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Mriya, the world’s largest commercial airplane, was destroyed by the Russian forces outside the country’s capital Kyiv. At 84-meters long and 175 metric tons without fuel and cargo, the aircraft was the longest and heaviest operational plane in the world. It had a maximum take-off weight of 640 tons. The aircraft was incredibly popular with aviation enthusiasts and people often visited airports to see its scheduled arrivals and departures.
Mriya was the pride of Ukrainian aviation. But now it lies in tatters and awaits restoration that is set to cost around US $3 billion.
Ukrainian forces regained control of the airfield on April 2 following a large-scale Russian withdrawal. It’s unclear what will happen to the wreckage now.
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World’s largest commercial plane named ‘Mriya’ which means dream in Ukrainian. The Antonov-225 cargo plane was 276 feet long and could transport approximately 250 tonnes of cargo at the speed of 850 kilometres per hour. It flew in 1988 for the first time and remained in service until 1991.
World’s largest commercial plane named ‘Mriya’ which means dream in Ukrainian.
The Antonov-225 cargo plane was 276 feet long and could transport approximately 250 tonnes of cargo at the speed of 850 kilometres per hour.
It flew in 1988 for the first time and remained in service until 1991.
(Photograph:AFP)
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The jet plane lies crumpled and broken beneath the shattered arch of an aircraft hangar, where it had been awaiting maintenance at the time of the invasion.
The jet plane lies crumpled and broken beneath the shattered arch of an aircraft hangar, where it had been awaiting maintenance at the time of the invasion.
(Photograph:Reuters)
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The one and only fuselage has been completely destroyed. Only, the left wing of the plane is not damaged, as it landed on a Cessna 172 aircraft nearby when the aircraft parted from the fuselage. The destruction of AN-225 is a symbolic loss in not only in Ukriane but also in the aviation history.
The one and only fuselage has been completely destroyed. Only, the left wing of the plane is not damaged, as it landed on a Cessna 172 aircraft nearby when the aircraft parted from the fuselage.
The destruction of AN-225 is a symbolic loss in not only in Ukriane but also in the aviation history.
(Photograph:X)
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The airplane was awaiting its maintenance at the time of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Ukroboronprom estimated the restoration cost to be more than $3 billion dollars. Ukrainian authorities vowed to rebuild the airplane saying Russia would be made to foot for the loss.
The airplane was awaiting its maintenance at the time of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.
Ukroboronprom estimated the restoration cost to be more than $3 billion dollars. Ukrainian authorities vowed to rebuild the airplane saying Russia would be made to foot for the loss.
(Photograph:X)
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Ukrainian defence forces at the liberated Hostomel region, in Kyiv where the largest aircraft in the world Antonov An-225 Mriya was based.
Ukrainian defence forces at the liberated Hostomel region, in Kyiv where the largest aircraft in the world Antonov An-225 Mriya was based.