The Antonov An-225 Mriya was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft designed and produced by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was initially developed during the 1980s as an enlarged derivative of the Antonov An-124 airlifted to transport Buran-class orbiters.
source/image(PrtSc): Learn from the base
The An-225 is powered by a total of six Progress D-18T turbofan engines, two more than the An-124, the addition of which was facilitated by the redesigned wing root area. An increased-capacity landing gear system with 32 wheels was designed, some of which are steerable; these enable the airlifter to turn within a 60-metre-wide (200 ft) runway. Watch the video from Learn from the base for more info:
The cargo hold, which is pressurized and furnished with extensive soundproofing, could contain up to 80 standard-dimension cars, 16 intermodal containers, or up to 250,000 kilograms (551,150 lb) of general cargo.The flight deck of the An-225 is at the front of the upper deck, which is accessed via a ladder from the lower deck.
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The An-225 does not have a rear cargo door or ramp, as are present on the An-124, these features having been eliminated in order to save weight.Antonov An-225 is a true sky giant, with a wingspan of 290 feet and a length of 275 feet 88 by 84 meters. The AN-225’s pressurised cargo compartment is massive with a length of 44.32m, width of 6.4m and a height of 4.4m.
