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The Fall of a Giant: Antonov An-225 and its Storied Legacy

By Rahul Somvanshi

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Aviation Tragedy

In a tragic blow to aviation history, the iconic Antonov An-225 "Mriya" was decimated during Russia's invasion of Ukraine's Hostomel Airport in 2022.

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Born from Soviet ambition, the "Mriya" or "dream" in Ukrainian, first soared the skies in December 1988, designed to cradle the USSR's Buran spacecraft, mirroring the Boeing 747's partnership with NASA's Space Shuttle.

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Aviation Tragedy

While a second Mriya was envisioned, the turbulence post the Soviet Union's collapse left it 70% complete, its wings yet to fully embrace the skies.

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The Paris Air Show of 1989 witnessed the Mriya's grand entrance, proudly bearing the Buran orbiter, marking a fleeting moment of glory before the USSR's sunset.

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Aviation Tragedy

After a period of dormancy, the legendary bird was reborn in 2001, serving as Antonov Airlines' trusted steed, ferrying cargo across the blue yonder.

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The battle at Hostomel Airport marked a somber end for the Mriya, with Russian forces silencing the pride of Ukrainian aviation.

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Aviation Tragedy

Plans to resurrect the Mriya are in the winds, with an estimated price tag of $502 million, as captured in poignant images by Ukrainian photographer Igor Lesiv.

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Boasting six powerful Ivchenko Progress D-18T engines and a cavernous cargo bay, the An-225 was a marvel of engineering, setting over 100 world records in its flight path.

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Among its many accolades, the An-225 etched its name in history in 2009, airlifting a colossal Alstom generator stator weighing 174 tons to Armenia, showcasing its unparalleled might in the aviation realm.

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