World's largest plane is so enormous it can carry '52 mature elephants'
The Antonov An-225 Mriya was the world's largest cargo aircraft and could carry up to 250 tonnes - equivalent to 52 mature elephants
Constructed during the 1980s, the Antonov An-225 made its maiden flight on December 21, 1988, and is the heaviest transport aircraft. A product of the Soviet Union, this remarkable aircraft stretches 84m in length, boasts six engines, 32-wheel landing gear and tips the scales at an empty weight of 285 tonnes. Constructed during the 1980s, the Antonov An-225 made its maiden flight on December, 21 1988. Originally designed to ferry the Soviet space programme's Buran spaceplane, it made a spectacular appearance at the 1989 Paris Air Show with the shuttle mounted on its back.
Tragically, the aircraft was lost in 2022 during the conflict in Ukraine, destroyed in the crossfire of the Battle of Antonov Airport, near Kyiv. The colossal aircraft was engineered to transport extraordinarily heavy loads, including individual items weighing as much as 200 tonnes.
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According to aircraft charter specialists at Chapman Freeborn, the Antonov "is able to carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo, which is equivalent to the average weight of 52 mature elephants", reports the Express.
"The AN-225 has set over 200 world records, including airlifting the world's heaviest cargo and the world's longest cargo."
AviationAtoZ noted: "Stepping inside the Mriya could feel like entering a hangar rather than an aircraft. Its cargo hold measures 43 meters long, 6.4 meters wide, and 4.4 meters tall. For perspective, a typical basketball court is 28 meters long, meaning the Mriya's cargo space could easily accommodate one with room to spare.
"This cavernous interior enabled it to carry locomotives, entire sections of other aircraft, and even giant wind-turbine blades.
"Loading such massive objects was made possible by its distinctive nose, which tilted upward to create a cargo ramp."
Experts estimate that reconstructing the Antonov AN-225 Mirya would cost approximately $3 billion (£2.1 billion).
