Antonov An-124

Antonov An-124
Name	Antonov An-124
Type	Strategic airlifter
National origin	Soviet Union
Manufacturer	Antonov
Designer	Oleg Antonov
First flight	26 December 1982
Introduction	January 1986
Status	In service
Primary users	Russian Aerospace Forces, Ukrainian Air Force, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Antonov Airlines
Produced	1982–2004
Number built	55
Unit cost	$70–100 million

Antonov An-124. The Antonov An-124 Ruslan is a strategic airlift jet aircraft designed in the Soviet Union by the Antonov design bureau. It was the world's heaviest production cargo airplane for several decades, serving both military and commercial roles with its immense payload capacity. The aircraft's development was a direct response to the strategic airlift requirements of the Soviet Armed Forces during the Cold War.

Development and design

The development of the An-124 was initiated by the Antonov design bureau under the leadership of Oleg Antonov to replace the older Antonov An-22. The program received strong support from the Ministry of Aircraft Industry (Soviet Union) and aimed to surpass the capabilities of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. Key features included a high-wing design, a rear cargo door with a visor-type nose, and 24-wheel landing gear to operate from unpaved runways. The aircraft is powered by four Progress D-18T turbofan engines, each providing significant thrust, and incorporates a double-deck fuselage with the upper deck accommodating the flight crew and relief personnel. Primary production was carried out at the Aviastar-SP plant in Ulyanovsk and the Kyiv Aviation Plant in Ukraine.

Operational history

The An-124 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1986, with the first unit based at the Seshcha (air base). Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many aircraft were transferred to the newly formed Russian Aerospace Forces and the Ukrainian Air Force. The unique outsized cargo capability led to the creation of commercial operators like Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines, which have since undertaken numerous high-profile charters for organizations including NASA, the European Space Agency, and various United Nations agencies. These flights have transported diverse cargo such as Lokomotiv EP1 electric locomotives, Boeing 737 fuselages, and humanitarian aid during crises like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Variants

The primary production model is the An-124-100, a commercial variant certified for civilian use with updated avionics. The An-124-100M-150 was a proposed upgrade with increased payload and new engines from Pratt & Whitney. The An-124-102 features a glass cockpit with an EFIS system from Honeywell. A specialized variant, the An-124-FFR, was configured as a firefighting aircraft. The stretched An-124KC was a design study for a aerial refueling tanker, while the proposed Antonov An-225 Mriya was a significantly enlarged derivative developed to carry the Buran (spacecraft).

Operators

As of recent years, the largest military operator is the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Ukrainian Air Force also maintains a small number. Major civilian operators include the Russian cargo airline Volga-Dnepr Airlines and the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines, which is a division of the Antonov Serial Production Plant. Other past and present commercial operators have included Polet Airlines, Maximus Air Cargo, and Libyan Arab Airlines. The aircraft is also frequently chartered by various NATO countries for outsized cargo movements.

Specifications (An-124-100)

* **Crew:** 4–6 (plus relief crew) * **Capacity:** 88 passengers on upper deck or up to 150,000 kg (330,000 lb) payload * **Length:** 68.96 m (226 ft 3 in) * **Wingspan:** 73.3 m (240 ft 6 in) * **Height:** 20.78 m (68 ft 2 in) * **Empty weight:** 181,000 kg (398,000 lb) * **Max takeoff weight:** 392,000 kg (864,000 lb) * **Powerplant:** 4 × Progress D-18T turbofan engines * **Maximum speed:** 865 km/h (537 mph) * **Range:** 4,500 km (2,800 mi) at max payload * **Ferry range:** 15,400 km (9,600 mi) * **Service ceiling:** 12,000 m (39,000 ft)

Notable incidents and accidents

On 13 October 1992, an An-124 operated by the Russian Air Force crashed near Kyiv after an engine failure, resulting in the loss of all eight people on board. A Volga-Dnepr aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Turin on 8 October 1996 due to engine icing, killing the four crew members. Another significant accident occurred on 6 December 1997, when an An-124 of the Russian Air Force impacted a residential building in Irkutsk following an engine fire, claiming 72 lives. More recently, a Ukrainian An-124 was destroyed on the ground at Hostomel Airport during the Battle of Antonov Airport in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Category:Soviet military transport aircraft Category:Ukrainian military transport aircraft Category:Antonov aircraft