The world’s largest plane, Ukraine’s Mriya, was completely destroyed
The Mriya, a Ukrainian plane recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest in the world, was completely destroyed after Russian forces attacked Antonov airport in the city of Hostomel.
According to the Washington Post, the forces Ukraine over the weekend regained control of the suburbs around the capital Kiev after Russian forces began withdrawing from there.
However, much of these areas have been severely damaged as a result of the fighting. Also suffering the same fate is the giant Antonov AN-225 aircraft, known as the Mriya (Ukrainian for dream), which once set a Guinness World Record as the largest aircraft in the world.
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| Photo: Reuters |
With a weight of about 705 tons and a wingspan of 88 meters, Mriya was destroyed after attacks by Russian forces to gain control of Antonov airport at Hostomel, strategically located about 10 kilometers from the capital Kiev. km to the southeast.
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| Photo: Reuters |
This airport is one of the first places in Ukraine to fall into Russian hands, after Moscow officially launched it special military campaign in a neighboring country on February 24. Russia was stationed at Antonov for weeks before Ukrainian forces recaptured the airport.
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| Photo: AP |
Before Russia landed in Hostomel, other planes at Antonov airport were relocated. However, the Mriya was under maintenance and could not take off, according to Ukroboronprom, a Ukrainian defense equipment company that manages the plane.
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| Photo: AP |
The aircraft’s original function was to transport Soviet space shuttles. This is also the only aircraft with 6 turbofan engines, can reach a speed of 800 km / h and a payload of up to 250 tons.
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| Photo: Reuters |
In 2009, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the Mriya as capable of lifting the heaviest object of any other aircraft: a generator weighing 187.6 tons. In addition, this aircraft holds a number of other records, including: The only aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 600 tons, and the aircraft with the widest wingspan.
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| Photo: Reuters |
Despite the numerous world records, the plane rarely takes off due to high operating costs. It is estimated that each hour of Mriya’s flight costs more than 20 tons of fuel, equivalent to 6,700 USD.
Mriya is used only for the most demanding missions. There was a time when the plane had to “put mats” in the hangar for 7 years, causing many parts to rust, before being overhauled in 2001.
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| Photo: AP |
Ukroboronprom estimates it will take up to 5 years and cost about 3 billion USD to build another aircraft of similar size and function to the Mriya.
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at Blogtuan.info – Source: vietnamnet.vn – Read the original article here
