Antonov An-225, a real giant!

[Paolo Tagliaferri]

What about this one?

Antonov An-225 Mriya (NATO: Cossack) (http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=1dp9JjuJbZ0)

It's really HUGE! One can wonder how such a monster can fly with full cargo :D

What other beasts are out there?

[Wuzak]

I am guessing that the Airbus A-380 is about as huge....

Saw an Antonov An-124 landing in a heavy crosswind in Hobart one day.

[Corsarius]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maqy-I9zceM

I always liked this, the Mil Mi-12 'Homer'. Very impressive. Looks like an Fa-223 on steroids.

[pbhawkin]

Hey, Wuzak,
I lived in Hobart from 1976 to 1993 and go back each year as mum lives there.
I saw the An-124 in Darwin though!

[Wuzak]

Lived in Hobart all my life until 4 years ago. Now living and working in Launceston. Currently doing a few weeks work in our Hobart office.

The Antonov came to Hobart to deliver a few Diesel engines to Incat for one of their catamarans. Apparently one broke or the manufacturer had delivered an incorrect model, and the delivery date for the cat was near.

For those in the UK, there is at least one of Incat's ferries on the cross channel run.

[Pete57]

Although the AN-124 is no featherweight, with the exception of the payload, it is slightly outperformed by the A380.

Not so the AN-225 which is still the largest and heaviest aircraft currently flying!

The following figures, for comparison purposes, refer to the AN-225, the A380 and the AN-124 respectively.
Wing span: of 290’2” (88.40mt), 261’8” (79.80mt), 240’5” (73.30mt).
Length: 275' 7" (84.00mt), 239' 3" (73.00mt), 226' 3" (69.10mt).
Height: 59' 5" (18.20mt), 79" 7' (24.10mt), 68' 2" (21.08mt)
Wing Area: 9,743ft2 (905mt2), 9,100ft2 (845m2), 6,760ft2 (628m2)
Max.T/O Weight: 1,323,000lb (640,000kg), 1,235,000lb (560,000kg), 893,000lb (405,000kg)
Total Thrust: 309,540lb (140,400kg), 280,000lb (127,000kg), 206,613lb (93,720kg)
Volumetric Payload: 551,150lb (250,000kg), 145,500lb (66,400kg), 264,550lb (120,000kg)
Fuel Load: 64,200usgal (243,000lt), 81,890usgal (310,000lt), 45,400usgal (172,000lt)

Regards,