FedExBusBoy - You have any idea when it's leaving?

 

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Thur Jun 28:

Memphis to Kuwait

No emergency is too big for world's largest plane.

"This Russian-made Antonov 225, the largest plane in the world, took off from Memphis International Airport late Wednesday on its second trip in a week from Memphis to Kuwait. The six-engine plane, built as part of the Soviet space program in the 1980s, is the only one of its kind. It is being used to fly four turbines from Duke Energy in Southaven to the Kuwaiti government in an emergency order. Each turbine weighs 133 metric tons. The plane will be back Monday to pick up its third turbine, said Bertling, the freight forwarder based in Hamburg, Germany, that is managing the transfer. Wednesday afternoon, Barnhart Crane and Rigging moved the turbine in the belly of the plane. A load this large would normally go by ocean liner, Bertling said."

FJ

 

Right now there is only 1 AN-225. It was built to carry the Buran, the Soviet space shuttle. You will note the humps on its 'shoulders' and the twin tails.

It showed up at the Paris Airshow a number of years ago with their shuttle attached. A few years later it showed up at Fanrborough without the Shuttle and did such a spirited flight display word was the pilot had popped more than a few rivets along the wing. One picture I have from that display shows ALL spoilers up on the upside wing which quickly reminded me of the B-52 at Fairchild.

When the -225 showed up at Paris, the boys from Antonov were tossing out small titanium cylinders and talking about how much titanium they had used.

There are TWO F/Es for the -225 and yes, it does look antiquated with the rubber faced fans but they are effective. You may have noticed there are two two-wheel nose gears and the airplane will kneel so the forward ramp can be lowered onto the ground. Also, headache when the pilot says "main gear tire change". 14 main gear tires.

If you ever watch one of these take off, you may be surprised at how long they are in position and holding during engine run-up. It takes a while for the engines to stabilize and more than a few times I have seen them on the runway for more than a minute stepping up the power before releasing the brakes.