Show in Le Bourget, France, June 1989.
Getty Images / «Бабель»
In March 1989, "Mriya" took off with a load of 156.3 tons and set 110 world records in terms of speed, altitude, and carrying capacity in 3 hours and 45 minutes of flight. In the photo: An-225 "Mriya" at the International Air Show in Farnborough, UK, 1990.
Wikimedia
The European Space Agency also wanted to use "Mriya" as a "flying spaceport". In the photo: Model of the aerospace system, including the "Mriya" aircraft and the "Interim HOTOL" reusable spacecraft of the British Aerospace company, 1990.
Getty Images / «Бабель»
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the only functioning copy of the An-225 was sent to the hangar. The engines were removed from it in order to use them on the An-124 "Ruslan" aircraft. Only in the late 1990s was it decided to reconstruct the mothballed An-225 and return it to work to transport heavy loads. The first flight of the restored "Mr…
Getty Images / «Бабель»
In January 2002 "Mriya" made its first commercial flight. Since then, the aircraft has often been used to deliver bulky cargo: locomotives, multi-ton generators, and long wind turbine blades. Moreover, "Mriya" is often used for the prompt delivery of humanitarian cargo. In the photo: British musician Bono delivers a speech in front of an Antonov An…
Getty Images / «Бабель»
In the photo: Members of a French rescue team unload 150 tons of humanitarian aid from a "Mriya" to victims of the earthquake in Japan on March 25, 2011.
Getty Images / «Бабель»
"Mriya" managed to visit many countries and all continents, except for Antarctica. In the photo: An-225 made a commercial flight to Australia, transported a generator with equipment with a total weight of 130 tons from Prague to Perth on May 15, 2016.
Getty Images / «Бабель»
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Mriya" has been delivering medicines, medical equipment, and protective equipment around the world. In the photo: Minister of Defense of Germany Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (left) greets a shipment of medical masks delivered by an An-225 aircraft on April 27, 2020.
Getty Images / «Бабель»
Before it was severely damaged by Russians, the An-225 "Mriya" continued to set world records; the aircraft had accumulated about 250 of them. In the photo: "Mriya" flies over Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv during the parade dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine, August 24, 2021.
Getty Images / «Бабель»
Translated from Ukrainian by Yulia Pryimak.
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