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The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

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Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#101

Post by AceyMan »

dylan604 wrote: post #82
strictnein wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seeing it take off is really something. I used to work on the grounds of an international airport, and one of these flew in one day to pick up a crane or something. It dwarfed the other planes, 747s included. And seeing it slowly rumbled down the runway gave you the impression that there was simply no way it would have enough speed by the time it reached the end, but somehow it lifted off and flew.

It is weird how the size of a plane screws with how our brains interpret the speed.

I've always explained this to myself by saying the apparent speed correlates to body lengths per unit of time. Hence jumbo jets look like they are creeping along, but a bumblebee or hummingbird looks like it's got afterburners.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#102

Post by m0zg »

smabie wrote: post #98
m0zg wrote: post #91

I don't think it's the "Cold War" that created it per se - it was the Space Race. We need another one of those, doesn't matter with whom.

And the space race was created by the Cold War. Without the Cold War, I doubt we would have ever sent a man to the moon.

True. But I feel like Space Race eventually took a life of its own, and it was not military in nature. You don't do joint space programs if you're having a "war".

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#103

Post by souprock »

baybal2 wrote: post #95
souprock wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking as a passenger, the right solution is CATOBAR. Passenger airports should install linear motor catapults that can get a 500-ton aircraft up to Mach 0.85 in about 10 seconds. (it can support the plane, allowing launch with already-retracted gear) They should also install arrester cables, or something better, such as a moving platform that could handle both tasks.

A much cheaper solution is just having really long runways.

That doesn't really work for Monaco, Vatican City, or Gibraltar. War is not cheap.

There is no reasonable way to expand London City Airport. Bulldozing London's financial industry to make more room for runways would mean bulldozing the primary customers.

Also, as a passenger, I just want CATOBAR.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#104

Post by shadowprofile77 »

egorfine wrote: post #73

I have been inside this airplane and I've got some pics to share: https://egorfine.com/photo/mriya/

Great shots. I love interior photos of old military planes and for many of them, what's available is sorely lacking in quality, detailed exploration or perspective. Yours are a fine contrast to those tendencies.

The spare tires had me wondering though. I mean, if one were to blow upon landing, wouldn't that be such a disaster that having a spare inside the plane becomes sort of irrelevant? Or does the AN-225 have so many wheels (which I suspect given its huge size) that it could indeed blow a couple and still continue landing stably enough for a spare to be useful afterwards? On the other hand, in the air I assume they can hardly replace them and why would they blow while retracted anyhow? No expert but those images in particular sparked some extra curiosity.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#105

Post by usrusr »

m0zg wrote: post #102
smabie wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And the space race was created by the Cold War. Without the Cold War, I doubt we would have ever sent a man to the moon.

True. But I feel like Space Race eventually took a life of its own, and it was not military in nature. You don't do joint space programs if you're having a "war".

But military requirements seem to have played a significant role in how the Shuttles became what they were. A purely civilian space race wouldn't have had shuttles at all, or at least a very different design.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#106

Post by nuccy »

shadowprofile77 wrote: post #104
egorfine wrote: post #73

I have been inside this airplane and I've got some pics to share: https://egorfine.com/photo/mriya/

Great shots. I love interior photos of old military planes and for many of them, what's available is sorely lacking in quality, detailed exploration or perspective. Yours are a fine contrast to those tendencies. The spare tires had me wondering though. I mean, if one were to blow upon landing, wouldn't that be such a disaster that having a spare inside the plane becomes sort of irrelevant? Or does the AN-225 have so…

There is a nice video listed below with a pilot of this plane (in russian but with decent english subtitles), he answers to this question. Wheels indeed deflate (not blow) occasionally, this happens when breaks overheat and special thermal plate (at 200C) melts and deflates the wheel gradually, which works as an indicator of overheated break/tyre. Since it happens gradually, there is no danger for the plane itself. The parts for this plane are not that common (they may be shared with An-124 though), so apparently it is easier to carry few wheels than wait for their delivery. The plane caries 10 m.tons of equipment anyway just to load/unload the cargo, so few wheels probably are not that much of a deal.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#107

Post by sbalea »

jupp0r wrote: post #85

It's crazy how this can be economical with economics of scale=1. Every replacement part for maintenance must be custom-made, there must be no market for trained pilots and technicians on that particular plane, etc.

They cross-train for AN-124, which is quite similar, though obviously smaller.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#108

Post by egorfine »

c0nsumer wrote: post #77
egorfine wrote: post #73

I have been inside this airplane and I've got some pics to share: https://egorfine.com/photo/mriya/

Off topic, but I wanted to say thank-you. I've recently had to move away from an antiquated Gallery2 install, and these photos had me wondering how you were hosting a personal gallery. This led me to Juicebox which seems super-cool and perfect for meeting a lingering need. Thank you!

Although there were no updates to Juicebox for quite a time... :-(

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#109

Post by egorfine »

ben7799 wrote: post #89
egorfine wrote: post #73

I have been inside this airplane and I've got some pics to share: https://egorfine.com/photo/mriya/

Thanks for this.. killer photos.. Was this at an airshow? Was someone following you around to make sure you didn't pull on any wires or anything you weren't supposed to be touching?

Shot during maintenance as many places you see are not accessible at all. Like, the booster systems are not human-accessible unless you are willing to disassemble part of the plane or crawl inside a very small and dark tube.

Re: The AN-225: How the Cold War created the world's largest airplane

#110

Post by egorfine »

shadowprofile77 wrote: post #104
egorfine wrote: post #73

I have been inside this airplane and I've got some pics to share: https://egorfine.com/photo/mriya/

Great shots. I love interior photos of old military planes and for many of them, what's available is sorely lacking in quality, detailed exploration or perspective. Yours are a fine contrast to those tendencies. The spare tires had me wondering though. I mean, if one were to blow upon landing, wouldn't that be such a disaster that having a spare inside the plane becomes sort of irrelevant? Or does the AN-225 have so…

They have to carry lots of spare parts due to uniqueness of the plane. Replacement of tires is a routine job; much more cumbersome is her aircraft tow bar. It has to be unloaded from her prior to towing, but it can be unloaded only through the main cargo door. This is why Mriya may occupy the landing strip for half an hour before it can be towed. A major pain.
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