Shannon Airport, Antonov 225 Departure 2020

In June 2020, during the Covid-19 Pandemic the Antonov 225, that is the largest Aircraft in the world, delivered a consignment of Personnel Protective Equipment to from China to Shannon.
The airplane was parked on a stand near the Passenger Terminal Building and the Air Traffic Control Tower.
On the taxiway prior to entering the runway the pilot opened the nose cone that is the access to the hold.
The airplane backtracked to the start of Runway 06 where is turned, lined up with runway. The pilot carried out his pre-flight checks, before accelerating down the runway, rotating and taking off.
The airplane heading north east then east to Ukraine its home base.
Runway 06 was operational as the wind was from the north east.
The Antonov 225 is 42 years old and there is only one it can carry 250 ton or the volume of 16 number 40 foot ship containers. It was built in the Ukraine
Shannon airport has the longest runway in Ireland which was required for the Antonov to take off and land. The pilot gave a wing-wave after takeoff