Antonov 225 in Melbourne, FL

[crazysccrmd]

Some friends of mine were around when the AN 225 was at KMLB in Melbourne, FL and managed to get some pictures. Thought some people would be interested, the thing is a beast.

[Geekengineer]

Wow... you took some amazing shots.

I'm surprised only one example was built. Due to its amazing lifting capacity (in terms of both weight and size), I would think there would be a world market for more... perhaps five or so.

[J-Tim]

What an absolute monster of a machine!!

[dubfan]

Anybody know why it was there?

[crazysccrmd]

i think it was something about portable cell phone towers - not 100% on that though

[-mlfhntr-]

What plane were you in. Piper Arrow. trying to figure it our from the one shot

[.LSinLV.]

ramp control is going to be pissed that he's not taxi-ing down the center-line.



This beast is bigger than a Group VI AC....we had it here once at LAS about 15 years ago, and it's the largest AC we will ever land....we don't even want the A380 here....just too big.

Thanks for the great pics!!

[hugoaswho]

obligatory size comparison pic

[EUROBORA8V]

There is a 2nd frame that Antonov is promising to finish but there is not much progress. The project requires a lot of financing.

[.LSinLV.]

There is a 2nd frame that Antonov is promising to finish but there is not much progress. The project requires a lot of financing.

I'm pretty sure that's been sitting around unfinished for quite some time.

[ErikGTI]

It's amazing seeing that thing fly. I've seen it on approach to Rickenbacker ANG base a couple of times. It looks like it's not moving.


Erik

[ATL_Av8r]

Aww man. I wish they would announce where it's going to be. Depending on the wind, my in-laws live under the approach to MLB. This would have been wild to be chilling in the pool and look up and see!

[EUROBORA8V]

I'm pretty sure that's been sitting around unfinished for quite some time.

It has been sitting since late 80s.

[kerridwen]

Wow... you took some amazing shots.

I'm surprised only one example was built. Due to its amazing lifting capacity (in terms of both weight and size), I would think there would be a world market for more... perhaps five or so.

I don't think there is a market for it. Very few things are as huge and need to get as fast to their destination as to need the AN225. It's a chicken-egg kind of problem, if there were several examples of it, maybe some designers would start designing things that could take advantage of it.

And, you have to consider it was meant to be the biggest cargo plane ever but it was never truly needed. The Buran could had been transported on a smaller plane, the AN225 was just a statement.

[Geekengineer]

I don't think there is a market for it. Very few things are as huge and need to get as fast to their destination as to need the AN225. It's a chicken-egg kind of problem, if there were several examples of it, maybe some designers would start designing things that could take advantage of it.

And, you have to consider it was meant to be the biggest cargo plane ever but it was never truly needed. The Buran could had been transported on a smaller plane, the AN225 was just a statement.

Hmmm... true enough. As a mechanical engineer, I can tell you that having more of these things lying around would definitely inspire me to take advantage of its capabilities. So yes, the chicken/egg scenario fits.

And yes, the Mriya was sort of a "mine is waaaay bigger than yours" statement. But we have waaaaay more of ours.

And then there is this...



Can't you hear the Bison pleading for mercy?

[eltigre]

^^^ what is that? those tails dont flow at all with the rest of the plane lol

[bxr140]

It's a chicken-egg kind of problem, if there were several examples of it, maybe some designers would start designing things that could take advantage of it.

Could be. Our spacecraft shipping containers are literally built to barely fit through the threshold of an AN-124. So demand could drive the supply I guess. Given the way the world economy is going though, I don't think you'll see anyone spending R&D money on the chance that transport capability might materialize at some point in the future...

On the flip side, while the AN-124 carriers are almost always booked to (or at least, near) capacity (seems that way, anyway), I'm not sure more 225s makes all that much sense from a ROI standpoint, unless a LOT more are built. For reference, the going rate for a 124 one-way is typically on the order of $500k to $1M, depending on the destination and the plane's origin. And that's with the competition of a handful of operators and numerous aircraft in service. I have no idea what the 225 costs, but its got to be a significant amount more to offset the exclusivity [supply] and additional operational costs.

Oddly enough (or perhaps not...?), it costs more to charter a 747 from a western carrier, and those aircraft are tiny.

[hugoaswho]

heres the unfinished airframe



Also the cost to operate cant be significantly more then a AN-124.

Based on Antonov's earlier An-124, the An-225 has fuselage barrel extensions added fore and aft of the wings, which received root extensions to increase span. Two more Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofan engines were added to the new wing roots, bringing the total to six, and an increased-capacity landing gear system with 32 wheels was designed. The An-124’s rear cargo door and ramp were removed to save weight, and the empennage was changed from a single vertical stabilizer to a twin tail with an oversized horizontal stabilizer. The twin tail was essential to enable the plane to carry large, heavy external loads that would disturb the aerodynamics of a conventional tail. Unlike the An-124, the An-225 was not intended for tactical airlifting and is not designed for short-field operation.[2]
An-225 Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofan engines

Initially the 225 had a maximum gross weight of 600 tonnes (1,320,000 lb) but the aircraft was modified in 2000-01, at a cost of US$20M, with a reinforced floor that increased the maximum gross weight to 640 tonnes (1,410,000 lb).[9][10][11]

An example of the cost of shipping cargo by An-225 was €266,000 for flying a chimney duct from Denmark to Kazakhstan in 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225

[dubfan]

Great pic.

Just asking to be used as the setting in some kind of zombie or post-apocalyptic video game.

[Saintor]

Wow.

[359Bailey1320]

must have been a short flight since you can see Russia from AK

[Elbows]

^^^ what is that? those tails dont flow at all with the rest of the plane lol

Looking at some pictures of old shuttle-transport mock-ups, I believe the tails are modified because of the obvious aero obstruction of the shuttle chassis. They put them split and wide, so they are actually useful.

I love the An-225, and did not realize they only had one. I assumed they had a handful. Guess it makes it that much more special.

[Gr8mafy]

must have been a short flight since you can see Russia from AK

[B3sat16v]

must have been a short flight since you can see Russia from AK

I see what you did there!

But that is technically true, so I never knew the fuss about it. Maybe people need to study Geography more often.

[OSD#15]

It's amazing seeing that thing fly. I've seen it on approach to Rickenbacker ANG base a couple of times. It looks like it's not moving.


Erik

The A380 is similar to that. It moves reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaallllyyyy slow on takeoff. I've seen them (A380) take off a few times from SFO but the last time I saw it was the most impressive. It was crazy windy that day and I was stuck in traffic right by the airport on the interstate. A380 takes off into a strong headwind and it looked as though it was literally just hovering above my car for what seemed like forever. Usually when I'm on that section of highway and a plane takes off overhead, its only visible for 15-20 seconds before it disappears behind the hill. The airbus was over me for at least a minute, maybe even two. I love big ugly planes!