Ukraine War and Aviation: The loss of a Legend.
For aviation lovers, one of the first casualties of the war in Ukraine is the alleged loss of an aircraft we have all come to love in all its majestic beauty and wonder. The Antonov An-225 Mriya, more affectionately called “AN-225”. The AN-225 was the largest aircraft that ever existed when measured by payloads. The loss is felt by aviation professionals and enthusiasts alike, the world over. In this week’s On Aviation™ digest, we share some articles on the circumstances surrounding the alleged loss of this “GOAT”.
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Video shows charred wreck of world’s biggest airplane, the Antonov AN-225…
Video broadcast by Russian state TV showed the mangled wreckage of the world’s largest cargo plane, the Antonov AN-225, which was destroyed near Kyiv in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Footage of the ruined Ukrainian jet was shown Friday on Russia’s state-run Channel 1 and from there shared on Western social-media channels. It was not clear whether it was live or pre-recorded.
By Kieran Corcoran,Mia Jankowicz | Business Insider
World’s Biggest Plane Destroyed in Russian Attack on Airfield
The world’s biggest aircraft, the Antonov-225 cargo plane, was destroyed by Russian forces while it was under repair at an airfield in Gostomel near Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s state-run Ukroboronprom. “Russia has hit the Mriya as a symbol of Ukraine’s aviation capabilities,” the company said.
By Kyunghee Park | Bloomberg
World’s Largest Aircraft Another Casualty Of Russian Attack On Ukraine
“That ain’t a plane that’s a planet!” So says ‘Roman Pearce’ (Tyrese Gibson) in Fast and Furious 6 (2013), as he drives wildly on a runway towards the A-225 Mriya, the pride of Antonov Airlines. Gibson was right — the plane was a one-of-a-kind giant. The Antonov An-225 was originally built in 1988 to carry the Soviet “Buran” space shuttle. It has since been used as a super heavy lift transport.
By Michael Goldstein | Forbes
New Video Claims to Confirm An-225 Destruction
Ukraine-based Antonov said it could not confirm the technical condition of the iconic An-225 Mriya until it could access the airfield to inspect it. New video purportedly documenting the smoldering debris of the iconic Antonov An-225 Mriya emerged Thursday, days after Ukrainian officials confirmed the world’s largest cargo airplane was destroyed during fighting with Russian forces.
By Thom Patterson and Kimberly Johnson | FLYING Magazine
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