After several days where the only footage of the damage to Hostomel Airport were hazy satellite images, during the Ukrainian morning of this Friday Russian media entered the devastated area and showed in detail the damage to the airport and especially to the Antonov AN-225, the largest aircraft in the world.
Clearly, the aircraft has been largely destroyed, leaving the empennage, the three engines of the left-wing and a part of the nose with the aircraft name «Антонов 225».
The Antonov An-225 was undergoing scheduled maintenance, having arrived in Kyiv on February 5 from Billund, Denmark.
Video from Hostomel of the destroyed An-225 transport aircraft. https://t.co/5JhZaKZ8LS pic.twitter.com/mnLqgKi9nM
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 4, 2022
The aircraft, better known as Mriya (Ukrainian for dream), is the largest in the world and the only one of its kind. It was the only unit ever built.
Although a second aircraft was in the process of being built, with the end of the Cold War, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and the changing ambitions of Eastern European countries, the project was halted. Then the second An-225 became just a «dream».
The huge metal shell, which Antonov revealed to be 70% complete, was placed inside a huge building at the airport on the outskirts of Kyiv. It remained there for decades. Although it was possible to complete it, there was never any interest due to the costs involved. Those could exceed $500 million, counting a necessary upgrade in design and completion of assembly.
Another factor contributing to the stalling of the second unit was the idea that it would be useless as the first model fulfilled its new role as an ultra-large cargo aircraft.
In 2016, China went so far as to sign an agreement with Antonov to resume production of the second aircraft. The order was due to be completed in 2019. However, the attempt then fell through, again due to profitability. Turkey also showed interest, which remained only in the realm of ideas.
Because of its design and size, the Mriya fascinates aircraft lovers, who often gather to watch it land and take off during commercial flights around the world.
Regardless of its current status, the Mriya remains the heaviest aircraft ever built. With a length of 84 meters, a wingspan of 88 meters, and a maximum payload weight of 250 tons.
See also: [Video]: First images confirming the destruction of the Antonov An-225
