The world’s biggest aircraft was the An-225 Mriya. “… the An-225 Mriya was not just transporting cargo – it was rewriting aviation history by setting more than 240 world records. Each of its flights was an event, and landings anywhere on the planet attracted crowds of enthusiastic spectators, turning into a real air show.” Orbital Today.
Antonov 225 Mriya Departs Manchester Airport, 26th June 2013
By Rory Lushman, June 27, 2013
Antonov 225 (UR-82060) finally leaves Manchester Airport after being delayed 24 hours. The huge aircraft is seen departing runway 23L on Wednesday 26th June 2013. The aircraft certainly pulled the crowds in. Just before the Antonov crosses onto runway two, Thomson 787 Dreamliner, G-TUIC lands on 23R.
The Antonov 225 is currently the largest aircraft in the world.
Antonov An-225 Mriya
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of 640 tons
Length (m) 84 275.5ft
Wingspan (m) 88.4 288.7
Height (m) 18.1 59.4
378kt
Airbus A380
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) 575 tons
510 kts
span 79.8m 261 ft 10 in
length 73m 239 ft 6 in
ht 24.1m 79 ft 1 in
Source: Rory Lushman
More from Orbital Today on the world’s biggest aircraft ever:
“The An-225 plane was destroyed at its base at Gostomel Airport near Kyiv between February 24 and 27, 2022, when Russian forces fought fiercely for the bridgehead … the aircraft was undergoing scheduled maintenance and simply could not take off. One of its six engines was removed, which completely excluded any possibility of evacuation …”
XL Antonov An-225 Mriya Aircraft Model
Extra large 1/200 scale premium resin model in Ukraine national colours. Wingspan 44.5cm (17.5″). Nose-to-tail length 42cm (16.5″)
* Front opening cargo door with extendable pull-out ramp.
* Metal display stand with plastic mahogany wood styled base.
* Real cargo bay and detachable rotating landing gear.