A sad day for aviation: the An-225 was destroyed by the russians

The front of the airplane, and much of the hangar. I believe the photo was from ground level.

I'm sure with enough money and time, it can be rebuilt.

 

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"Final state of the AN225, it’s a burnt out wreck. Only part of the wings and the nose door are left."

 

Seems like it was targeted. Or has there been considerable other destruction at the airports?

 

Apparently it had some engines sent out for overhaul, so couldn't be flown.

 

One of the things the Russians missed most after the fall of the USSR was the loss of their best large transport aircraft company,

 

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If I'm not mistaken I think Erik Prince (former Blackwater owner) may own one of these things now. Not 100% certain but I think I remember seeing a post from him with one in the photo. I assumed he owned it.

 

same, but different

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Too bad, earlier pix left some hope……

 

The outer wings look relatively undamaged. They could be removed and attached to the incomplete 2nd prototype, which is lacking outer wing panels. It is also lacking the two additional inboard engines, and the left-hand one also looks salvageable.

 

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I have seen and been aboard this airplane at Abottsford. Yes, it is an impressive honking big machine. Saw it take off and make a touch and go, I looked at the living quarters of the crew in the tail, I looked at all of the spot welded skins, and saw all of the umpteen identical landing gear assemblies (I think that there were 36) that were non-articulated. It was an engineering exercise that could have been done in the U.S or U.K if someone wanted to spend the money. Go ahead and take a shot at me but I don't see this a monumental loss to aviation's future or survival. I see it as something else but I'm not going to get into it here.

 

Drone video of Hostomel airport where the AN-225 was based. You can see it from .46 seconds onwards

 

Article from January 2022 - a month before the war:
Sky Giant: Turkey Mulls To Complete The Second Antonov An-225 Mriya
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/01/sky-giant-turkey-mulls-to-complete.html

Wonder if the fuselage is still intact, perhaps 1 plane from 2 ?

 

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More of the same.......
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/04/antonov-an-225-wreckage-worlds-largest-plane-destroyed-in-ukraine.html

 

That looks like a total loss, to me.

 

News article and video at the link.

Chief pilot of destroyed An-225: ‘We must complete the second Mriya’ (kyivindependent.com)

 

No question we could have done it and done it better. As for the loss, like anything else that is the biggest, fastest, only one, the point is they had the audacity to actually do it and for a country like Ukraine with so little to hang their hat on it was a point of national pride. I get that. It would be like the Spruce Goose being destroyed. Useless airplane that was a waste of perfectly good wood and 8 4360's. But I am happy it is still with us. At least the 225 was capable and doing the job it was designed for.

 

More video

https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/uid7or/the_closet_footage_ive_seen_of_the_now_extinct/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share