The Antonov AN-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau (Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing and services company) in the 1980s. It is the world's largest and heaviest aircraft in the world (max. takeoff weight greater than 600 tonne). 

The main reason it is built is to transport the Buran orbiter. It was an enlargement of the successful AN-124 Ruslan. AN-225's as known as Mriya which means Dream or Inspiration in Ukrainian. The Antonov AN-225 was designed to airlift the Energia rocket's boosters and the Buran space shuttle for the Soviet space program. It was developed as a replacement for the Myasishchev VM-T.

Collection of original photos of Antonov AN-225 Mriya in action for what it built for. That is to carry the Buran space shuttle. Photos taken in 1980s.



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