--- title: Antonov An-225 Mriya slug: antonov-an-225-mriya-d4328 url: /detay/antonov-an-225-mriya-d4328 type: article language: English entity: primary: Antonov An-225 Mriya type: article disambiguation: Antonov An-225 Mriya: World's largest cargo plane. Discover its history, records, and tragic destruction. categories: - name: Aviation And Space slug: havacilik-ve-uzay url: /kategori/havacilik-ve-uzay tags: - AircraftEngineering - HeavyCargoTransportation - GuinnessWorldRecords - AntonovAn225 - Sovietaviation - Antonov author: Arif Zahid Yüksel created_at: 2025-04-13T13:47:56.320083+03:00 updated_at: 2025-04-17T09:41:43.661042+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/04/13/J6iQsYbIK4RnRnbi99cv2WKHRWRlKNUw.png --- # Antonov An-225 Mriya ## KURE Information Cards ### KURE Information Card: Antonov An-225 Mriya ![resim_2025-04-13_140142117.png](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/04/13/6Mfiseh7BExcA5W1MwNiBU13bPpaz3u6.png) | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Origin(s) | Soviet Union (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic – Antonov Design Bureau) | | Dimension(s) | Length: 84 meters Wingspan: 88.4 meters Height: 18.1 meters Wing area: 905 m² | | Category(ies) | trategic Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft | | Records | Heaviest single piece of cargo carried: 187.6 tons Heaviest total cargo carried: 253.8 tons Longest cargo carried: 42.1 meters | | Performance | Maximum speed: 850 km/h Cruise speed: 800 km/h Service ceiling: 11,000 meters (36,000 ft) Range: 4,000 km (maximum loaded), 15,400 km (unloaded, ferry flight) | | Users | Antonov Airlines (used for civil and special missions) Soviet Union (initial purpose was the space program – Buran shuttle carrier) | | Engine and Power System | 6 × Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofan engines Each engine produces 229 kN (51,600 lbf) of thrust | | Number Produced | 1 completed unit, 2nd aircraft approximately 30% completed Production discontinued. | | First Flight and Production Year | December 21, 1988 | | Weight(s)(Text) | Empty weight: 285,000 kg,000 kg Maximum payload capacity: 250,000 kg Maximum takeoff weight: 640 | ## Article Content The Antonov [An](/en/detay/an-2/llms.txt)-225 Mriya began development in the early 1980s to strengthen the Soviet Union's ambitions in [the space race](/en/detay/the-space-race-2/llms.txt). The aircraft's primary mission was to create a platform for transporting the Soviet space program's Buran space shuttle and Energia rocket modules. To meet this need, the existing Antonov An-124 Ruslan was used as a base, and a larger, more powerful model was designed. Making its first flight on [December](/en/detay/december/llms.txt) 21, 1988, the An-225 took off from Hostomel Airport near Kyiv, opening a new chapter in aviation history. Remaining mysterious to the Western world during its development, this aircraft garnered significant international attention when it was displayed [at](/en/detay/at-3/llms.txt) the 1989 [Paris](/en/detay/paris-4/llms.txt) Air Show. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2025/04/13/Bqeo6Yxcd6QIZIE3YAn9tfrCqrjg3kxb.jpg) [Kaynak](https://pixabay.com/photos/free-and-edited-fantasy-composing-4903883/) ### **Design Features and Prototype** The design of the An-225 is based on the same fuselage structure as the An-124, but includes some critical differences. The most significant changes are: The fuselage length [has](/en/detay/has-3/llms.txt) been increased to 84 meters. The wingspan of 88.4 meters is one of the widest of all time. The rear cargo ramp has been removed, and the fuselage structure has been reinforced to carry the Buran space shuttle on its back. The landing gear system has a 32-wheel arrangement. The 6 Ivchenko Progress D-18T turbofan engines that provide its power each produce approximately 229 kN of thrust. Only one prototype of the aircraft was completed and made airworthy. The second fuselage was about 30% complete but never became operational. ### **Missions and Operational Use** After the Buran program was canceled, the An-225 was stored in a [hangar](/en/detay/hangar-2/llms.txt) for a long time in the early 1990s. However, thanks to the need for heavy and extraordinary cargo transportation in the civil sector, it was modernized and [put](/en/detay/put/llms.txt) back into service by Antonov Airlines in 2001. The aircraft successfully carried "supposedly untransportable" loads such as generators, locomotives, helicopters, and giant infrastructure parts. It also undertook important tasks in humanitarian aid operations. Especially in emergency deliveries to natural disaster and crisis regions, it was used in cooperation with multiple countries. ### **Records** The An-225 set many world records: - Heaviest single-piece cargo carried: 187.6 tons - Total cargo weight record: 253.8 tons - Longest load carried: 42.1-meter wind turbine blade The An-225 holds many Guinness World Records, including: - Aircraft carrying the most load in a single flight. - Aircraft with the longest wingspan (during active operational period). - Aircraft with the heaviest takeoff weight. - The only aircraft to break multiple records in a single flight (2009, with a 247-ton load). ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2026/02/11/antonov-an-225-mriya-d4328-airport-3167879_1280.jpg) [Kaynak](https://pixabay.com/photos/airport-antonov-aircraft-fly-3167879/) ### **Destruction and Future** During the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022, Hostomel Airport, the An-225's base, suffered heavy attacks. The aircraft sustained severe damage while on the ground and became unusable. This event caused a great stir in the aviation world and was remembered as the destruction of the "dream of the sky."  Antonov officials confirmed the existence of the second fuselage and stated that rebuilding the aircraft was technically possible. However, this process requires high costs and global cooperation, so there is no clear plan in place yet. ### **Cultural and Historical Significance** The An-225 is valuable not only from an engineering standpoint but also as a symbol of Cold War-era aviation technology. It is a significant structure in aviation, space technology, and heavy transportation, demonstrating how far technical boundaries [can](/en/detay/can-3/llms.txt) be pushed. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Antonov Company. “AN-225 Mriya.” Antonov Company Official Website. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://antonov.com/en/history/an-225-mriya.Chapman Freeborn. “Discover the AN-225 Mriya: World's Largest Cargo Aircraft.” Chapman Freeborn. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://chapmanfreeborn.aero/news-and-blog/worlds-largest-cargo-aircraft/.SKYbrary. “ANTONOV An-225 Mriya | SKYbrary Aviation Safety.” SKYbrary. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://skybrary.aero/aircraft/a225.