Legacy of the An-225 - The future we never got...
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
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• Soviet Designed Air La...
The An-225 was just the beginning.
The engineers had big plans for the aircraft, and by big, we mean huge.
Meet the An-325 and its bigger brother, the Antonov AKS.
They were templates for a new soviet space-faring future.
From shuttle transport
To Shuttle launches,
To even future designs that were somewhat wacky and out of this world.
But with the unconfirmed news of the destruction of the one and only An-225 in Ukraine, it comes the end of an era - perhaps even the end of the last soviet union mega projects.
In today’s video, we won’t just be looking back at perhaps one of the most magical aircraft to ever fly, but appreciate the good that it did during its life and what could have been.
The future we never got.
AN-225 story
The An-225 began its life as a heavy lift aircraft - designed to carry the 2400 ton super-heavy lift launch vehicle - the Energia and the soviet shuttle Buran. Its configuration was much like the Nasa shuttle transport 747 used by the United States, to bring the shuttle back from its landing site to its launch pad.
With 6 engines, and a horizontal stabiliser wing that was bigger than most jets actual wingspan, it was a striking image of raw power and, some would say, arrogant defiance of gravity.
The An-225 had the ability to transport not only space craft on its back, but also massive internal loads.
Specifically it could carry ultra-heavy and oversized freight weighing up to 250,000 kg (550,000 lb) internally or 200,000 kg (440,000 lb) on the upper fuselage. Items like engines or generators - or perhaps military tanks, that can’t easily be disassembled.
And if you are wondering just how many passengers it could carry - ive actually already done all the maths right here
(link to the passenger An-225 video)
But the real advantage of having such a large aircraft was that it could be used not only for transport - but launching rockets as well…
AN-325
In the 1990s, the British approached Antonov to produce an updated version of the AN-225, one called the AN-325 - super creative name, that would have an additional engine on each side to a total of 8, with 4 of them positioned as pairs on the same pylons, similar solution to the one used on B-52.
It was called Horizontal Take Off and Landing Spacecraft (HOTOL) single-stage-to-orbit aerospace vehicle, and expect us to cover it on our new channel linked below.
The Soviets did extensive wind tunnel testing and concluded that the project would be possible, but by the next year, USSR didn’t even exist anymore and the project was scrapped.
This wasn’t the end of the An-325 project however. In 2005 it was Ukrainians who started thinking about future use of this platform. Yuzhnoye design bureau and Antonov started working on a new spacecraft called Svityaz which would be launched from An-325 or An-225.
And if you didn’t know, there is actually another An-225 fuselage sitting in Ukraine, albeit never completed, but we’ll get to it in a minute.
Because first, this piggyback ride to space is going to get even crazier.
AKS
During the 80s and the “one stage spacecraft” race, Tupolev design bureau was working on a completely new project called Tupolev OOS, where OOS stands for, well..one stage orbital craft.
So, we’re talking here about the possible nuclear powered, double the size of Buran craft and this again deserves a video on it’s own and we’ll get there, but how does this all play into the An-225 story.
Well, you see, one of the launch options was from mid air, or to be more precise from an airborne launch platform such as the An-225. However, due to the massive size and weight of this new spacecraft, Tupolev and Antonov started work on a new project called Antonov AKS.
Why is this so crazy you may ask. This thing was proposed to be a massive double sized An-225 - built out of two fuslages. it would have Eighteen D-18T turbofans with a combined thrust of 421,740 kgf, and be able to carry up to 1650 tons, or 3.6 million pounds. Its wingspan would be 153 meters, or 500 feet long, twice that of the boeing 777x we have today.
Ironically it would not even be the most insane aircraft planned by the soviets during that era, such as the Molnyia-1000 Heracles which does deserve its own video.
For the AN-225, the future was bright and the dreams were big… but sometimes, dreams dont happen.
Check out my news report of the An-225 wreck here: ua-cam.com/video/cpTNWIfE_XI/v-deo.html
Also ghost of kiev and russian airline shutdown
Do the c 5 galaxy
@@FoundAndExplained Well, the English language recognizes Kyiv as the official English spelling of the city
@@nicoins1598 He has.
@@battleshipiowa2052 Transliteration between alphabets is weird, it was Kiev when I was a kid, even some journalists are still spelling it the old way, and the Ukrainian president's name with one "y". Cf. the late god-emperor of Libya, his name was fun, and spelled like five different ways in English-language news.
RIP An 225. You are not only the records holder, but you also an aviation inspiration that every avation enthusiast have look up.
I will miss it so much
Remember guys, machines can always be rebuilt
Don’t lose hope
@@The_Mighty_Chicken_Man hopefully
@@FoundAndExplained why sad? it's not the only AN-225 left and the 1 destroyed is not experimental prototype. Russia has few, Ukraine has few. Antonov aviation group didn't progress as it has no future under Ukraine, there's hope only if it's reunited with Russia again.
RIP AN225 ,you served us well with such an amazing career history , you shall always be remembered in all aviators hearts
It should be rebuilt
@@FoundAndExplained Ukraine have already stated that it would be. We're all keeping our fingers crossed.
Ukraine is in war theres no way it could be rebuild
@@veedubgeezer yeah after 3 billion dollars sadly
@@FoundAndExplained I thought there was a second one unfinished. They could build this one.
Still can't believe this giant plane got destroyed, still feels like a dream, this aged too fast.
how did it happen?!
Its called a myria for a reason...
@@FoundAndExplained Artillery i think...
@@FoundAndExplained She was destroyed in a battle in Hostomel Airport near Kyiv. She got caught in the crossfire and got destroyed sadly...
Nightmare**
Mriya, you will be missed 💔
:(
@@frogboi1346 but only the fuselage
@@frogboi1346 China reportedly bought it a couple of years back. No one knows for sure though.
@@veedubgeezer They better not!
@@merafirewing6591 u can't judge a whole nation to not buy it
I guess this could be seemed as somewhat of good news
If to say antonove does actually go through with rebuilding/ completing it's sister , the AN 225 will have the opportunity to be modernized and fitted with newer technology replacing the old Soviet systems
imagine how good it could be
I saw its interior and its landing. It was so huge, and so magnificent. Although the systems were really old. Imagine if it was fitted with modern tech! That would be a real "dream"
Let's see how it plays out once it's over. China has shown interests in making new units for their strategic airlift capacity years ago, but it required tech transfer, licenses, and to set a new assembly plant in China.
It will be rebuilt the ukrainians have said so dont worry (either its sister or the one that got destroyed)
@@floppi7098 without in investors it will be difficult. Ukraine will need a lot of money to rebuild. Once Russia takes I er the capital, if the government falls it probably won't have international help.
Unless it is excepted due the airlift capacity need around the world.
One of my favorite childhood planes! Will always fly in our hearts and FSX/X plane.
RIP An 225 (1988 - 2022)
When the news went out, I refused to believe that she was destroyed. Now after seeing images of her wreckage, it makes me really sad.
She became another casualty of this meaningless war which already caused thousands of people to lose their lives.
Rest in peace big bird, I will miss you.
That comment bot x or z or y or whatever really sucks
This war is irrational, but not meaningless. It carries great meaning for the Ukrainians who are valiantly defending their homes once again against a shitty Russian dictator's foolishness.
I grow up with this airplane, was my generation. An airplane that fascinated many people, it literally built bridges between peoples and continents. it brought people closer than any politician nowadays in hard times in Ukraine. Rip big ✈️
The AN 225 was the plane that got me interested in aviation. Now it’s gone :(
they have another one 75% finished :)
I was privileged to see her fly twice in Toronto. Last time I took my son to see it, he loved it. As a Bosnian war survivor I know exactly what these poor people are going through. My heart goes out to all Ukrainians. I hope this war ends soon and you get to rebuild your Dream.
If Ukraine could not complete the second aircraft it started back in the USSR, what can it do now? You don't seem to understand the situation at all.
@@TheFruitcake1983 It could, there just wasn't any reason to. Now there is one.
@@tcg1_qc Parts for the aircraft were produced in different republics of the USSR, now these enterprises are destroyed and there are no specialists.
@@TheFruitcake1983 Doesn't mean they can't rebuild/build a new plane.. they can build new parts, they can also ask other companies for help / pay them to send engineers. That's all assuming Russia loses, of course.
@@tcg1_qc Russia will seize everything it needs, this whole war is a bargain with Western elites. Only a country with huge economic and technical potential can build such large and complex aircraft. This aircraft was created for the space program in the first place, Ukraine got it after the destruction of the USSR and it is not able to create a new one and there is no reason for it.
minister of engineer: we already have antonov and is very big plane
ivan: why not make it bigger?
minister of engineer: Ivan, you're genius
Заебали, украинская же арта и уебала эту мечту, хули на нас гнать? Парашные западные СМИ...
We it isn't Soviet if it isn't big and strong and drinks gallons of fuel.
A word of hope: It's still unconfirmed if the spare fuselage has been destroyed also, and I could very much see Boeing or Airbus come in and help rebuild it. Neither has competition that big, and both would probably like the PR-boost.
Depends on if they want to spend the 300 mil (and probably more now) to do it
This plane was literally built by hand and there are no blue prints or plans to build it the same way. All this information is in the head of the engineers of the plane that may be dead already. It's not possible to make an exact copy of it. It would have to be a new plane
@@Niaaal Yea unfortunately Viktor Tolmachev, the chief designer of both the Ruslan and the Mriya, already died some years ago...
Can't they just make scans of the spare fuselage and go from there on CAD? Like how they went from the 747-400, to the 747-8, same body, but new engines, wings, etc
We don't want Boeing going anywhere near it! What a terrible idea...
The AN-225 was my favorite plane. And the original on can never be replaced!
True, but that does not mean it's legacy will end here!
Thank you so much for creating this video. The AN-225 was so much more than just the biggest aircraft in the world.
Can’t wait for the next big plane design using modern technology. I feel like soon we’ll be able to get the Helicarrier in Marvel.
Im ready
This was actually about the size of the “Zephyr” in Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD……😎👍🏾
It's the russian beriev be2500 the size of a an225 and can FLY like a plane and a ekranoplane
- It's time to go.
- Was I a Good Girl?
- No. I'm told you were the best.
Mriya We all wish you will come back
:(
Rest In Peace to this magnificent beast! it was truly one of if not the best cargo plane the world has ever seen T-T
I love this video, not only is it an educational video about a lost future, it is also a heartfelt tribute to the dream that was the An-225, it will be remembered. Legends never die.
The AN225 looks so un-flyable, but yet these madmen at Antonov made it possible. I bet the future one is a more kickass plane.
I've heard that when it first flew, people at the airport were awestruck that something so large could take flight.
The people at Antonov just stretched AN-124, which is a copy of much older C-5 Galaxy. So not a big deal.
And around 1991 I was able to see the plane from the inside and talked to the captain. He said it was a piece of unreliable crap, leaking everywhere. It sat for ten years, before it was rebuilt and modernized.
So, yes impressive size but not such a awesome engineering.
RIP an-225 mriya,you will never be forgotten 💔
:(
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
RIP Antonov AN225 From the soviet space shuttle transporter to the Commercial Cargo Like the Eingines of The 787 🙁
we could use the rolls royce trent 1000 engines
This is my favorite plane, and when I heard that it had been destroyed I got chocked and a little bit sad. RIP Mriya.
I hope the second one will continue the legacy of this legendary aircraft (if they actually planning to finished it)
the sad thing is that the second unfinished an 225 was stored on the antonov factory in kyiv, just a few miles from where the fierce fighting is taking place, so the chances are that that unfinished hull probably wont survive either...
@@jupiter-qu3zl Ukraine is too poor to finish it. That's why that hull rotted there for 30 years. Doubt it would ever see the light of day
@@b-17gflyingfortress6 Mriya translates as Dream and the Ukrainians use it as symbol and stated that they will rebuild it, no matter the cost
@@b-17gflyingfortress6
More easy... Ley parts are made in russia and kazasthan
"So just uh, HOW BIG do you want this plane sir?"
"Yes"
farewell An-225 Mriya
you're the inspiration for many people, you're dream for a people, and you are the one I loved
May you rest in peace
we'll never miss you
1988-2022
Antonov and Ukraine stated they will rebuild it and it’s legacy, but it’s such a shame this had to happen :(
I don't think is possible to rebuild it. The whole wing root section was burned down, only aft section remained recognisable and the outside halves of the wings.
@@Argentvs there is a second almost complete hull in ukraine that will be used to rebuild it, it was built when Antonov siad they were going to build a second one years ago.
@@ThePlanetMars264 With the moneymaking potential the AN-225 has, It'd be a financial failure to not continue the second version with modernized technology.
@@ThePlanetMars264 well, it's not really rebuilding it when nothing is usable from the first one. Even if those wings/engines look somewhat intact, there's no way the heat and shock stresses didn't make them as good as scrap. But hopefully they will finish the second one.
Rebuild - no, but building second one is definitely possible, however, I'm not seeing anyone willing to give a huge pile of money for it. Ukraine itself has better things to pay for, like rebulidng hounderets of destroyed homes, infrastructure, etc.
Goodbye old friend
Goodbye
I am really disappointed by the destruction of AN-225. Hope it get's back into the skies very soon.
I almost started crying when I heard the destruction of the An-225. You were too good for this world.
Sayonara Myria Antonov An-225 😢
Rest in peace
1988 - 2022
My little brother was so devastated when he found out the 225 got destroyed
Bro mee too
Did he care about people dying there?
@@zx3215 yes
I’m told from a friend whom is an aerospace engineer from Ukraine that there is another building with a lot of the remaining parts for the second plane. This was 7-8 years ago he toured it.
Thanks for acknowleging that Their still is an unfinished an225 in storage, that could after the war is over be finished
:)
There won't be a Ukraine then
@@oxcart4172 thanks you Pessimist
@@oxcart4172 Bruh!
@CH Heinrich
U think that Ukraine can take Russia on?
Let's not cry coz it's gone ..... Let's smile in her memories coz she was here .. #an225
We will miss you. Thank you for your service.
She may be gone but not lost. Her legacy still lives on.
Made me cry when i heard that this beauty of a beast is destroyed... You will be remembered Antonov An-225 Mrya...
Me too.😭
An 225 you will be remembered always.🥺
When I saw the picture of the nose of the AN225 under all the rubble I was just devastated
Such a great tribute to a beautiful aircraft. Thank you so much for this. She will be missed.
Man, i loved the AN-225, such a feat of engineering, and now it lies destroyed in a hanger in ukraine, rest in peace AN-225, the whole aviation world misses you
same fate as the Buran
RIP Mriya
:( F
Awesome video, again. Thanks so much for another informative and interesting video. Keep it up!
I remember watching An-225 Rise of machines episode, its a true masterpiece of aerospace engineering and definitely deserves more recognition as one of the most amazing creation of human evolution
RIP Antonov 255 mriya
Say goodbye
Great Video! Just on 3:12 It would be to escape the dense atmosphere, and not to skip the gravity as that is a constant regardless.
Yes, you are right
The double AN-225 = Fuel Efficiency -100
This video... Tells and expresses the passion behind the voice... And the love for the science and technology! Regardless of the countries and government systems...
Many aviation enthusiasts around the globe are saddened when this giant aircraft was destroyed. RIP AN-225. You’ll always be my favorite airplane
Uh you do know antonov was planning to make a second 225, they even got a hull left over from when the funding ended and i heard that antonov is planning to rebuild the 225 that was destroyed in the war.. so it's not the end on the 225 as a whole but possibly the beginning of something big..
This was literally mentioned in the video.
Yeah.duh
The technical genius it took to design an built this beautiful aircraft is astonishing. RIP 225 the biggest an baddest if ever was
The life of people should always be prioritized, but i still hope the second airframe survives this horrible war and they'll build a new 225 once this nightmare is over.
Sadly, I don't think the occupation government will be interested in rebuilding it
You brought us further Mriya ♥️
When I first heard of the news that it might have been destroyed, I obviously didn't believe it, and didn't want to, but as images started to surface of its destruction. I rather quickly realized that it had actually been destroyed, and was speechless. Perhaps the most impactful image, or video, was the video showing the destroyed plane on fire. While I don't know if it will happen or not, I truly hope that another AN-225 will be built.
when i saw the footage of the news station it shook me to my very core, seeing the nose just tornoff made me very sad, pls note that it is just material and we will recover from it
How many engines so you need ?
How many have you got ? 18 ?
How many you need ? YES
We can only hope that they will restore the AN 225 with the frame they have. I would love to see this giant fly again. I was only able to see it from afar when it was in Magdeburg once but the tail and engines let me recognize it instantly. I really hope that we get this plane back.
thank you for making this vid bro nice vid ❤️❤️❤️
Glad you enjoyed!
That monster held over 200 world records and there's no equal to it in this day and age of technological advancements. This is not only a goodbye, but the future being destroyed.
That is just exaggerating
I hope they can restore it
Indeed. The current future surely sucks, big time.
RIP Mriya, you will be in history books and our minds for years to come
I have a picture of my dad and I walking in and around the AN-225 in the early 90's when it flew some air shows in the USA. I had hoped to see her again. For now that hope is gone. But maybe not forever.
There is an unbuilt one with the fuselage complete, shouldn't take too long to rebuild it as Ukraine want to build it.
Mriya will be always in our hearts! ❤️
This plane was simply an engineering feat!!!! So beautiful, so graceful. So heartbreaking knowing it was destroyed. I certainly hope the other one is completed and flies again!!
I will regret forever I never got the chance to see the original with my own eyes 🥺 R.I.P An-225
I cant believe it didnt evacuate. RIP Mriya
it couldn’t evacuate, it was getting repaired
@@duncanteunissen217 yeah but at first everyone said it was towed over the Poland
Mriya deserves a museum since it lost its flying function, it can be fixed with other non-aviation materials and become a statue.
Russia or Ukriane need no Buran nor Energia parts and the plane itself is non-commerce beneficial.
I remember seeing her in gander airport many times and seeing her up close is something that words cant explain. I hope one day they do build her sister and then we can all see that beautiful giant in the skies once again.
I got the privilege of seeing it at the Winnipeg Airport while i worked there loading up old F5 jets to deliver to Botswana. It was so massive and loud. Even miles away in the sky it was still massive.
Long live the 225. The plane may be gone, but the dream lives on forever.
I hope to support the development of the new 225 if it's possible in the future, but now we can try supporting the Ukrainians first
Disclaimer: I am not an aviation enthusiast
if some parts are usable and the spare fuselage is completely untouched
then we can rebuild it, I think
Rip AN 225 😭😭😭
poetin wants to restore the sovjet union, but is destroying the last remnants of it
All he's doing is rebuilding the Soviet-Sino days, but with China as the dominant partner.
That thumbnail looks like something that a Kerbal would make.
Everyone that's sad needs to move on, they've been building another one, they just didn't finish it because there wasn't a market for another one. The Dream will be back one day.
Chinese almost built it, but I do agree with you.
RIP in peace 225
Press F
@@FoundAndExplained f
@@FoundAndExplained F
@@FoundAndExplained f
@@FoundAndExplained f
F&E and Hazegrayart in the same vid ? My dreams came true ! 😍
I had the opportunity to climb aboard and sit in the copilot's seat. Wow what a huge aircraft! It's a shame it's gone now.
I still remember when I visited her with my dad, it was the first moment that I'm inspired by this majestic plane (she is superb compared to 747 and 340 that I can see almost every day at that time). She inspires me to be an aerospace engineer, and it's what I'm studying now. Today, she has been destroyed, she can't fly anymore but she will always fly in my memory.
God blesses Ukraine and Ukrainian.
Farewell An-225 (1988-2022).
'sir how much horsepower would you want your plane to have'
'well how much do american planes have'
'quite a lot sir'
'then we do quite a lot plus x 2'
Measuring jet engine thrust in horsepower is blursed
9:30 is the moment when I burst into tears on watching mriya in that devastating condition... Rip MRIYA 😭😭😭💐💐💐
Guys we really need to salute the An-225 and its designers for coming up with such an aircraft
the footage of destroyed 225 fills me with anger for Russian authorities.............how insesnsible.....That plane helped them in their Space Program.......First Buran and now 225.
SED LIFE :(
Ukrainian artillery which bombarded the Russian-held airfield has hit and destroyed the AN-225, as follows from photos. Russias took the airfield in air assault, and during it thr hangar was undamaged. So, maybe be angry at idiots in Ukrainian armed forces who can't aim, or didn't care.
Also, it was Soviet space program, and Antonov was Soviet aircraft design bureau at the time, not Ukrainian. Same goes for all other design bureaus of Soviet era, regardless of location.
The an 325 is all fun and game till you put it in the runway😆. You will be needing 2 runways
R.I.P big plane Mriya😔
It was still days ago, yet it's feels nostalgic
uhh.. not really..
as far as i know back in 2018 or 19 the chinese opened a silo door of some sort and found a "head" of another antonov. the soviet power is still not lost. we have the blueprints, we have wooden designs, we have the industry.. so why cant they just make another one?
Yea
I am 100% certain that if ukraine survives as a country, they will rebuild the 225
Why do u think they will rebuild
@@devgaikwad3813 There is second one, which was stored and probably could be finished.
They will!
@@Slavkovic_Predrag probably not. While the Russian could have rebuilt it, they don't have the need for the An-225. But if, that a big if here, the Russian rebuilt it for the Ukrainian as a gesture of peace. But that highly unlikely.
"The occupiers destroyed the plane, but they will not be able to destroy our common dream. She will definitely be reborn."
- Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister for foreign affairs
I once build a 1:1 replica of the 225 in minecraft when it was still in service. Kinda feels like a museum piece now
Rest in peace AN-225, I remember a flight test footage of it on YT 10 years ago, I was only 5 when I first watched it, forever a good part in my memory.
Also can you do a video about the SU-47 Berkut pls? It’s my favorite jet.
Best wishes to the rebuild project, and Ukraine
Incredible isn't it? Basically never used for it's actual purpose due to the end of the cold war - and the soviet union - now destroyed as one of the first assets within the new cold war.. 😕
Yea it is. Looks like it was destroyed from inside the hangar not by destroying the hangar itself. If it was then the angle of attack was extremely shallow & punctured the front of the hangers roof then exploded. Completely missing it's steel framing. No fire evidence in front of hangers roof or floor. Looks like it was blown up from the inside of the airplane.
rest in peace AN-225, you will never be forgotten
R.I.P ANTONOV AN-225 you will always be in my heart
How about rebuilding her as європейська мрія, the European dream, with 6x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Let's hope this war ends soon with the total collapse of the Russian economy. Ukraine has already applied for EU membership so let's get working on that 🙂
I hear that three Volga-Dnepr AN-124's are stuck in Leipzig because of the sanctions. Hopefully, those will go to Antonov Airlines as a start of reparations.
RIP An225...
(1988 - 2022)
Fly high ace 🇺🇦🕊️
Wow... 33 same age as me. I remember seeing it when I worked a brief stint at Tulsa International Airport a decade ago. R.I.P.
In respect to the collaboration with HOTOL (technically HOTOL 2), I was speaking to some of the British engineers a few years ago. From what I remember, while they needed 8 Soviet engines, they also proposed swapping the 6 engines for more powerful Rolls Royce engines.