Watch Pilot Assess Damage to World’s Largest Cargo Plane
In a video walk-around of the charred wreckage of the Antonov An-225 Mriya, a former pilot of the world’s largest operational aircraft has offered his damage analysis of the one-of-a-kind jet.
With a 290-foot wingspan, the Antonov An-225 was the largest operational aircraft in the world. [Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
A former pilot conducted a video analysis of the charred Antonov An-225 Mriya, detailing extensive damage, including bullet holes, from intense battles at Ukraine's Gostomel Airport.
The assessment revealed severe destruction to the aircraft, with a burnt-out cabin and most engines damaged, although some parts like flaps and landing gear might be salvageable.
Despite the vast damage, the pilot suggests potential replacement, and the Antonov Company has launched a fundraising campaign to "revive" the unique aircraft.
In a video walk-around of the charred wreckage of the Antonov An-225 Mriya, a former pilot of the world’s largest operational aircraft offers his damage analysis of the one-of-a-kind jet.
“I thought things would be better here,” says the pilot, Dmytro Antonov (no relation), in a YouTube video purportedly shot last Friday. “There is so much damage and a lot of bullet holes.”
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.
