Antonov AN-225, The Biggest And Heaviest Airplane In The World

AN-225 MRIYA (NATO codename: "Cossacks") is the largest and heaviestairplane in the world. Myria come from The Russian word incidentally means 'inspired dream'  it is classed as a Strategic Air-lifter and was constructed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukraine in 1988 as a derivative from the Antanov An124.

His job as an aircraft carrier for russian Shuttle Buran, but is also used as an ordinary cargo aircraft. Unlike any other commercially available aircraft, the An-225 has the ability to carry external loads of up to 90 tonnes mounted on its "roof rack" also.

The AN-225 is very big. It takes up more than 2 Boeing 747 parking spaces. There is enough cargo space to load 5 tanks, the complete assembled fuselage of a Boeing 737, or 8 double-decker buses. It can carry up to 1500 people at a time. With a maximum gross weight of 640 tonnes, the An-225 is the world's heaviest aircraft. A size comparison between it and four of the world's other largest airplanes is as follow :

Antonov AN225 Comparison

Here's the complete Specification of the airplane:

* Crew: 6
* Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb)
* Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21 ft)
* Length: 84 m (275.6 ft)
* Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 2 in)
* Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
* Wing area: 905 m2 (9,743.7 ft2)
* Cargo Volume: 1,300 m3 (46,000 cu ft))
* Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,315 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 600,000 kg (1,323,000 lb)
* Powerplant: 6× ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) each
* Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,000 ft) with maximum payload

Performance

* Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
* Cruise speed: 800 km/h (430 knots, 500 mph)
* Range: With maximum fuel: 15,400 km (9,570 mi) and With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi))
* Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,100 ft)
* Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.234

Here's the photos of the airplane:

Antonov AN225 bringing Buran

Antonov AN225 bringing Buran landing

Antonov AN225 in Manchester

If the plane come to Heathrow, I guess You will be interested in park your car in Heathrow airport parkingand go see these biggest airplane inside the airport.