An amazing engineering feat: the Antonov AN-225 'Mriya' strategic cargo aircraft!

In 1985, during the Cold War, the aviation manufacturing giant Antonov Design Bureau designed and built a single, very large AN-225 'Mriya' heavy cargo aircraft. Moreover, no other country except the Soviet Union has ever built a cargo aircraft of such a large size and capacity as this cargo aircraft. In fact, around 1980, the Antonov Design Bureau in Ukraine, the former Soviet Union, designed this aircraft and its chief designer was Viktor Tolmachev. 

Although the Soviet Union's Antonov Aviation Company completed its design and construction in 1985, its first successful flight was actually completed on December 21, 1988. However, when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, it became fully owned by Ukraine. However, Ukraine was able to keep it operational until February 2022, using its own technical capabilities instead of leaving it in place. However, even though it was destroyed in the Ukraine-Russia war, the Ukrainian government wants to rebuild it, which could cost around $500 million to rebuild.

Although it was originally designed for space research, the former Soviet Union AN-225 'Mriya' cargo aircraft was used as the main aircraft for transporting Buran-class orbiter space satellites for the Soviet space program from 1988 until the end of the Cold War, i.e. in 1991. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it was used only as a large cargo aircraft for transporting goods under the ownership of Ukraine.

This cargo aircraft, which flies smoothly and produces power, uses 6 very powerful D-18 turbofans (Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofans) jet engines. Moreover, each of its powerful engines can produce 229.5 kilonewtons (kN) of thrust/force. Its fuel capacity is about 300 tons and it can travel continuously in the sky for 15,400 kilometers (maximum operational range) with one fuel. However, the cargo can fly up to a maximum distance of 4,000 kilometers with a payload of 200 tons. 

Moreover, this iconic heavy cargo aircraft weighed 285 tons when empty. Moreover, although its maximum payload capacity is said to be 640 tons, it actually flew in the sky with a payload of a record 250 tons. This aircraft, which is about the size of a 5-story building, uses 32 wheels. And the length of this aircraft is 275 feet 7 inches, height is 59 feet 5 inches. Its wingspan is 290 feet. The maximum speed is 850 kilometers per hour and the cruise speed is 800 kilometers per hour.

While in service, this Ukrainian strategic AN-225 'Mriya' cargo aircraft landed in Bangladesh twice. Although it was destroyed in the face of Russian military aggression, this super giant cargo aircraft will remain an unimaginable innovation and amazing discovery in the history of aviation technology due to its complex engineering and huge size. Today, in the 20th century, global aviation technology has reached a unique height, but everything seems to fade away in the face of the vastness of this old cargo aircraft built in the nineties. 

References: CNN, Simple Flying, Flight Line, Wikipedia.