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World’s Biggest Plane, Antonov An-225 Mriya Joins Fight Against COVID-19 (Photos)
As the world is battling the outbreak of the coronavirus, countries are left with little or no medical supplies left for their citizens. China is the only place where the world leaders look up to for their medicals and PPEs. Despite many countries closing their airports for entries, they are exemptions for essentials like drugs, medicals and other diplomatic travelings.
The world’s largest cargo aircraft—full of medical supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic—touched down in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday. The aircraft lifted off the day before from China carrying personal protective equipment, including masks and medical testing equipment. The lift was reportedly the largest cargo shipment by air by volume, filling four-fifths of the massive aircraft’s cavernous hold.
The aircraft which departed from Tianjin China Airport on April 13th stopped at Almaty Airport, Kazakhstan, for refueling and to allow the crew to rest.
According to reports, the aircraft was loaded with about 100 tonnes of medicines, tests for laboratory analysis, medical masks and other protective equipment, with a total load of about 1000 m3. In the history of aviation, this cargo volume has never been transported inside the cargo hold of the aircraft.”
Antonov Airlines — the An-225’s Ukrainian operator — said the giant jet has an internal volume for cargo of 1,200 cubic meters (42,377 cubic feet). The An-225 can also lift a maximum of roughly 250,000 kilograms (551,155 pounds, roughly 275 tons U.S.). The order of medical supplies Poland made from China weighed a total of roughly 181,000 kilograms (200 tons), but since the items occupy a significant volume, the shipment has been split into two separate An-225 flights, each at roughly 90,719 kilograms (100 tons).
The An-225 is the world’s heaviest and largest cargo aircraft and has just been upgraded.
One of the greatest feats of Soviet aviation ever conceived, its world-topping wingspan measures 290 feet, that’s longer than five semi-truck trailers set end-to-end.
Powered by six turbofan engines, it features a maximum payload weight of 250 tons, which can be carried inside or on its back.
Because of its size, pilots need special training to cope with the challenges of maneuvering the An-225.
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