"Dream: from Triumph to Tragedy"

On December 21, 1988, in Kyiv, the heavy transport aircraft Antonov An-225 "Mriya" took its first flight from the Svyatoshyn airfield.

"Dream: from Triumph to Tragedy"

On December 21, 1988, in Kyiv, the heavy transport aircraft Antonov An-225 "Mriya" took its first flight from the Svyatoshyn airfield. It was created at the Kyiv Mechanical Plant (now Antonov State Enterprise) under the guidance of Chief Designer Oleg Antonov. However, after Oleg Antonov's death on April 4, 1984, most of the work continued under the leadership of the new head of the company, Petro Balabuyev.

The An-225 was derived from the An-124 "Ruslan." The fuselage was elongated, a new tail section was added, a twin tail was introduced, and the wingspan was increased, with two additional engines mounted on the enlarged center wing. The aircraft was constructed through extensive cooperation across the Soviet Union.

The "Mriya" became the world's largest aircraft, with a length of 84 m, wingspan over 88 m, maximum takeoff weight of 640 tons, a range of 4200 km with a 200-ton payload, and a cruising speed of 800 km/h. It set 240 world records, including the absolute cargo lifting record of 253.8 tons.

Initially designed to transport components of the reusable space system "Energiya-Buran," the An-225 fulfilled this purpose with 14 test flights carrying the Buran space shuttle externally. However, the program was closed, leaving the An-225 without a primary mission, and its operation was suspended in 1994.

After a hiatus, the "Mriya" returned to the skies on May 7, 2001, following modifications for unrestricted international civilian flights. It received its Type Certificate in less than three weeks. The An-225 conducted 254 commercial flights, visiting 191 airports in 90 countries, transporting diverse cargo, from humanitarian aid to military equipment. Since 2020, it played a crucial role in transporting medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tragically, on February 27, 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the An-225 sustained irreparable damage due to shelling at the Gostomel airport, marking the end of its remarkable journey.

-R. Marayev