As the standoff between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, it has brought unavoidable suffering, death, and destruction.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has now resulted in the destruction of the world’s largest aircraft during the conflicts at the Antonov Airfield near Kyiv. Called, Antonov An-225 Mriya (NATO name Cossack), this aircraft was a holder of multiple aerospace records.
The giant plane’s destruction has been confirmed by the Ukrainian government and satellite images posted on the internet.
AN-225 ‘Mriya’ meaning ‘Dream’ in Ukrainian was a four-engine jet strategic airlift cargo aircraft. It was manufactured by Ukrainian aeronautics company Antonov in then-Soviet Union. Antonov built only one An-225 to transport unusually large and heavy items. This aircraft was a major air-show attraction.
Mriya was a monster of an aircraft!
It had a wingspan of 88 m (290 ft) and maximum take-off weight of 640,000 kg (1,410,958 lb), which made it the heaviest aircraft ever built with the largest wingspan of any aircraft in service. It entered the service in 1988.
The state-owned Ukroboronprom, a manufacturer of military weapons and equipment for Ukraine has declared that An-225 would be restored. Mriya’s restoration would take about five years and will cost an estimated US$3 billion.
