Antonov Giants: An-22 Antheus, An-124 Ruslan, An-225 Mriya


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It is not widely realized that the largest airplanes in the world come from Ukraine. The Antonov Design Bureau located in Kiev, Ukraine has produced a series of airplanes able to claim the title of biggest airplane in the world.

An-22 Antheus, Nato: Cock

Antonov An-22 Antheus page

The Antonov An-22 Antheus was the largest production airplane in the world from 1965 until the introduction of the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy in 1969. 66 were built. A number are still in service with the V-TA and one is used by Antonov to transport An-124 wings attached along the top of its fuselage. In Greek mythology, Antheus was a giant whose great strength depended on keeping his feet in contact with the ground.

An-124 Ruslan, Nato: Condor

Antonov An-124 Ruslan page

The Antonov An-124 Ruslan is the largest production airplane in the world. It was introduced to the west at the Paris Airshow of 1985. It succeeded the C-5A Galaxy in the role of world's biggest airplane. Construction continues in Kiev, Ukraine and Ulyanovsk, Russia.

An-225 Mriya, Nato: Cossack

Antonov An-225 Mriya page

Designed specifically to carry oversized cargo externally, the fuselage of the An-225 Mriya has been stretched fifty feet compared to the An-124. An entirely new wing root was designed to add fifty feet to the span of the smaller giant. The wing of the An-225, from just outward of the inboard engine, is similar to the wing of the An-124.

The 290 foot wingspan of the An-225 is exceeded only by the 320 foot wing of Howard Hughes giant flying boat, popularly known as the Spruce Goose. The wing area of the Spruce Goose of 11,430 square feet remains unchallenged as the greatest of any airplane ever built.


You can buy a set of ten 5-inch by 7-inch photo note cards featuring my photographs of the Antonov An-225 Mriya at the Lockett Photography Store.

Lockett Photography card catalog: The Biggest Airplane in the World, Antonov An-225 Mriya

Go to the Lockett Photography Store

Giant Jet Airplanes

  First Flight Wing Span Length Wing Area Gross Weight Engines
Airbus A380

2005

261ft,10in

239ft,06in

9,100

1,235,000

4 x 84,000 lb RR Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP-7200
Boeing 777-300ER

2003

212ft,07in

242ft,04in

4,700

775,000

2 x 115,300 lb GE90-115B
Airbus A340-600

2001

208ft,02in

247ft,01in

4,729

811,300

4 x 56,000 lb RR Trent 556
Boeing 777-200

1994

209ft,01in

199ft,11in

4,605

545,000

2 x 74,000 lb PW4074, GE90-75B, or RR Trent 875
Airbus A330-300

1992

197ft,10in

208ft,10in

3,892

507,000

2 x 51,590 lb GE CF6-80E, PW4000, or RR Trent 700
Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet

1988

211ft,05in

231ft,10in

5,650

833,000

4 x 45,000 PW4062 or GE CF6-80C2B1F
Antonov An-225 Mryia

1988

290ft,00in

275ft,07in

10,280

1,300,000

6 x 51,590 lb DT-18T
Antonov An-124 Ruslan

1984

240ft,00in

227ft,00in

6,760

890,000

4 x 51,590 lb DT-18T
Tupolev 160 Blackjack 1981 182ft, 09in 177ft, 06in 3,660 606,000 4 x 50,900 lb NK-321
Lockheed C-5A Galaxy

1968

222ft,08in

247ft,10in

6,200

769,000

4 x 50,000 lb GE TF-39
Boeing 747-100 Jumbo Jet

1968

195ft,08in

231ft,04in

5,500

850,000

4 x 50,000 lb P&W JT9D
Antonov An-22 Antheus

1965

211ft,04in

189ft,07in

3,713

550,000

4 x 15,000 shp Kuznetsov NK-12MV
North American XB-70A Valkyrie

1964

105ft,00in

189ft,00in

6,297

530,000

6 x 33,000,lb J-93
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

1952

185ft,00in

157ft,07in

4,000

450,000

8 x 8,000 lb J-57
Convair YB-60

1952

206ft,05in

175ft,02in

5,239

410,000

8 x 8,000 lb J-57

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