Antonov An-225 Mria

Currently the world's largest aircraft, the An-225 Mriya (dream) stemmed from the need to transport large items for the Soviet space programme. Previously a converted Myasishchev Mya-4 'Bison' bomber had been used to carry outsize items on its back, but this had a limited payload capacity, meaning many components had to be disassembled or not carried at all.

In mid-1985 Antonov was entrusted with the design of a new aircraft able to carry the Buran shuttle orbiter, large components of the Energiya launch vehicles and other outsize items for construction and mining industries. Construction of the An-124 provided the basis for the new aircraft, Antonov using many of the same components to keep cost and development effort down.

The fuselage and wings are similar to the An-124, the cabin retaining the same cross-sectional dimensions but with increased length. To save weight the rear loading ramp is removed, but the An-225 retains the nose visor. Standard An-124, wings are grafted on to a new centre section, thereby increasing the span while keeping the engine installations the same. An additional pair of D-36T turbofans is fitted to the new centre section, raising thrust to an amazing 1377kN. In order to support the increased weight, seven pairs of wheels are fitted to each side as opposed to five in the An-124.

Outsize loads that cannot fit into the capacious cabin (including Buran and Energiya components) are carried 'piggy-back', the load supported on two main attachments above the centre section. These supports and other smaller ones along the fuselage top are faired over when not in use. To avoid buffeting from the 'piggyback' load, the An-225 has twin vertical fins mounted on the end of a large tailplane.

The prototype made its first flight on 21 December 1988, and in March 1989 set up no fewer than 106 world and class records in one flight from Kiev, at a maximum take-off weight in excess of 500000kg. Only two have been completed so far, and the first flew with Buran on 13 May 1989, This combination made a dramatic appearance in the West for the first time a month later at the Paris Air Salon.

FACTS AND FIGURES

© The An-225 made its first flight carrying the Buran space shuttle orbiter on 13 May 1989 from Baikonur cosmodrome.

© On 22 March 1989 the An-225 established 106 payload records.

© The Mriya is nearly twice the size of the American Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.

© On its record-breaking flights, the huge An-225 took off at an all-up weight of 508,200kg.

© Typically, the 'Cossack' carries two pilots, two flight engineers and two navigators.

© Like the Su-27, the flight system incorporates fly-by-wire controls.