Was world’s biggest plane destroyed by Putin? Fears for iconic Antonov AN-225 after Ukraine claimed it was damaged by Russians on Kyiv airfield
- World’s largest cargo plane allegedly burnt in Russian Gostomel airport attack
- The base near Kyiv could be key for Russia to send more weapons to Ukraine
- The AN-225 Mriya could cost more than $3billion to repair, the country said
- Ukraine’s state arms manufacturer said it may try to get Russia to pay the cost
The world’s largest cargo plane by length was severely burnt in a Russian shell attack on Gostomel airport near Kyiv today, Ukraine claimed.
The Ukrainian-made Antonov-225 Mriya, meaning The Dream, could cost more than $3billion (£2.24billion) to repair, a sum Ukraine’s state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom said it would try to get Russia to front up.
The ‘legendary’ plane was originally designed by the Soviet Union when it controlled Ukraine as a Socialist republic but today Ukraine alleged it was burnt in a Russian attack on Gostomel airport, also known as Hostomel or Antonov airport.
The airfield near Kyiv could play a key role for Russia to send more arms to Ukraine.
In a statement retweeted by the Ukrainian President’s office, the country said: ‘We will rebuild the plane.
The world’s largest cargo plane, the AN-225 Mriya, was severely burnt in a Russian shell attack on Gostomel airport near Kyiv today, Ukraine claimed. Pictured: The Antonov An-225 Mriya arrives at the Chopin Airport on April 14, 2020 in Warsaw, Poland
A photograph was said to show the effects of an alleged Russian shell attack on Gostomel Airport, north west of Kyiv, that destroyed the plane. Both hangers in the picture are engulfed in smoke, with one on fire
The plane (pictured in Warsaw, 2020) was used during the pandemic to ferry millions of masks around the world
There are two hangers at the airport (left), one of which (bottom right) housed the giant plane. The Mriya in its hanger (right) at Gostomel Airport before the alleged attack
The AN-225 was the heaviest aircraft ever built and could carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo
‘We will fulfill our dream of a strong, free, and democratic Ukraine.’
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, also known as Soviet Ukraine, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union.
At the time of the invasion the plane was unable to fly to safety as it was undergoing repairs at the airport.
In a statement retweeted by the Ukrainian President’s office, the country said: ‘We will rebuild the plane’
It added: ‘We will fulfill our dream of a strong, free, and democratic Ukraine’
The plane had a wingspan of 88 metres (289ft) and a length of 84 metres (276ft) , making it the longest aircraft in existence.
Its cargo hold, at 43 metres long (141ft), was longer than the distance of the world’s first powered plane flight, completed by the Wright Brothers in 1903, at 37 metres (121ft).
Ukroboronprom boss Yuri Gusev, 42, said: ‘The Russians destroyed An-225 ‘Dream’, it will be restored at the expense of the occupant
‘Russian invaders destroyed the flagman of Ukrainian aviation – the legendary An-225 “Dream”.
‘This happened at Antonov Airport in Gostomel near Kiev, where the plane was.
‘Its restoration will cost more than $3billion and will take a long time. Ukraine will put all its efforts to make these work paid by the state-agresor.
Today, as the fighting continued, The Kremlin announced that a Russian delegation had arrived in the Belarusian city of Homel for talks with Ukrainian officials. However, while Zelensky said that while said the Ukraine was ready for peace talks, he said they would not be taking place in Belarus – which was a staging ground for Russia troops prior to the invasion. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen take cover in a shelter at fighting positions at the military airbase Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region
This is the moment a gas pipeline was blown up by Ukraine in the city of Kharkiv, which sits east of Ukraine, close to the Russian border
A column of Russian military vehicles is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, on February 26, 2022
Ukrainian troops gather around a fire during a brief period of rest as they defend their capital, Kyiv, from Russian forces
Burning Russian military equipment on the streets of Kharkiv minutes after Russian army entered the city
A Russian military vehicle is seen ablaze in Kharkiv on Sunday morning after troops entered the eastern Ukrainian city
‘The invaders destroyed the plane but they can’t destroy our common dream. She will surely be reborn.’
It said estimations put the cost of restoring the plane at more than $3billion in a timeframe of more than five years.
He added: ‘Our task is to make these costs covered by the Russian Federation, which caused deliberate damage to Ukrainian aviation and freight aviation sector.
‘Russia destroyed our “Dream”, but the dream of free from occupant Ukraine is impossible to destroy.
‘We will fight for our land and our home to a victorious end.’
The maker of the plane, the Antonov Company, said: ‘Currently, until the AN-225 has been inspected by experts, we cannot report on the technical condition of the aircraft.’
The Antonov AN-225 Mriya
The AN-225 had a huge wingspan of nearly 290 feet wide and six engines and 32 wheels.
The AN-225 was the heaviest aircraft ever built and could carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo.
The unit price of the Antonov AN-225 Mriya before its alleged damage today was between US$200million and US$250million.
The AN-225 Mriya could fly at a maximum speed of 850km/h.
It had a wingspan of 88 metres (289ft) and a length of 84 metres (276ft) , making it the longest aircraft in existence.
Its cargo hold, at 43 metres long (141ft), was longer than the distance of the world’s first powered plane flight, completed by the Wright Brothers in 1903, at 37 metres (121ft).
It required at least six crew: a pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers, navigator, and radio operator. It was designed as a strategic airlift cargo aircraft.
It had a passenger capacity of 70 and was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union during the 1980s.
The Ukrainian one allegedly burnt on February 27 in a Russian shell attack was the only one remaining in operation.
Source: GH Aviation
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