What is antonov an-225?

The Antonov An-225 Mriya ("Dream" in Ukrainian) was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukrainian SSR within the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It was, for a long time, the heaviest aircraft ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes (1,410,000 lb). It also had the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service.

Here are some key aspects:

• Purpose: Primarily designed to transport the Buran spaceplane and its Energia rocket boosters.
• Size and Capacity: The enormous size allowed for the transport of exceptionally heavy and oversized cargo. Its internal cargo hold was a massive 43.35 m (142 ft 3 in) long, 6.4 m (21 ft 0 in) wide, and 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) high.
• Engines: Powered by six turbofan engines.
• Uniqueness: Only one fully operational An-225 was ever completed. A second airframe was partially built but never finished.
• Operational History: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the An-225 was refurbished and used for heavy cargo transport, operated by Antonov Airlines. It became a sought-after solution for moving outsized and uniquely heavy items.
• Destruction: Tragically, the only completed An-225 was destroyed during the Battle of Antonov Airport in February 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are ongoing discussions about potentially rebuilding it.

Here are some important links related to the Antonov An-225:

• Antonov Design Bureau: Antonov%20Design%20Bureau
• Buran Spaceplane: Buran%20Spaceplane
• Antonov Airlines: Antonov%20Airlines