Ukrainian aircraft maker Antonov deferred comment after multiple officials and news outlets reported that the An-225 Mriya heavy airlifter was destroyed during fighting at an airport near Kyiv.
The world’s largest aircraft had been parked at Antonov International Airport near Kyiv when the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24. The airport has been the scene of continued fighting since a Russian air assault attacked the base later that day.
“Currently, until the An-225 has been inspected by experts, we cannot report on the technical condition of the aircraft. Stay tuned for further official announcement,” Antonov said in a tweet on Feb. 27.
Radio Liberty, a U.S. government-funded media outlet, reported on Feb. 27 the An-225 had been destroyed during fighting at the airport, citing two anonymous sources within Antonov.
A video purportedly showing a destroyed hangar on the base circulated on social media, which also claimed that the An-225 had been destroyed when a bomb hit the facility. The video could not be verified, but several government channels–including the Twitter accounts of the Ukrainian government and the deputy prime minister–echoed the information that the An-225 had been destroyed.
Despite the reports, Antonov itself seemed unsure about the aircraft’s current status.
The An-225 was built by the Soviet Union to ferry the Buran space shuttle, but was converted into an outsized cargo lifter for Antonov International Airlines. Its nickname, which means “Dream” in Ukrainian, spoke to the national and even international interest in the unique six-engine aircraft throughout its service life.
AN225 "The Dream"
Twenty some odd years ago I watched her land. She brought in six 98,000 lbs turbines. I hooked a ride with the refuelers. Stay in the truck, they said. The aircraft security was tight and armed. Refueling took hours. (I was there only 30 minutes or so and got some great photos.)
ReplyDeleteI watched her take off. She taxied clear to the very end of the concrete, stood on the breaks, and increased thrust to take-off power. Her huge wings hanging beyond the width of the 200' wide runway. Massive dust clouds rising into the air. Standing at the departure end over one mile distant I discerned brake release as the fuselage torqued forward. She was rolling, chased by the clouds of dust. Less than max weight she took nearly every foot of the 9,000' runway. Everything looked so diminutive compared to her size. It looked like she barely cleared the fence. It was awesome and amazing and magnificent.
I heard that the crew were a ton of fun, warm and funny. Very pleasant.
Hey Rick,
DeleteYeah she was an impressive one of a kind plane.
Hey hedge;
ReplyDeleteHow is Vlad the Bald standing up for his country invading another one Says every Gen X'er that had spent time in the crotch and calling bull crap on your logic, that is the logic Saddam Hussain used when he invaded Kuwait, he was serving his country's interest until me and my buddies kicked his ass out and killed a bunch of his soldiers.