AN225 Destroyed?

[Gogolinius]

Lots of reports of this happening at Hostomel Airport, owned by the plane's parent company.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/photos-seem-to-show-that-the-antonov-an-225-mriya-the-largest-plane-ever-built-have-been-destroyed/

Still no details available as to whose hands this airfield is in at the moment. I've seen both sides claim ownership in the last 24 hours.

Pretty sad if true.

My first post, BTW. Hello everyone.

[fd ski]

it's a goner. UA confirmed it.

[RotBaron]

That link doesn’t load for me, every other website loads fine today.

[Gogolinius]

That link doesn’t load for me, every other website loads fine today.

https://samchui.com/2022/02/27/breaking-ukraine-confirmed-antonov-an-225-mriya-destroyed/#.Yh1Tbt9Onq0

This one should be okay.

[RotBaron]

https://samchui.com/2022/02/27/breaking-ukraine-confirmed-antonov-an-225-mriya-destroyed/#.Yh1Tbt9Onq0

This one should be okay.

 

Thank you.  Wow what an airplane!

Looks like it might be repairable from the posts.

[icepac]

Stood under it at KSC after it parked and it was raining under it.   Huge plane.   

[Busher]

Looks like it might be repairable from the posts.

Why repair it? Just 'cause it's big?

[RotBaron]

Why repair it? Just 'cause it's big?

If it’s economically significant and repairable then I’d imagine they’ll try.

Not just because it’s ‘big’.

It looks like it played a large role in bringing medical supplies into Ukraine in response to Covid.

[Spikes]

While I am sure it is more economically friendly to have a larger quantity of smaller aircraft, it is certainly an icon and it'd be cool to see one fly again.

[Devil 505]

The An225 was being used to move extra large industrial equipment. Companies were willing to pay big bucks to move things globally that are too big/heavy for other aircraft when the only alternative are slow ocean vessels.

[Busher]

I'd rather suggest that the AN-225 project was motivated more by politics than by demand. If the USA can build a 747, the Russians are driven to build something larger.
Had the airplane made sense from an operational standpoint - runway performance - range- it's very ability to fit into commonly used airports, then its likely more might have been built.
Its Russia's airplane and they can do what they want but rebuilding it makes as much sense to me as rebuilding a De Havilland Comet.

[DmonSlyr]

Nahhh, we are just gonna have to build a bigger one.

[artik]

An 225 was build to transport Buran. Soviet Shuttle alternative.

That us why it is so big. Also it was useful for certain payloads that were not available.

It was considered once to complete 2nd one but there was not enough demand for two such planes.

There is a nice video about that bird on National Geographic

[Spikes]

A real shame.

[Eagler]

Think the shelling of nuclear power plant trumps this...

Hope someone silences Putin sooner than later

Eagler