NEW Antonov AN-225 Is Now Making a MASSIVE Comeback! Here's Why

In 2022, the Antonov AN-255 Mriya, the largest plane in the world, was destroyed beyond repair by Russian forces during their invasion of Ukraine.
The damage was so severe that most people expected it to be the end of the record-breaking Cold War era aircraft, forever confining it to the history books. But the Ukrainian government had other ideas.
But it looks now like the AN-225 could be set to make a massive return.

[@hydewhyte4364]

The real question to ask is ... why was the 225 left on the ground in a war zone to begin with? The pilots are on record as having begged to be allowed to move it.

[@larryblanks6765]

Sweet, I'd love to see her in the air again. Beautiful Bird.

[@andreideac3962]

I saw the plane at Phoenix Sky Harbor a few years ago. It's was beyond impressive!

[@mlhardin1822]

Because of the "heavy lift" capacity of this plane, nothing else on the planet can duplicate it. I vote YES! Rebuild the AN-225! This was very interesting. Thank you very much.

[@jayreiter268]

Put your money along side your vote. Remember the 225 was a surplus Russian aircraft that was sitting abandon for years. It was restored and put to civilian use. In other words the civilian market never justified the cost to build that type aircraft.

[@bondgabebond4907]

Better build a completely new on. AN-225 is beyond fixing. New technology, engines and fuselage of better materials can make a far better aircraft, but I don't believe it will ever happen.

[@millardmoore479]

Ukraine should probably focus on food and rebuilding its infrastructure

[@salajangheorghe1284]

Mriya-Antovov 225 was started through an extensive space funding program from the time of the USSR (the Mriya program started on Dec. 21, 1980 and the first test flight took place only in 1988) The real investments and costs for the manufacture of this aircraft are not really known because the USSR hid the truth as it did with other space or military programs. Today's Ukraine, which wants to claim this plane, came into being only in 1991, when both the factory and the plane were already in existence from the time of the USSR. From my point of view, Mriya / Anotonov 225 needs so much funding that it will never be rebuilt by Ukraine, especially since it will need many years from now to rebuild its own country. ... Only in case some billionaires from the West would like to invest in such a megalomaniacal project.

[@AMERICANPATRIOT1945]

This aircraft should be modernized and brought to life again, with new, efficient turbofan engines.

[@jBKht931]

In 1992 I was a project manager for a large food manufacturer. I was tasked with getting a large production line from Denmark to west coast of US. One option was to by a large cargo plane from Russia or Ukraine and get a pilot to fly it. Plane would cost US$100,000 and I figured we would give the plane to the pilot as payment. I even figured in fuel and material handlers. Things were very cheap then. The company went with shipping by boat 😢

[@courierdog1941]

As stated from a practical stand point NO! However from an Emotional and Cultural pride it is overwhelmingly YES!!

[@catsupchutney]

AN-225 Kickstarter?

[@a-fl-man640]

guarded and fueled the AN-124/ that in itself is a monster aircraft. never saw the 225, it must be massive

[@joblo341]

Emotionally, the answer would be a definite maybe. But practically it's a dead no. The incomplete frame is around 35 years old. So there have to be questions soundness of that. The missing pieces cannot be bought off the shelf. They will have to be replaced with modern equivalents. But nothing is equal. Then it will have to be assembled. Any special tools and frames will have to be recreated. So, basically this will be a one-off custom aircraft. They would probably be better off designing a new aircraft with those specs using modern tech, like carbon fibre, obviously newest design high efficiency engines, electronics etc. If they want to do it, fine. But they have to raise the money themselves. None of the international loans, gifts, unless the donor explicitly approves. For example, any aircraft manufacturing plant would have to be outsized, much bigger than they would need for any other projects they would build.

[@modromore5654]

No problem, get the Russians to chip in - most of the Antonov engineers have gone there anyway ....

[@jurgkunzli6156]

Yes, they need a new one

[@joefin5900]

Interesting is that the AN-225 livery has the colors reversed from the Ukraine flag. The flag is yellow on bottom and blue on top!

[@feynthefallen]

Don't hold your breath, people. First, Ukraine has to survive the war. Which, given the reluctance and, not to put too fine a point on it, incompetence of their western allies when it comes to keeping them supplied with essential war gear, is becoming increasingly unlikely.

[@sakurakinomoto6195]

The AN-225 was needed and built only for one purpose: The transport of the buran shuttle. After the soviet union died, it was refurbished for a broader purpose but was used only for a few tasks. Economically it is not worth to be reconstucted. But as a political symbol it could be reconstructed from russian reparations after the war. There are some more years of work to do and when it takes off for the first time after war, the design will be nearly 50 years old and as museal as the design of the B52 which is still in use after 70 years. So I will smash the button "YES" if I ever will be asked if it should be rebuilt or not.

[@williambunting803]

The AN 225 is a modern technical marvel with capability that the world would like to have maintained. It should be rebuilt and flown as a symbol of Ukrainian aviation excellence. I didn’t realise how many unique aircraft that Antonov had built, having only recently learned of the AN 24, a marvellous little aircraft with brilliant performance. It might not suit the West to have a new aviation specialist to compete with, but Ukraine is now part of the West, and they will get along just fine.

[@harrykreia5371]

Just 2800 miles range?

[@MuellerNick]

Antonov is a broken company. No longer the glory it was decades ago. Just have a look at the follow up of the An-2 that Antonov tried. So any money for the new An-225 is just wasted mony that will dissappear somewhere in some pockets of some Ukrainians. Yes, the An-225 was an impressive plane. But Ukraine struggled to make money out of it. The attitude of the managers that enabled the destruction shows it all.

[@mariocarneiro7237]

This will never happen, simply because there are no parts or equipment to make them, the only ones to have this capability would be the Russians, but they will not do this, nor provide any equipment, the AN-225 is dead and will remain dead , because contrary to what many people think, the "Antonov Design Bureau" does not have the capacity to manufacture aircraft or parts of them, currently it only serves to manage the use of the AN-225 and AN-124, maintaining them using existing parts , they don't manufacture anything.

[@NormanSilv]

It sits in a bombed out Hangar at the Antonov works

[@roryderbyshire4630]

AWESOME

[@aussieandy67]

Not when the Australian Tax Payer is handing out billions in Aid to them. Or any other country is 😮

[@NeilCooper-sb8gd]

Yes

[@stephenanderle5422]

Yes!

[@highlanderthegreat]

yes the plane is big, but any reason the shuttle would not of fit on top of say the USAF C5 GALAXY,, is it that much smaller than the ANTONOV???

[@chrisi06]

The vertical stabilizer from the C5 Galaxy would be in the way and therefore steering the plane wouldn't be possible anymore. Also, the C5 Galaxy is designed to carry cargo in its bay, but not on its top, therefore the general structure of the plane would need to be reinforced a much as a shuttle weights a lot. The B747 already had a better and stronger structure than the C5 Galaxy as it was intended to carry passengers and had higher safety regulations. It was also a cheaper option.

[@westaussie2006]

which is more important, money in the bank or a country trying so hard to rebuild and the psychological benefits. I would go for the latter.....

[@jameswebb2856]

I have been inside the AN-225 including the cockpit and talked with the pilots. I also have the Microsoft sim for it. It needs to be rebuilt. Send the bill to Russia.

[@rjung_ch]

It was just so sick that allies turned on each other. What good did that bring to the planet? I'd say nothing. At least we have hope that the AN-225 will be coming back after the insane bombing of it.

[@wvincus5522]

The US taxpayers pay for it, not Ukraine. US funds Ukraine. Let’s have some accuracy for a change.

[@pierrev6520]

And Canadian tax payers.

[@TrevorSachko]

Best delete your account then...

[@daveseddon5227]

WOW. The EU has provided more cash to Ukraine than US. Let’s have some accuracy for a change. 🤣

[@edwardmyers8782]

Maybe do a little research and then you might have a clue as to what is real.

[@mjohnston8313]

100%

[@Subgunman]

By modifying the aircraft to modern standards would require it to pass flight testing with all of the major component changes. This alone would add to the cost of recertification to allow this aircraft to fly into the USA or EU or other countries. This aircraft is needed even though it is a specialty cargo carrier. I would not put it past Russia an Putin to try and destroy the rebuilt version. As a gift Ukraine should send a thank you package towards the Kremlin as payback.

[@wolfgangrenner4152]

Could it be possible to rebuild the A225 inside the Airbus company ? Meaning that all Ukrainian knowledge ist molted together with Airbus knowledge about plane building. Airbus could expand the A400M to an smaller A200M with 20 t payload and an A800M with 80 t payload. Next size would be A1600M with 160 t (C5 equivalent) and A3200M with 320 t payload (A225 equivalent). So an EU - Ukraine ccoperation could boost Airbus abilities to build huge cargo planes. And funding could be spread over Ukraine, privat gifts and Airbus normal buissyness pool. Take 6 newest Rolls Roys Superfans, it may give similar trust to the original engines with less fuel, noise and air polution. And Airbus learns to build huge cargo / military tranporters.

[@robertlane3513]

I think the world neds that aircraft.

[@willfriar8054]

when it all comes out in the laundry they can make a paper airplane with my tax money. how much did the big guy get?

[@CarlsVlogs]

It will be great to see it in the skies . It will be so proud for Ukraine

[@tcm2kd5000]

Ukraine is done for, never going to happen.

[@agepulsar]

Yes. And bether and bigger. I saw. 1 time it scare me but. Impress. I saw 1 in montreal. Not shure was that. 1 but wow. Please. Make it back. Its an icon and usefull look the world need it use titanium. And well look it improuve. Do not give up. I am certain anny arround the world. K. We see. And agree. Make. It hapen k. Ty❤

[@TrevorCena]

If only we can only bring back the time, Ukraine know's that war is coming blame it to their higher official they could move it somewhere they want, a tragic end of a legend,Putin is to blame,and someday he'll pay for it.

[@josejaviertessariaguirre8295]

Investment decisions are best to be made on the best returns on the investments. It seems like a potencial flop which the country should avoid and also would harm Zelenskyy politically. There will be many better alternatives for Ukraine. Pls let’s now concentrate on winning which the whole world is hoping

[@REIBODERA]

It will be nice a new AN 225 with 4 777x engines instead 6 smallers

[@chrisi06]

The engines are so small because the aircraft is designed to take off from unpaved runways and therefore larger engines, like the GE9X from the B777X would be damaged from the dust and dirt the aircraft generates during takeoff.

[@iaam117]

Amurica payed rebuild.

[@matthartman7062]

So essentially America is paying for this project that won’t turn a profit. Great. I’m glad Ukraine is so flush with cash…

[@user-lf2jh2ru9f]

And who will build that plane? Zelensky made 2/3 of Ukraine disappear. Airplanes are made by people, not the tongue of a circus performer.

[@user-Chikotillo]

It was the most special plane in the world! And i will fly again! Landmark of world aviation

[@gerhardtnell5541]

The Russian government should pay for the rebuild of this precious plane (and for the restoration of the country that they destroyed)

[@christophergrimes12]

Ukraine needs their dream back they need Mirya back

[@robertkupper1327]

Once the conflict with Russia is over make Putin pay for the restoration project seeing he caused its destruction in the first place. He can afford it.

[@robertchautardjensen6846]

The funding of the Mriya project can be financed by Russian funds held overseas, after all this would be justice as the Russians destroyed the original aircraft.

[@umerfarooq-kx6sp]

Nicely explained really liked the content

[@Fantomas327]

💛💙Слава Україні💛💙Glory to Ukraine💛💙