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04/11/08 2:05 PM
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* Even as the An-124 was going into service, the Antonov bureau was working on a specialized derivative to carry outsize cargos, usually externally. The primary loads were intended to be elements of the Soviet "Energia" heavy-lift space booster series, including the "Buran" manned space shuttle.
The result, the "An-225 Mriya (Dream)" performed its first flight in 1988, and appeared at the Paris Air Show in 1989 with a Buran shuttle on its back. The An-225 was clearly a derivative of the An-124, with fore and aft fuselage plugs to extend length, and wing inserts to extend span and allow mount of two more Lotarev D-18T turbofans, for a total of six engines.
The number of main landing gear assemblies was increased from five per side to seven to handle the increased takeoff weight. A set of standoffs were fitted to the back for external cargo carriage, with the standoffs covered by fairings when not in use, and the conventional tail assembly of the An-124 was changed to a twin-fin assembly to ensure controllability when a large cargo was mounted on the back. The rear loading ramp was deleted to reduce weight.
The An-225 can lift cargoes with a weight of up to 250 tonnes (275 tons). Since it was not intended for any tactical role, it was not designed for short-field operation, and has a takeoff length of 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) with maximum payload.
ANTONOV AN-225 MRIYA ("COSSACK"): _____________________ _________________ _______________________ spec metric english _____________________ _________________ _______________________ wingspan 88.4 meters 290 feet wing area 905 sq_meters 9,742 sq_feet length 84 meters 275 feet 7 inches height 18.2 meters 59 feet 9 inches empty weight 175,000 kilograms 385,800 pounds max takeoff weight 600,000 kilograms 1,322,275 pounds max speed at altitude 850 KPH 530 MPH / 460 KT cruising altitude 10,000 meters 33,000 feet range, max payload 4,500 kilometers 2,795 MI / 2,430 NMI range, max fuel 15,400 kilometers 9,570 MI / 8,310 NMI _____________________ _________________ _______________________