Big, big birds

[PatriK-b]

Hello All,
I haven't been there since a long time, lack of time . I come back with a thread for aircraft fanatics.

It's a story about trucks, made in Germany and sent overseas to Canada.

So, they are transported by Antonov An-124 aircrafts.

It was the biggest aircraft in serial production before A-380, nearly same sized.


needs some... 20 wheels to handle 405 tonnes during take-off.​

And once, one didn't take off, jet engine to be serviced.

Antonov's crew came from Ukraina to replace it on the tarmac.​

But how can you bring such a 'pick-up truck sized' spare part?

​

When you are Antonov Design Bureau, no problem, it just fits in the glove compartment of the...

​

An-225 Мрія - Dream in Ukrainian​

which is the biggest aircraft ever built, in term of length and weight (640 tonnes)!!!
It exists only one exemplar, flighting on request for extraordinary transportation. A second one is being built and should be finished in 2008.

It stayed only few hours on the airport, I had only a small Fuji camera, that's why the quality is not there. But the day after, it was already gone away. :cry:

Other pictures, bigger size, more details can be found in my Antonov photo galery.

 

[shorty6049]

ya... its pretty big i suppose... ;-)

 

[Matt.H]

Cool shots

Being in America I do not get to see these big beautiful birds very often.

Of course I did see one flying quite low over my house. There is an Airbase nearby that is also a cargo hub for many freight carriers that has a 12,000ft runway. Turns out a 124 flies in and out of there fairly often. It transports commercial jet engines for a testing facility a couple hours south of where I live.

Anyways, to my point, At one time they had 2 An-124s and the 225 in here at the same time sitting on the ramp. I missed it but ever since then I have kept on my toes about what flies in and out of there.

Sorry if this makes no sense, its 1:17am here

Again though, Cool shots, I like them alot

 

[PatriK-b]

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, it's pretty big and was impressive. My office is now located at 400m from the track, we have regular pilot trainings here and I hope to catch and share with you some nice touch & go shots.
We will have A380 training, but it's not for the very next weeks...

 

[SLAiPS]

Nice topic ) intresting photo!