Antonov AN-225 Destroyed

[General Ike]

I am unfortunately reading reports that the one and only AN-225 (the largest transport aircraft in the world) was destroyed in Ukraine last week by a Russian attack.  This aircraft was originally created as a way of transporting the Soviet Buran space shuttle, much in the way that a Boeing 747 was converted to do the same with our shuttles.  With the fall of the Soviet Union the Buran program was scrapped and the AN-225 became Ukrainian property.  In the following decades it made several record breaking flights for size and weight of cargo.  It also participated in many humanitarian airlifts for natural disasters.

David Wild a member of this forum (not active lately) was I believe a loadmaster on this aircraft at one point in his career.  There was a discussion about the plane in the "Non Union Shop" thread a year or so ago that he commented on. 

[harrybarbon]

I recall reading that there was a 2nd AN-225 incomplete sitting in a hanger in Ukraine.

[mrsmackpaul]

Sadly the cost of war I guess, but I guess it can be replaced unlike human life 

Sad state of affairs over there, hopefully common sense prevails and this mess is sorted sooner rather than later

 

Paul

[Terry T]

There is a Ukraine on the JOT page and he posted this a few days ago.  He has been updating on the board as he can.

"Yesterday the occupiers destroyed the largest Mriya plane in the world. From the Ukrainian language, Mriya translates as Dream! They destroyed our dream with wings, but they will never be able to kill the dream of freedom of my people, which will soon come!"

 

[mattb73lt]

I've seen this aircraft at Bradley IAP (KBDL) in Connecticut a few times several years ago while it was there to transport new helicopters from Sikorsky to Europe. Massive doesn't even begin to give you a scale on it's size. I've been on C-5 Galaxies before and this is so beyond those. Such a shame and all of this is so unnecessary.

[General Ike]

On 3/2/2022 at 2:47 AM, harrybarbon said:

I recall reading that there was a 2nd AN-225 incomplete sitting in a hanger in Ukraine.

Yes there is, or at least used to be an incomplete airframe somewhere.

[Vladislav]

Really sad events.

I saw the aircraft when it flew carrying Buran shuttle near Moscow ring road in 1988 or 1989. Plenty of time passed since.

Don't lean toward commenting what happens in Ukraine now, the most info I have is from media and generally the same as you can learn in your country. Personally I can say the least I'm shocked. And couldn't belive even in the morning of the 1st day when heard the news. Sure sanctions will affect my incoms and abilities to provide the resto projects. But the matter that bothers me the most is what Paul mentioned in his post above.

Vlad

[mattb73lt]

There’s no rebuilding this. Such a waste.

[harrybarbon]

Seems deliberate, destroy an icon, 1 of only, take possession at worst but not destroy such a useful and successful transport of large items by air. Now sea freight is alternative.