My last post about the largest aircraft in the world sparked a lot of sincere interest to the Antonov AN-225 Mriya plane. It also caused some concerns about the rumors that appeared in media same day expressed in the post comments and in steemit.chat. The rumors in brief were about selling AN-225, all its technologies, design and other technical papers to the Airspace Industry Corporation of China (AICC). Since it’s not true, by this post I wanted to ‘clear the sky.’
In brief about the largest plane in the world:
The Antonov An-225 Mriya (Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-225 Мрія (dream or inspiration), NATO reporting name: "Cossack") is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. It is powered by six turbofan engines and is the longest and heaviest airplane ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes (710 short tons). It also has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service. The single example built has the Ukrainian civil registration UR-82060. A second airframe was partially built; its completion was halted because of lack of funding and interest.
The Antonov An-225, initially developed for the task of transporting the Buran spaceplane, was an enlargement of the successful Antonov An-124. The first and only An-225 was completed in 1988. After successfully fulfilling its Soviet military missions, it was mothballed for eight years. It was then refurbished and re-introduced, and is in commercial operation with Antonov Airlines carrying oversized payloads. The airlifter holds the absolute world records for an airlifted single item payload of 189,980 kilograms (418,834 pounds), and an airlifted total payload of 253,820 kg (559,577 lb). It has also transported a payload of 247,000 kilograms (545,000 pounds) on a commercial flight.
By the official information from the Antonov State Company on August 30, 2016 the Company signed a memorandum with Airspace Industry Corporation of China (AICC).
It is agreed by both parties that Airspace Industry Corporation of China invests into completion of the second AN-225, which is ready by 60-70%% as I briefly mentioned in my previous article and manufacturing of 25 Antonov AN-178 (short-range medium-airlift military transport aircraft).From the official interview of the President of the Antonov State Company to LIGA.NET:
"There is an agreement that provides for further cooperation (here Airspace Industry Corporation of China, -. Ed). Separate contracts to be signed yet. We confirm our intention to finish the second Mriya, upgrade it and sell it to China." - Kotsuba said.
"The Chinese are investing their money into finishing a modern aircraft on the basis of Mriya..", - Said Kotsuba without specifying the timing of signing the contract.
He added that "there is nothing about of any transfer of property rights, technology, or selling an operational Mriya." Also, according to Kotsuba, AICC representatives discussed the expansion of cooperation in the project of AN-178. "Along with the project of AN-225 they are took obligations to advance the production of AN-178. This is a large transport company, and they need such aircraft to be used in their transport hubs," noted the President of Antonov Company. According to him, we are talking about last year signed memorandum on production of 25 AN-178.
As the press service of the Antonov State Company infomed, the agreement provides for the first stage of construction of the second An-225 in Ukraine and it’s transfer to AICC. At the second stage - the creation of a joint serial production of An-225 in China under license of the Antonov State Company. Both stages will be implemented under the terms of separate contracts, stated by the Antonov State Company.
The second airplane is ready by 60-70%% yet since Soviet times, the center-left, the fuselage and the wing. The aircraft was planned to finish by the Antonov State Company, if funding is available.
From the interview to liga.net
Some pictures of the second unfinished Antonov AN-225 Mriya plane:
As promised in my previous post, Antonov An225 Mriya landing in England 4K video:
