Antonov AN-124

janmike

The Diamond mines contracted this puppy for a day to transport material and equipment to site. The weight was larger than the Mi-26 could lift.

Here are some specs:

Wing Span 240 ft, 5 in (73.3 m)
Length 226 ft, 3 in (69 m)
Height
Weight 405000 kg
Engine 4 - Lotarev D-18T, 229.9 kN thrust each
Maximum speed
Cruising speed 865 km/h
Range 16,500 km maximum range
4,500 km with maximum payload
Service Ceiling 12000 m
Armament none
Payload 88 passengers or cargo in a 36.5 m x 6.4 m x 4.4 m (1027.8 cu. m) cargo bay
Crew Six--seven with loadmaster

petrym

Ah, the old Soviet CONDOR. I got to write a paper for CINCSTRATCOM on a VTA CONDOR that crashed trying to fly out of Irkutsk in Dec 97; the aircraft smacked into an apartment building.

George Grand

The "C-5ski" is what it is commonly called. The Russians were/are very good at technology theft. They made it a couple feet longer than a C-5 so they could claim the worlds largest aircraft. I walked around inside one at the big air show held annually in Melbourne, Australia. That was in 1992. The Russians were so broke by that time, that while everybody elses aircrews were living downtown in 5 star hotels, the Russian crew was lodged in their own airplane. They didn't even bother to remove the hammocks and other bedding prior to the walk through tours.

Beekyman

Thats a big bird but the Russkies had another trick up their sleeves....they stretched the fuselage, added wing area and added another two engines so they could transport their version on the space shuttle (Buran). This behemoth is the Antonov AN-225 Mriya or Cossack. I believe only 2 were built and they are now used as specialized airborne freight carriers.
I have seen footage of this airplane on Discovery Wings channel a few years ago and the footage showe the aircraft cicling the field slowly in very tight turns and steep banks! It was quite impressive to see something that big move like that!
I also really dig watching C-5's and other large aircraft come in for landings...their large size makes them to appear as if they are floating in the air!
Cool pics...thanks for sharing!

TroyD

I've dealt with the AN-124...it's garbage. Trying to load those things suck.

The IL-76 is just as bad.

BDT

read-alot

Back in the day when I got to take the Dover AFB tours the guys let me left seat a C-5 (on the ground of course) and there is no telling how many times I lost track of where our car was on the track when they would fly over during the race. Amazing aircraft

audiobliss

Wow. That's big. I would like to see it in a banked turn in the air!

George Grand

The C-5 has 28 tires on it. The gear system is a hydraulic nightmare. The aircraft needs to be put on jacks for gear maintenance to be performed. Which leads me to the age old aviation joke......

"What does it mean when you go to a C-5 base and there's only one C-5 up on jacks?"

George Grand

It means they only have one set of jacks on that base.

tonyb

audiobliss wrote:

Wow. That's big. I would like to see it in a banked turn in the air!

thats what my wife......ah ,never mind,wrong thread.:)

TroyD

The only bigger PITA than the C-5 itself are the crews that fly them

BDT