The world's largest plane, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, cost an estimated £200 million to build and was capable of carrying up to 140 average family cars. Originally designed to transport the Soviet Union's Buran space shuttle and Energia rocket boosters, the aircraft broke more than 240 aviation records during its operational lifetime.
Record-Breaking Dimensions
At 84 metres long, the An-225 exceeded the length of some football pitches, with a wingspan of 88.4 metres. The plane stood 18.1 metres tall, roughly equivalent to a six-storey building, and weighed up to 640,000 kg when fully loaded. It was powered by six turbofan engines and used 32 wheels to support its enormous weight.
Payload and Cargo Capabilities
The An-225 had a maximum payload of 250 tonnes, theoretically enabling it to carry around 140 family cars, though space constraints would make fitting that many vehicles challenging. Among its famous cargo missions was transporting a 189-tonne generator for a power plant in Armenia, one of the heaviest single pieces ever airlifted. It also carried two wind turbine blades over 42 metres long from China to Denmark.
Post-Soviet Era and Humanitarian Missions
After the Soviet space programme ended, the aircraft found a new role moving oversized cargo globally. During emergencies, it delivered relief supplies, including steel plates after natural disasters and millions of masks and medical kits during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Destruction and Future Prospects
The only operational An-225 was destroyed in February 2022 during the Battle of Antonov Airport near Kyiv, when a hangar fire caused catastrophic damage. Discussions about rebuilding the aircraft using a second partially completed airframe from the 1980s have taken place, with modern estimates suggesting a full reconstruction could cost up to £2.4 billion and take several years.
