The Antonov An-225 Mriya: How Ukraine Ended Up With the Heaviest Aircraft Ever Built

Almost as heavy as your mum.
Simon's Social Media:
Twitter: / simonwhistler
Instagram: / simonwhistler
Simon's Other Channels:
TodayIFoundOut: / todayifoundout
TopTenz: / toptenznet
Biographics: / @biographics
Visual Politik: / @visualpolitiken
Highlight History: / @highlighthistory
Geographics: / @geographicstravel
Business Blaze: / @brainblaze6526

[@megaprojects9649]

*216,000 meals. Sorry!

[@nizm0man]

216 American sized meals? Hehe

[@gamingbud926]

@@nizm0man ;)

[@viridiscoyote7038]

Check out the Piasecki PA-97 Helistat. It was also (and still is I think) a record breaker that, with only one being built, would allegedly make it a great aircraft for moving massive shit (combine a multicopter, a blimp, and American 1980's knowhow with cocaine confidence).

[@likebot.]

No, 216 sounds about right... for 216 Fat Bastards: "Ye're lower on the food chain, ye should be in me belly. Ge' in me belly!"

[@wattcy89]

Yes definitely a video on the space shuttle/Russian shuttle

[@Ripper13F1V]

RIP -225 Mriya, the world loved you and will miss you.

[@nombatu6505]

I can't believe they f****** destroyed it :(

[@wyolaskan1868]

I never thought I’d shed tears over a machine, but here I am, surrounded by people cutting onions.

[@Ripper13F1V]

There is a shred of hope, there's a pretty well complete fusealge and center wing section that they can rebuild with. That's of course contingent on Russians not blowing up the Antonov plant too.

[@baomao7243]

@@wyolaskan1868 I felt the same emptiness (but w/o onions) when Cassini made its final dive into Saturn. I just couldn’t accurately describe the feeling of loss to others - “being there to see you born” all the way to it taking its “final breath” as it perished. It saddened me. It was a sort of grief, now eclipsed by grief for all those suffering or having lost their lives in the invasion. Rebuilding the AN-225 would aid the healing, like seeing the World Trade Center rebuilt and open its doors to the world. I am sorry, my friend.

[@ango37af]

You will be missed [*]

[@rolfschubert1853]

"However, it doesn't look like this plane is going to be going anywhere anytime soon." Hauntingly accurate words!

[@lankypestero600]

Rest in peace mega plane - you were a true spectacle in which the world will probably never see again.

[@WarhammerWings]

She will be rebuilt,so no worries

[@gundam2jimmy]

I think they will rebuild it.

[@wharris302]

@@WarhammerWings Nope, they'll finish the 2nd one. Mriya was sadly a total loss, nothing left apart from the nose

[@ChakkyCharizard]

@@wharris302 Oh, the rest of the plane is there all right...it's just burnt to crap.

[@joshh535]

of*... "you were a true spectacle of* which the world will probably never see again"

[@eyezak_m]

May it Rest In Peace. The legendary plane.

[@tenaciousrodent6251]

One of the soviet crown jewels. Blown up by the Russian army...Just what is going on here and who is supposed to gain anything from this?

[@GrrMeister]

*If True what a tragic loss !*

[@baomao7243]

Perhaps the parts that exist will be collected and assembled so she can live again - flying or even as a monument to overcoming all obstacles - technical and political - in the face of overwhelming odds and even war crimes. Never forget.

[@Charlie-js8rj]

Please do the Buran Space Shuttle / Space Shuttle!

[@michaelnagel2205]

Definitely want the US vs USSR comparison

[@MrBardache]

Yes please

[@philipcooper8297]

@Mycel ''boo-run''

[@MrMexicanarmy]

Doooo Eetttttttt

[@MrMexicanarmy]

Doooo Eetttttttt

[@jarlborg1531]

"It's longer than the Wright Brother's first flight". That's just epic.

[@ziggystardust4627]

Well, to be honest, Wright Brother's first flight was 120 ft/

[@novarossi5653]

@@ziggystardust4627 true, but imagine if the Wright Brothers could stand here today in front of such an aircraft, knowing that this the journey the helped start humanity on.

[@BlackEpyon]

@@novarossi5653 They'd shit themselves and give up... And then we wouldn't have planes ;)

[@briananthony4044]

Actually it was the internal length of the cargo hold is longer than the first flight of the Wright brothers.

[@ziggystardust4627]

@@briananthony4044 There are far fewer aircraft that can claim that!

[@AlexanderFort]

RIP I can’t believe she was destroyed.

[@dmitrykogan2822]

I was lucky to be part of the team who built it in 1985. First time I saw it, fuselage was being riveted. I had to double take. Fuselage looked like train tunnel with small light at the end. My fingerprint is somewhere under all that paint

[@HassanKhan-ei2wh]

What a legend you are

[@THEFIRE360]

Designers: how big? Soviets: Da

[@jeremycontreras6229]

Blyat

[@MATTLEism]

*Slavic hardbass has entered the chat....

[@gaius_enceladus]

@@MATTLEism - Cheeki breeki!

[@MATTLEism]

@@gaius_enceladus *Level 9000 slavic squat initiated

[@Symkain]

I do believe there is a language barrier there, but your argument is valid, kind sir.

[@kurtru5selcrowe607]

“If people like it, I will do it.” -Simon 2020

[@marcbeebee6969]

I'm still waiting for that drum set for business blaze

[@freibier]

Famous last words. By the way, I would like the Space Shuttle - Buran video. Like he said, they look "remarkably similar" :-)

[@ColossalPenisMcgee]

I want to see him in some gay bdsm

[@kingjellybean9795]

@@ColossalPenisMcgee you need jesus lol

[@baddreams0919]

next thing we know is simon jumping from a clift in a parachute

[@jjfromthebigland781]

I live in a small town in Eastern Canada which is also home to a military base that has a 2 1/2 mile long runway. I was working as a security guard at that base when the 225 landed to refuel. I was on the airfield when it took off and it used every inch of that runway to get off the ground. I'm used to seeing all sorts of military aircraft from cargo planes to fighters and everything in between but to see that thing lumbering skyward is an experience I doubt I'll ever forget...

[@ManteIIo]

...and also the experience that you will never again get to experience... rip Mriya.

[@Jetfighter1011]

Rest in Peace Mriya may you never be forgotten

[@MarloSoBalJr]

Such a shame that year later after we all watched this video, this beautiful giant was taken away from us due to an unnecessary war

[@vladsnape6408]

5:29 The twin tail was not required for 'balance' reasons - it was needed so that the surfaces would be sufficiently away from the turbulent air generated by slipstream of the Buran sitting on top of the aircraft. If the air is too turbulent near the vertical and horizontal surfaces, the tail cannot aerodynamically control the pitch and yaw of the plane.

[@user-ld6is4ni3d]

Correct

[@megaprojects9649]

Ha, yes, I totally read this and think, "so balance...", but I also understand that they are different things now. Thanks :)

[@BlackEpyon]

Watch the thing as it revs the engines on the runway. The tail will torque from the force of the thrust blowing past it.

[@hp2084]

@David Balance is balance of forces and stability can be achieved even without balance of forces. I mean I can say there is a stable turbulence over the tip of the wings.

[@g0bst0p3r]

R.I.P to a legend.

[@shinjisan2015]

Bonus Fact: This absolutely incredible aircraft has its own permanent callsign; Cossack. When you're the only one, and you're so massive, it's good for everyone around you to know exactly who and what you are.

[@lukaszimmer1973]

Does the airforce one not have also one?

[@N1lav]

@@lukaszimmer1973 there is only *ONE* AN-225 and it *DEMANDS* you call it: Cossack.

[@robertbrown1141]

@@lukaszimmer1973 Unless I am mistaken, Air Force One is the callsign given to any plane POTUS happens to be on. Should the goverment decide to commandeer the 737 you are set to fly on, that plane would have it's current callsign changed to Air Force One. Also, the White House's own website regarding Air Force One: "Although ‘Air Force One’ can describe any Air Force aircraft carrying the President, it is now standard practice to use the term to refer to specific planes equipped to transport the Commander-in-Chief. ... Today, this name refers to one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft, which carry the tail codes 28000 and 29000"

[@user-ru5rr9gp8d]

The author of this video did not like the word Cossack, if he is called a Muscovite, he will like it.

[@scottmcintosh4397]

@@lukaszimmer1973 No, the Presidential air fleet does not include an AN-225. ✈✈ The USAF has 2 C-5 Galaxy transports specifically dedicated to support POTUS needs on overseas trips 🌎✈🌏✈🌍. Operated by the 1254th. Air Transport Wing, Andrews AFB, they arrive at the destination hours/days ahead of POTUS' arrival carrying Presidential vehicles 🚓🚗🚌🚙🚓 Preparations are painstakingly planned well in advance & HUGE amounts of time & Human effort go into making this come off flawlessly. They can also carry Presidential UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters 🚁🚁🚁

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Not MiG-26 helicopter Mi-26. Mi stands for the last name of the founder of the design bureau, his last name was Mil. MiG is short for Mikoyan and Guryevich two founders of the legendary design bureau. Mil designs helicopters MiG designs fighter/attack aircraft.

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

Thank you, I was hoping someone would catch that

[@Quantiad]

Exactly, and that helo probably deserves a video all of its own.

[@atomicskull6405]

They need to do a video on the Mil V12 the largest helicopter ever built. It was TWICE the size of the Mi-26 and slightly larger than a C-130.

[@Quantiad]

@@ERAUsnow Sounds like propaganda to me. You must be another American unwilling to admit that the Russians just do things better.

[@ziggystardust4627]

@EmperorJuliusCaesar You know Igor Sikorsky left because of the Leninist revolution, right?

[@MRoderick89]

another mega project should be Simons beard 😂 really do love the aircraft videos 👍

[@bdrenfro]

and how it has evolved over time 😆

[@MRoderick89]

@@bdrenfro exactly 👍

[@MRoderick89]

@@saemi74 😂

[@hendrikbarboritsch7003]

Full beard suits you. Make it even longer!

[@coronalight77]

Too small to be "mega". Nice try tho.

[@erwinderoo]

Super sad to see the Mriya destroyed in the useless conflict. Let's hope the other 225 survives and can be completed.

[@Cantbuyathrill]

They made 225 of them???? That's a lot of metal!!!!!!! Let's hope they all survive -unlike the original one recently destroyed in an Ukranian hangar.

[@LShaver947]

@@Cantbuyathrill the only one fully built got destroyed, there is a second one that has been 65% completed for over 10 years.

[@Bumholioh]

@@LShaver947 or maybe they destroyed the semi completed one and they're lyin for effect. Who knows 😎

[@Consrignrant]

@@Bumholioh The videos are clearly of the completed one.

[@astra1653]

People just flock to the airports when this bad boy is scheduled to come in. Even other pilots go all fanboy over it!

[@ivanbima5877]

Yes, because despite all the credits, only 1 example is operational

[@vitrong5765]

The split tail vertical stabilizers are because the Buran would interfere with the airflow over a conventional center mounted stabilizer. Maintaining rudder authority is always good.

[@GhostDrummer]

I remember when it flew into Reno, International Airport...traffic on 395 and 80 stopped. It looked like it was simply floating in the air for the longest time. Very impressive.

[@markopolo6009]

@@vitrong5765 I agree

[@Sciguy95]

@@ivanbima5877 thats because only 1 was ever built.

[@IronmanV5]

An-225 When you want to turn a bunch of grown men into 12 year olds, there is no substitute.

[@kumaflamewar6524]

I can think of a lot of planes that can do that, none quite so big though lol

[@Megalomaniakaal]

@@kumaflamewar6524 Imagine fitting a strip club inside of that thing. I bet you could!

[@eoinkenny3188]

@@Megalomaniakaal Do you mean a strip mall? A strip club would get lost inside it.

[@Spartacus-4297]

@@eoinkenny3188 you mean a small town with a strip mall right lol

[@manny4mayor]

Solid Jackie Brown reference

[@marzipanhuman2356]

This thing once flew over my house at low altitude, and it does not feel like a real mean of transportation. Due to its size you get a feeling that it is moving too slow, and then you are just standing there, trying to comprehend the fact that several hundred tons of metal cargo and fuel flew over you, supported only by air...

[@ricklett1688]

Actually, supported by a vacuum!

[@BamBoomBots]

@@ricklett1688 Not at all. Lift is generated by a vertical pressure gradient.

[@yengsabio5315]

Wow! What an experience! I tried to imagine what you've just stated, And I'm myself mesmerised!

[@woongah]

From your description, I suspect where the inspiration for its name came from... Mryia - "Dream", seems fitting.

[@Real28]

Supported by physics!

[@GrrMeister]

7:37 & 13:42 *It's simply staggers belief to imagine such and awesome load of 640 Tons could get Airborne - absolutely incredible !*

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:45 - Chapter 1 - A true beast 2:25 - Chapter 2 - Space shuttle 4:20 - Chapter 3 - Building the beast 6:05 - Chapter 4 - Antonov AN 225 8:25 - Chapter 5 - 1st appearance 9:10 - Chapter 6 - Wrong place, wrong time 9:55 - Chapter 7 - Post soviet union 10:40 - Chapter 8 - Revival 12:30 - Chapter 9 - The future

[@SonOfAB_tch2ndClass]

Chapter 10 - Loss T_T

[@TyTy-fq3mh]

Do a video on “extremely large” telescopes please! They are absolutely impressive pieces of machinery. For example just a single mirror being used for the Giant Magellan Telescope is over 8m in diameter, made with 20 tons of glass, and takes years to cast and polish out imperfections thinner than a human hair.

[@evil_duck_de]

Absolutely! These giant telescopes are monsters! They are currently building the Extremely Large Telescope (not very good with names, obviously), which will be the largest optical telescope when it will be done in 2025, having a main mirror with a diameter of 39m, consisting of 798 single hexagonal mirror tiles!

[@FinnishPatriot]

A video on the JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) would be great when it launches next year

[@BunnyR13]

Another vote for an MP on Optical Telescopes.

[@bicyclist2]

That would be seriously cool.

[@FinnishPatriot]

@Mycel Yeah, it has to be way more precise.

[@PumpkinTuna]

I got to see this thing about 10 years ago when it was delivering a piece of machinery to Charlotte NC. I was leaving a building and this monster flew over. It's hard to describe. It was at the right altitude for the flight path into CLT, but it just looked . . . wrong. It's literally too big to comprehend. I knew intellectually that it was at the right altitude, but my brain told me it was super low. Beautiful plane.

[@kingsquirrel6068]

RIP Antonov An-225 Mriya

[@BazilRat]

Simon's beard is becoming a megaproject in its own right...

[@thecreamycrusader290]

Jesus. I wasn't expecting that

[@yusufn7467]

Ngl That's a weird insult

[@BazilRat]

@@yusufn7467 It's not an insult, not exactly. More of a friendly dig, one beard owner to another.

[@yusufn7467]

@@BazilRat bruh I was kidding lol

[@BazilRat]

@@yusufn7467 Fair!

[@Not-Great-at-Gaming]

Would love to see a comparison of the American and Soviet Space Shuttles.

[@SeverityOne]

Well... the Buran flew only once, an unmanned flight. Reportedly, it went flawlessly. Then they stored it in a hangar, and it got destroyed when that hangar collapsed due to lack of maintenance. There's a model that they used for flight tests,, similar to the Enterprise Space Shuttle, that could actually take off from a runway. It now rests at the Technik Museum Speyer in Germany, where they also have both a Concorde and an Antonov-144, just to name a couple of aircraft mentioned in this series. The Buran had some interesting differences from the Space Shuttle, but because it flew only once, it's going to be difficult to make a comparison and draw a conclusion from it.

[@Finallybianca]

Scott Manley, Everyday Astronaut, And Curious Droid all have videos on Buran vs The Space shuttle.

[@Finallybianca]

Severity One there is also a Mockup that was/ possibly still is on display in a park in St Petersburg. Last I heard it was falling apart but that was about six years ago.

[@jacobzimmermann59]

The Buran tried to learn lessons from the American Space Shuttle program. One key difference was that unlike the American Shuttle, Buran didn't have its own engines, instead it would be carried to orbit on the Energia launcher. On paper this looked like a better design, both technically and economically, because it was cheaper, simpler, required less maintenance between flights and, most importantly, the Energia could also be used separately (without Buran) to launch any cargo up to a whopping 100 tons to LEO. The Buran itself was capable to self-pilot and fly in fully automated, unmanned mode (that was its first and only flight, by the way). Ultimately the program collapsed with the dislocation of the USSR but maybe the whole notion of a reusable space shuttle is flawed or, at least, way too ahead of its time. The American Shuttle was a pioneering technological marvel but it never made economic sense and was the single most unsafe space vehicle ever designed. Other countries that had shuttle plans (France for one with its Hermes project) quickly shelved them, the Russians realised that the best way to fly to and from the ISS was using their trusty Soyuz ships which were dumb but simple, reliable and safe, and the NASA has moved on in 2011.

[@rsrt6910]

@@jacobzimmermann59 I'm not sure where you get your numbers concluding that the shuttle program was the MOST unsafe space vehicle EVER designed. Out of 135 flights, there were two failures resulting in fatalities, giving it a mission failure rate of 1.5% In contrast, the Apollo program that it replaced had 12 manned missions and a single failure that resulted in fatalities, giving it a failure rate of 8.3%. If we include catastrophic failures that prevent the spacecraft from performing, then Apollo had 2 failures for a whopping 16.6% chance that your spacecraft would blow up. I have my criticisms about the space shuttle (mostly centered around efficiency and cost) but to claim it was the MOST unsafe vehicle???? Common dude.

[@gwreiddiaudwfn27]

Yes! Space Shuttle / Space Shuttleski please!

[@PMW3]

RIP AN-225

[@benblakemore4195]

THIS IS A FANTASTIC SERIES OF CHANNELS MATE. EVERY TOPIC AMAZINGLY RESEARCHED AND DELIVERED WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ENGLISH POMP 😀😊😀😊 WELL DONE MATE.

[@Harshhaze]

Mega Projects: "Planes..." Wendover Productions: 😡

[@irispettson]

Wendover Productions: Finally a worthy opponent

[@MrLeeleeeeeeee]

Shots fired!!!

[@UncommonManFromEarth]

What about Mustard?

[@razberrilol4095]

UncommonManFromEarth right mustard must be rolling in his bed

[@kineticdeath]

still waiting for my brick video on Half as Interesting. Also the sister channel Hall as Interesting!

[@saevars5199]

The US$ 10 billion price tag James Webb Space Telescope would be a good Megaproject project

[@js00065]

Saevar S yes

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

There's not much to say about it, it's never going to be used and is just a never ending waste of money because it's already outdated and still will never be finished or go to space.

[@nomaschalupas2453]

How about instead of sending smart people to other planets. We send all the dumb ones? That would probably save the human race just as well. A well worth trillion dollar project. I.Q of 80 or less at 18....YOU GOING TO SPACE BUDDAY.

[@isiahhendrix5651]

I'd agree when the damned thing ever gets off the ground

[@Spartacus-4297]

I think it would make a better video once it's actually been launched

[@Musikur]

I've stood under this plane at the Melbourne Airshow, it really does seem enormous in a way that many things don't when you actually see them in reality.

[@Steph.98114]

wait, when was it at the melbourne air show?

[@dwaynepenner2788]

I saw it fly in 1990 in Canada. It looked impossibly slow due to it’s size

[@sixstringedthing]

Presuming you mean the Australian International Airshow held at Avalon , I think you might be misremembering.... :) I don't remember an AN-225 being there (they've only been to Australia a couple of times as I recall), but Wikipedia confirms that both an AN-124 Ruslan and an Ilyushin IL-86 were there in '92 (the first time the show was held at Avalon airport), so I guess you might be thinking of the '124. Which must make the size of the 225 seem even more incredible! I saw a couple of big'uns at the RAAF 70th Anniversary at Richmond the same year. QANTAS 747-438 flew in first, still relatively new in service at the time, and they parked it on the ramp with ropes around the landing gear and let the crowd wander around underneath. So that was cool enough, but then the USAF C-5 Galaxy arrived.... they didn't let us get quite as near to that one of course, but it was (and is) a MONSTER.

[@gregmercil3968]

@@dwaynepenner2788 it must’ve either been on it’s way to or from the air show in Everett, WA which I luckily got to go to as a 9 year old. This was August 1990.

[@dwaynepenner2788]

@@gregmercil3968 No it was at the Abbostford B.C Airshow doing circuts or approches. Also saw it in the static displays. My buddy got to stand on the wings. In the photos it looked like a football field. I stand corrected it was 1989. Probably the best airshow ever. Watching Mig 29's tail slide after hours was really cool. Rumor has it that it was actually American pilots. And they were doing it pretty much over town.

[@urthetshirtguy]

As a kid I got to see the US Space Shuttle fly piggy back on a 747. As a young man in the Air Force, I got to ride in a C-5 coming back from a TDY. This brought back many memories. Thank you.

[@DavidCourtney]

2:50 - Of course we want you to cover the Buran Space Shuttle :)

[@businessjetguru1298]

The twin tail wasn’t for balance. The Buran shielded the normal single tail, forcing them to create a twin-tail, to allow the aircraft to be controlled. The Hercules was never certified, nor did it enter production. It is a prototype, only.

[@slippymitc]

So why doesn’t the 747 used as a shuttle carrier have this problem? The 747 carrier does have stabilizers added to the tail, but they are not control surfaces. I suspect the main reason for the twin tail was to bring the center of pressure aft to increase stability, kind of like the ventral strake modifications done to airplanes that are put on floats.

[@businessjetguru1298]

slippymitch thanks for your message. Part of the benefit of the B747 is that it is longer, and there is better airflow over the vertical stabilizer, which is taller and larger than on the Antonio. The issue isn’t turning, as the ailerons can be used for turns. The bigger issue is longitudinal stability, and the disruption of airflow caused by putting the shuttle(s) on either the Antonio or Boeing.

[@user-pm9jh3ge5q]

This is a delusion. Antonov had no control problems, and the stabilizers, like the plane itself, are no longer than the AN225 The AN225 has a forked tail only so that this aircraft could be used as a launching pad for this very purpose it was created. That's just not for the Buran shuttle, but for the Lightning shuttle testpilot.ru/russia/molniya/maks/images/maks03.jpg This was not done for this reason, but in order to launch the Lightning Shuttle from the AN225, it was created for the MAKS system

[@jdinnis]

The AN-225 never entered prosecution either. While it does hold a type certificate, it is still technically a prototype.

[@user-pm9jh3ge5q]

@@jdinnis This is not a prototype, but a full-fledged aircraft. that's why you talk nonsense. The prototype is an intermediate stage of the project, as for the An225, this is a full-fledged completed project that was supposed to be mass-produced, but after the collapse of the USSR, everything was naturally abandoned. Therefore, one aircraft was built and the second was at the stage of 70 percent of construction

[@aussietaipan8700]

I was in Perth at the time the 225 arrived. It flew overhead at low altitude and what a sight to behold and the sound rumble of 6 engines. It will remain with me forever. Great plane.

[@ManteIIo]

Yeah, I believe nearly 20 thousand people came to watch it's first flight to Australia... something you will never again get to expierence, rip Mriya.

[@hesstwentyone]

Please do a multi-installment on the Convair B-36. It's wingspan is about 14 meters wider than the B-52, was also designed to be a cargo plane (re: XC-99), and Pan American Airlines was also looking at this as their post-war 747, so to speak. LOTS of material for two episodes, I believe.

[@jack_brooks]

The split tail vertical stabilizers are because the Buran would interfere with the airflow over a conventional center mounted stabilizer. Maintaining rudder authority is always good.

[@ProVision3187]

That is basically what he explained

[@iainmillar1532]

Na he said it was for “balance”, he didn’t mention aerodynamics of the vertical stabiliser/rudder. But a great video anyway!

[@leumgui]

he explained it in the video, no need to mansplain

[@invertedpolarity6890]

Wouldn’t it be more correct to say it was a “space shuttle shuttle”?

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Is the hangar where they keep it the space shuttle shuttle space?

[@skitzxplods]

I have been fascinated by this behemoth ever since I saw a picture as a kid, so when I heard it was coming to Perth I had to be there. For me it was a bucket list item I could check off, to see this beast of the sky coming into land ( 2 hours late) was breathtaking a moment I will remember forever.

[@User0000000000000004]

"On the 11th of September 2001" I wonder why I never heard about this flight. Was something else happening on that day?

[@kennymies372]

Yes

[@itzaydenn]

no i don't think so i can't remember

[@gamolgallofin1012]

Some airplanes flew somewhere but i dont know where.

[@louithrottler]

Grand Slam airlines flight 666 wasn't it? Think they were late for a Religion of Peace meeting or sth

[@Spedclassprod]

@@louithrottler bro you’re actually right

[@piedpiper1172]

Finally, a solution for my airborne blue whale transport needs. Now I just need a big parachute and my dreams will come true.

[@KNR90]

I have questions...

[@MajesticSkywhale]

@@KNR90 gojira - flying whales

[@eveyoung3656]

Yes, I had the same thought. But how would you synchronise the whale release with the launch of the orchestra?

[@erikaskeroth9720]

Just skip the parachute and reenact the whale fall from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[@KarryKarryKarry]

Erik Askeroth Now we’re talking!

[@mentalsuit2]

As a kid I was lucky enough to get a chance to sit in the pilots seat, can confirm the plane is big

[@thomashenderson5742]

Thanks I was not sure if it was big 😁

[@kingjellybean9795]

@@thomashenderson5742 not the hero we asked for, but the one we got

[@pavelvoynov5408]

Nah, it only seemed big to you because you were little... :)

[@malahammer]

It's great to hear that it's big.

[@lydialubach8872]

Lucky son of a pilot, I only got to sit in the Ruslan. I was born in the 90's , maybe that also plays a role.

[@isangradraddlin4093]

The reason for the twin tail design was because the shuttle disrupts air flow for a single rudder. They had to get the steering surface outside of the shuttles wake hence putting two of them on the tips of the stabilizers.

[@cldels42]

POV: you came here after you heard the news this aircraft has now been destroyed...

[@imperialmodelworks8473]

Seen "225" and "Mega Projects" in my notification. Didn't even have to think about it. CLICK!

[@jcarlile8279]

I would love a two part shuttles episodes.

[@K1R4D]

Sadly, it has been reported today, that she has been destroyed in her hangar in Ukraine.

[@mho...]

i said it before, ill say it again! *"the Modern shipping Container"* would make for a true #Megaprojects video! Containerships,Harbours and the gigantic change in world trade that these metal boxes created is truly marvelous! maybe im bias living in Hamburg, but always amazes me!

[@Codraroll]

It also amazes me how much cargo is moved on the standard europallet, but how they and the standard shipping container aren't harmonized with each other. Imagine being able to go back in time and making that correction!

[@flowgangsemaudamartoz7062]

@@Codraroll Europallets are, to my knowledge, not used for international transport, because of the danger of transferring stuff to other coninents you dont want to transfer, like anvasive insects i guess. Thats why the INKA pallet exists.

[@IMBlakeley]

It was interesting in a nerdish way that when I shipped some goods from the UK to Asia they gave me a tracking code for the ship and the container[1]. All those millions of containers leaving ports, transferred from ship to ship and someone somewhere knows where they are and where all things being equal they'll be in the future. [1] Southampton - Alexandria - Singapore (change ships) - Klang for the container and Hong Kong for the ship

[@Artem.Kak.Art.]

It would be great if you do a video about Buran and Energia rocket that carried it. Buran was the plane plane, that destroyed weak Soviet economy, but at the same time, was the most technologically advanced plane at the time. It had autopilot, that landed it (26 years before Falcon 9), ejection seats for all 7-8 crew members and, modified, it could be, not a glider, but an actual plane, with 4 jet engines from a MiG fighter. And Energia was 3rd most powerful rocket ever and it’s boosters could be reused, like Falcon’s.

[@user-sn9st6kr7n]

Soviet economy was destroyed by 32 yesrs of stupid management as a preparation to mr. Gorbatchev's government which applied all effort to finish USSR destroy

[@altergreenhorn]

Buran has nothing with the Soviet economy Soviets rightfully calculated that Buran - Space shuttle is a dead end and stopped it. US needed a much harder lection to do the same thing.

[@SeverityOne]

Some people argue that the little incident on the 26th of April, 1986, in Ukraine near the Belarusian border, was the final nail in the coffin of the Soviet economy. As for the Space Shuttle, I remember seeing the launch live on Dutch TV. (The Americans were so considerate to launch it at around midday on a Sunday, so that 11 year old boys in Europe could watch it.) That was all cool and such, but the landing was pretty mundane, just like any other aeroplane landing. It was no comparison to the moment when SpaceX's two rockets landed simultaneously, on their tails, just like it was imagined in the 1950s. That was just magical. And yes, that's how reusable spacecraft should look like. It unfortunately took 14 lives to get that message across.

[@KingJohnMichael]

the 3 comments to this comment are crazy wierd lol.

[@sevic333]

If you want to see the best raw video of Buran, then check youtube channel called >>> exploring the unbeaten path

[@etapollo13]

216 military meals took up 375 pallets? Wow they're eating good!

[@CorwinPatrick]

He forgot to mention what unit that 216 meals was for. For a whole Battalion, that would be close.

[@joeb5316]

Two hundred and sixteen meals could feed three North Korean divisions for a day.

[@jinx1120]

RIP AN225 :(

[@Michael-it6gb]

Imagine the amount of pride the pilots felt inside that plane as they were landing at the Paris Air show in 1989.

[@andreasschon9903]

We need a buran video! Anyways great video.

[@positronicfeed]

Hey Simon. How about a video on the Aerecibo radio telescope? That rates as a megaproject I suppose. And that's a yes from me for the Buran space shuttle.

[@joemag6032]

To be fair, the Chinese have since built a much larger one .

[@migram4190]

Yes yes!

[@sledairsoftandgaming4578]

@@joemag6032 but it is the Arecibo and also it would be nice to commemorate its collapse

[@luiscasiano7788]

Yes is broken.😒.. arecibo puerto rico 😎

[@daveschannel1466]

Enjoy watching all of Simmon's videos on this channel and his other channels as well, awesome

[@mikaelvall2586]

Mighty plan. I was on the plane when they were in Sweden for the second time. Interesting when you have to climb a ladder to get into the plane from the cargo area.

[@maximilienrobespierre7927]

Personally I, as a Ukrainian, am proud that my homeland own the biggest aircraft in the word.

[@markd2426]

When there is nothing else to be proud of

[@roolawreal]

@@markd2426 stay strong ❤

[@DesiGalCrochet]

My condolences on it's loss. I hope your government does get a chance to rebuild it after the war ends. Stay safe! Slava Ukraine!

[@catalinxnecula]

owned. in the past. not anymore. same for the black sea coast. twats

[@scotthenderson292]

I hope you're okay

[@eFeXuy]

Ah yes, the plane in which John Cusack outrun the apocalypse for like the third time.

[@frikdt]

I hope you realize what deep scars you've opened up again. Until reading your comment I've been able to successfully suppress all memories of that movie ;)

[@PSkullKidDnazen]

we're talking of 2012 right? just want to be sure

[@ziggystardust4627]

Quoting the Oligarch: "It's Russian" (It's Ukrainian)

[@markyaremko8031]

no, in the movie it was a fictional AN-500, which does not exist.

[@ziggystardust4627]

Mark Jaremko An for Antonov, which was always a Ukrainian design bureau. And the image is obviously an Antonov An-225 Mria.

[@jreid641]

Cool video. Thanks. Very informative.

[@brargfaster]

I don't normally comment, but seriously a video on the Buran would be amazing. The history behind this piece of basically lost history is fascinating!

[@carlstanland5333]

“Enormous, bulky, and not much to look at in terms of shape...” Ow. That hit too close to home. 😞

[@Happy_Shopper]

It's ok bro. Not everyone is perfect

[@briananthony4044]

Antonov designs good looking cargo aircraft.

[@kavamalekava6556]

I find myself thinking that an 225 quite beautiful as aircraft not sexy beautiful like fighter planes but majestic with lines hardly imaginary on planes build Soviet Union times. We Lucky she haves better fate than buran.

[@fattywithafirearm]

I have a photo from when I was a kid in front of the AN-225. Would love to get to see her again now that I'm much older.

[@orchidorio]

Simon, this is marvelous. I have known about the 225 for a few years and check You Tube from time to time. This piece tells the whole story ...up to now. Many thanks !

[@flyboy152]

Several years ago I was in a Cessna 172 and flew over this plane when it was parked on the ramp at SWF, Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY. It was incredible. SWF is a combined airport and Air National Guard base, so there are a number of C5s based there. I never thought I’d see a plane that made a C5 look small, but this one did.

[@Caroline_Tyler]

"It broke 109 world records" - "heaviest payload capacity and countless more".... You just counted! It was 108 more :) :)

[@Kirovets7011]

Hi Simon, Thanks for this interesting video!👍👍 However, there a 2 little things incorrect: 1: It is still the largest aircraft in the world. The 'space plain' is considered NOT a real aircraft, so the Antonov An-225 stays on top. 2: The cargo hold is not 43 meters in legth, but 46 meters. That's all.

[@mitchyk]

An-225 is one of my fav planes. When you stand in it's cargo bay you really get an idea of the massive scale. It's big. Really big. Videos can't do it justice. Like big enough to play football in. Basketball. Golf! Probably kart racing too! It's really big.

[@danvorstenbosch7335]

Thanks for the video

[@neilaslayer]

RIP to the beloved Cossack

[@coffeeoverloadj7541]

RIP Antonov AN-225, yet another casualty of a mindless war

[@mikenco]

I knew very little about the Antinov, fascinating, thank you!

[@donkey18071980]

Its sad that we don't seem to build beasts like this anymore

[@joewilliamson6378]

I walked through the AN-124 once upon a time. The size of this must be mind-blowing to see.

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

Simon: If you'd like to see an episode on.. Comments: Yes Simon: Wait, I haven't told you what it... Comments:Yes!! Brilliant as always, I love this channel :)

[@sylvaner01]

Thanks for another vid, hope you guys are doing well during Covid

[@mythicfour]

RIP, Mriya.. she may be gone, but the dream will never die..

[@arizonatsunami]

RIP. 😢

[@juusto7171]

rip mriya

[@gregdonovan4966]

One of your best Many thanks

[@az196823]

Amazing work yet again. 😁👌

[@gamecollectorbr]

Reviewing this again after the war... lets pray for peace.

[@Powertampa]

Interesting trivia: When the design was final the engineers were asked if the 225 could be used in the same manner as the 124 was, as general cargo plane. The requirement for landing and takeoff could not be met though. This was because of the lack in engine performance, so a new model was proposed, the 235. It had 8 engines, dual engine pods inboard and came with the rear cargo door which was missing from the 225. As time went on the military version was shelved however because the added complexity and somewhat fragile nature was seen as just not suitable. The 124 was already only just meeting the field requirements, the 235 would not have been able to unless the military moved from the design spec. The rumor was the second airframe of the 225 was actually supposed to be the 235 testbed, but this is not true as the fuselage is the same and the 235 was supposed to be wider to accommodate landing boats just over 1.2 meters wider than the 225.

[@tommorris5014]

Thanks Simon I’ve watched every bio, geo, and mega, working on the others thanks for what you do bro

[@roberttreston9385]

Love all your videos dude

[@supervolant]

Fairey Rotordyne! Look it up, its a large british build tip-jet powered aircraft/helicopter with a interesting history. Would love to see a mega projects on that one... Keep up the good work!

[@SteveChisnall]

a Shuttle versus Buran video would be truly magnificent.

[@leklaaskha38]

I'd love the buran shuttle video! Great video as always

[@ilikebeer101]

R.I.P.

[@NickDeGraeve]

Suggestions: Atlantikwall, WW I Western Front trench system

[@steveshoemaker6347]

OUTSTANDING....Thanks

[@terranceroff8113]

I happen to think she's rather lovely to look upon. Big, strong powerful, and rather graceful on the ground and in the air. And I understand not any more difficult to fly than any of the other larger aircraft there.

[@rob1tnt]

Who would have thought a year later this Goliath of the sky would be gone at the hands of Russia :(

[@brianchiasson2465]

The best way to remember how to pronounce the name of the Soviet shuttle is Boo-rahn.

[@benhopkins6144]

Your Aircraft videos never fail to hit the spot.

[@troymagnum]

Watching this bad boy arrive in Las Vegas 2004 was a site I'll never forget!