Mriya Is Gone | World’s Largest Aircraft ‘Antonov An-225’ Completely Destroyed In Russian Attack

The Antonov An-225, a marvel of aviation and the world’s largest cargo plane, was completely destroyed in an attack on its base in Ukraine’s Hostomel/Gostomel airport.

The Antonov An-225 aircraft, often known as ‘Mriya’ is a 6-engine, 84-metre-long aircraft with 32-wheel landing gear that first flew in 1988.

According to a Russian State TV broadcast from Kyiv’s Gostomel Airport, An-225 is now completely destroyed!

Russian State TV report from Gostomel Airport in Kyiv. Sadly An-225 completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/9kN04Gkz91

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— Aldin 🇧🇦 (@aldin_ww) March 4, 2022

In memory of the aircraft, we’ve listed all of the factors that contributed to its uniqueness. Here is everything you need to know about the Antonov An-225 Mriya:

Size of Antonov An-225 Aircraft

The Antonov has been famous for its enormous size since its introduction. The fact that its wings could hold six turbofan engines alone gives you an idea of its size. Its nickname, ‘Mriya,’ is the only way to accurately characterize its size in a single word. In Ukrainian, the word means ‘dream’ or ‘inspiration.’

In terms of the scale’s exact measurements, it measured 84 metres from nose to tail. It was capable of dwarfing the longest aircraft, such as the Boeing 777-9, 77-8, and Airbus A340-600, which measured 76.7, 76.4, and 75.4 metres, respectively. The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is the closest transport aircraft in length, measuring 75.3 metres.

If the aircraft’s length has grabbed your attention, wait until you see the wingspan. Only the Hughes H-4 Hercules and the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch could compete with the plane’s 88.4-metre wingspan. The maximum takeoff weight is 650 tonnes, while the cargo capacity is 250 tonnes.

After describing its length and wingspan, it would be unfair to leave out the height of the aircraft. The An-225 stood 18 metres tall. To give you a sense of scale, that is roughly the height of a six-story skyscraper.

World Records of Antonov An-225

According to Antonov, the manufacturer of the Ukrainian Aircraft, the AN-225 set as many as 240 records including two Guinness World Records for the aircraft with the heaviest take-off weight and the widest wingspan of any aircraft operating.

In June 2010, it delivered two wind turbine blades for China to Denmark, making it the world’s longest individual item of air freight (42.1 metres).

The An-225 also set records for the biggest single piece of air cargo (a 189-ton generator) and the highest total payload (a 189-ton generator) (four tanks totalling 253.82 tons).

Not just that, Antonov An-225 has even become a Hollywood favourite, appearing in films such as 2012 and Fast and Furious.

Indian Landing of Antonov An-225

In May 2016, Antonov An-225 made its first landing in India, at Hyderabad’s Shamshabad airport, en route to Perth to deliver a 117-tonne power generator (from Prague, Czech Republic) to Australian mining.

It also played a crucial role in the COVID-19 battle, transporting approximately 100 tonnes of medicines, laboratory kits, medical masks, and personal protective equipment in operations spanning Europe, Canada, and Africa.

Furthermore, it was also chartered to transfer ‘Puma’ helicopters from Kabul to the United Kingdom after the United States’ operations in Afghanistan ended.