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Captain bids sad goodbye to Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane damaged in Kyiv

President Zelensky: “Not during my term”

That was until January 29, 2021, when President Zelensky signed presidential decrees sanctioning Wang Jing, Skyrizon, and three other companies that showed interest in acquiring Motor Sich. “We do not have the right to sell a controlling stake in the management of strategic defense enterprises of Ukraine to any country,” Zelensky said in an interview with HBO. “During my term, this will not be the case.” Sanctions should apply for three years, during which the parties will not be able to hold any stakes in a Ukrainian company.

It should be noted that two weeks before the Ukrainian sanctions, the US Department of Commerce had imposed a similar investment ban on several Chinese companies linked to the Chinese military, including COMAC and Skyrizon.

On January 31, 2021, Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) raided a Motor Sich shareholder meeting, initiated by Chinese investors and Ukrainian businessman Oleksandr Yaroslavsky. The SBU feared that a change of board would take place to allow strategic assets and technologies to be transferred outside of Ukraine.

On February 1, 2021, China's Foreign Ministry reacted and called on Ukraine to protect the rights of Chinese companies and investors. "China has always opposed foreign countries imposing unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. At the same time, we always require Chinese companies to operate abroad within the law.” Chinese investors have now filed an international arbitration claim to recover $3.5 billion from Ukraine.

This plane was supposed to be sold to China for billions, but Zelensky canceled the deal due to US pressure. Zelensky was just an US stooge and Ukraine should demand compensation from US for this loss.
 
Sad story - the versatility of the AN-225 was legend. It even visited smaller airports in Bangladesh' capital Dhaka to deliver massively heavy equipment (piling hammers). If there is a need - airplanes like the AN-225 will be built again.

I mean - new technology Zeppelins are being built in Germany with new materials (CFRP/GFRP, newer structural improvements), and there is no demonstrated need for them, they are experimental cargo platforms.

AN-225 had been used extensively in commercial flights and there IS a demonstrated need.

AN-124 Ruslans (smaller brothers of the AN-225) are capable of lifting almost close to 400 tons while maximum takeoff weight of the AN-225 Mriya is 640 tonnes. However AN-225's fuselages are of course larger for outsize (longer) loads.

Both these airplanes were Russian designs, however the engines (Progress D-18T from Motor Sich) were made in the Ukraine.

Both AN-225 and AN-124 use the D-18T. The larger AN-225 uses six, the AN-124 uses four.

Progress D-18T's are not as advanced as the latest Western engines, which date from the RR RB211 era, used in the Lockheed Tristars back in the day. Their max. thrust is 229 KN while the newer comparable Western three-spool engines today like the RR Trent 1000 have thrust ranging from 260 to 360 KN, depending on version used. GE 90's are even more powerful - 360-430 KN. And need I say that these Western engines are even more advanced and reliable, using FADEC for control and much more advanced lightweight heat-resistant longer wear materials enhancing MTBO and easing maintenance.

The Russians were planning to enlarge the AN-124 design anyway, with a newer design to equal the AN-225 Mriya.

There are new engines being developed in Russia too (Aviadvigatel PD-35) - for replacement on the AN-124's as well as for the Chinese Russian joint venture airliner, the CRAIC CR929.
 
There is a second (70 % finished) body in the same airport. In the spirit of Ukrainian resilience that plane should be completed as a national symbol, despite the high costs.

 
These are great Engineering feats. Too bad they are not making any more of these planes.
 
Sad story - the versatility of the AN-225 was legend. It even visited smaller airports in Bangladesh' capital Dhaka to deliver massively heavy equipment (piling hammers). If there is a need - airplanes like the AN-225 will be built again.

I mean - new technology Zeppelins are being built in Germany with new materials (CFRP/GFRP, newer structural improvements), and there is no demonstrated need for them, they are experimental cargo platforms.

AN-225 had been used extensively in commercial flights and there IS a demonstrated need.

AN-124 Ruslans (smaller brothers of the AN-225) are capable of lifting almost close to 400 tons while maximum takeoff weight of the AN-225 Mriya is 640 tonnes. However AN-225's fuselages are of course larger for outsize (longer) loads.

Both these airplanes were Russian designs, however the engines (Progress D-18T from Motor Sich) were made in the Ukraine.

Both AN-225 and AN-124 use the D-18T. The larger AN-225 uses six, the AN-124 uses four.

Progress D-18T's are not as advanced as the latest Western engines, which date from the RR RB211 era, used in the Lockheed Tristars back in the day. Their max. thrust is 229 KN while the newer comparable Western three-spool engines today like the RR Trent 1000 have thrust ranging from 260 to 360 KN, depending on version used. GE 90's are even more powerful - 360-430 KN. And need I say that these Western engines are even more advanced and reliable, using FADEC for control and much more advanced lightweight heat-resistant longer wear materials enhancing MTBO and easing maintenance.

The Russians were planning to enlarge the AN-124 design anyway, with a newer design to equal the AN-225 Mriya.

There are new engines being developed in Russia too (Aviadvigatel PD-35) - for replacement on the AN-124's as well as for the Chinese Russian joint venture airliner, the CRAIC CR929.
i watched two documentaries of poor bird it was legend man
dhaka
1649008327467.png


karachi
1649008435590.png


lahore
1649008617218.png


islamabad Antonov An-225 'Mriya' at Chaklala Air Base in November 2005
1649008491276.png
 
Sad story - the versatility of the AN-225 was legend. It even visited smaller airports in Bangladesh' capital Dhaka to deliver massively heavy equipment (piling hammers). If there is a need - airplanes like the AN-225 will be built again.

I mean - new technology Zeppelins are being built in Germany with new materials (CFRP/GFRP, newer structural improvements), and there is no demonstrated need for them, they are experimental cargo platforms.

AN-225 had been used extensively in commercial flights and there IS a demonstrated need.

AN-124 Ruslans (smaller brothers of the AN-225) are capable of lifting almost close to 400 tons while maximum takeoff weight of the AN-225 Mriya is 640 tonnes. However AN-225's fuselages are of course larger for outsize (longer) loads.

Both these airplanes were Russian designs, however the engines (Progress D-18T from Motor Sich) were made in the Ukraine.

Both AN-225 and AN-124 use the D-18T. The larger AN-225 uses six, the AN-124 uses four.

Progress D-18T's are not as advanced as the latest Western engines, which date from the RR RB211 era, used in the Lockheed Tristars back in the day. Their max. thrust is 229 KN while the newer comparable Western three-spool engines today like the RR Trent 1000 have thrust ranging from 260 to 360 KN, depending on version used. GE 90's are even more powerful - 360-430 KN. And need I say that these Western engines are even more advanced and reliable, using FADEC for control and much more advanced lightweight heat-resistant longer wear materials enhancing MTBO and easing maintenance.

The Russians were planning to enlarge the AN-124 design anyway, with a newer design to equal the AN-225 Mriya.

There are new engines being developed in Russia too (Aviadvigatel PD-35) - for replacement on the AN-124's as well as for the Chinese Russian joint venture airliner, the CRAIC CR929.

A little correction. Antonov Design Bureau was named after Oleg Antonov who was a Soviet citizen of Ukranian origin. The design bureau was based in Kiev. Both aircraft were built in Soviet era - AN-225 was supposed to carry the Soviet space shuttle Buran as a piggyback payload.
So the design was Soviet not Russian and was inherited by the Ukranians based on its historical links.
 
A little correction. Antonov Design Bureau was named after Oleg Antonov who was a Soviet citizen of Ukranian origin. The design bureau was based in Kiev. Both aircraft were built in Soviet era - AN-225 was supposed to carry the Soviet space shuttle Buran as a piggyback payload.
So the design was Soviet not Russian and was inherited by the Ukranians based on its historical links.
A good documentary on the Mriya
 
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There is a second (70 % finished) body in the same airport. In the spirit of Ukrainian resilience that plane should be completed as a national symbol, despite the high costs.

Actually not anymore, most of it was used for spare parts for repairs etc on the an-225 that recently got destroyed. They had some planned but they were cancelled as they could not afford it, now the war has pushed back any possibility even further back as they will be focusing on rebuilding destroyed infrastructure once the war ends.
 
A little correction. Antonov Design Bureau was named after Oleg Antonov who was a Soviet citizen of Ukranian origin. The design bureau was based in Kiev. Both aircraft were built in Soviet era - AN-225 was supposed to carry the Soviet space shuttle Buran as a piggyback payload.
So the design was Soviet not Russian and was inherited by the Ukranians based on its historical links.

Oleg Antonov was of Russian origin (he was born near Moscow). Antonov design bureau was originally founded in Novosibirsk in Russia only to be later moved near Kiev.
The Ukraine since it's "independence" was living off what was created in Soviet times. Almost nothing was build in the Ukraine since it's "independence" and most of the heritage from Soviet times was squandered. AFAIK Antonov Factory hasn't produced a single new aircraft since 2016.
 
Airbus want build a replacement with a modified A380. Will be interesting project. I saw the An 225 two years ago in Leipzig. Amazing aircraft
 

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