Antonov An-124

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The Antonov An-124 Ruslan (NATO code name 'Condor') is the largest aircraft ever mass produced, and was, until the advent of the Antonov An-225, the largest aircraft in production. It flew for the first time in 1982. Over forty are currently in service in Russia and the Ukraine.

Physically, the An-124 is similar to the American C-5 Galaxy, but is larger in many dimensions. An-124s have been used to carry locomotives, yachts, aircraft fuselages, and a variety of other oversized cargoes. Up to 150 tonnes of cargo can be carried in a military An-124: it can also carry 88 passengers in an upper deck behind the cockpit.

Germany intends to lease An-124s for NATO strategic airlift requirements as a stopgap until the Airbus A400M is available [1]. Boeing also has used Russian cargo company Volga-Dnepr to ship outsize aircraft components to their Everett plant with their An-124 fleet.

A Ukrainian An-124 was featured in the James Bond film Die Another Day.

General characteristics

• Wingspan: 240' 5" (73.3 m)
• Length: 226' 3" (69 m)
• Weight, fully loaded: 893,000 lb (405,000 kg)
• Engines: 4 Lotarev D-18T turbofans, 51,600 lb (230 kN) of thrust each
• Cruising speed: 497 mph (800 km/h)
• Range, empty: 8,900 mi (16,500 km)
• Range, fully loaded: 2,430 mi (3,900 km)
• Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (12,000 m)

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