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<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout, and guidelines. -->
|name = An-225 Mriya
|image = File:Antonov An-225 Beltyukov-1.jpg
|caption = The An-225 in its 2009–2022 [[Aircraft livery|livery]]
|type = [[Outsize cargo]] [[freight aircraft]]
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|builder = [[Antonov Serial Production Plant]]
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|status = [[Battle of Antonov Airport|Destroyed]]<br/>{{end date and age|2022|02|27|df=y|p=yes}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russians destroy An-225 "Mriya", it will be restored at the expense of the occupant |url=https://ukroboronprom.com.ua/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=Ukroboronprom |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140420051609/http://ukroboronprom.com.ua/equipment/127 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|produced = 1985<!-- Year(s) built -->
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The '''Antonov An-225 Mriya''' ({{
It was originally developed during the 1980s as an enlarged derivative of the [[Antonov An-124 Ruslan|Antonov An-124]] airlifter for
With a maximum takeoff weight of {{convert|640|t|ST|sigfig=3}}, the An-225 held several records, including [[list of large aircraft|heaviest aircraft ever built]] and largest [[wingspan]] of any operational aircraft. It was commonly used to transport objects once thought impossible to move by air, such as 130-ton generators, [[wind turbine]] blades, and [[diesel locomotive]]s. Additionally, both Chinese and Russian officials had announced separate plans to adapt the An-225 for use in their respective space programmes. The Mriya routinely attracted a high degree of public interest, attaining a global following due to its size and its uniqueness.
The only completed An-225 was destroyed in the [[Battle of Antonov Airport]] in 2022 during the [[
==Development==
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The revival of space activities involving the An-225 was repeatedly announced and speculated upon throughout its life. During the early 2000s, studies were conducted into the production of an even larger An-225 derivative, the eight-engined [[Antonov An-325]], which was intended to be used in conjunction with Russia's in-development [[MAKS (spacecraft)|MAKS space plane]].{{Sfn|Eisenstein|2003|p=35}} In April 2013, the Russian government announced plans to revive Soviet-era [[air launch]] projects that would use a purpose-built modification to the An-225 as a midair launchpad.<ref name="Aerial Launch">{{cite news |url= http://www.interfax.ru/russia/txt.asp?id=303221 |script-title= ru:Правительство задумалось о "Воздушном старте" |date= 23 April 2013 |work= [[Interfax]] |access-date= 29 April 2013 |language= ru |archive-date= 28 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130428112540/http://interfax.ru/russia/txt.asp?id=303221 |url-status= live }}</ref>{{Update after|2014|04|30|}}
In May 2017, Airspace Industry Corporation of China (AICC)'s president, Zhang You-Sheng, informed a [[BBC]] reporter that AICC had first contemplated cooperation with Antonov in 2009 and made contact with them two years later. AICC intends to modernize the second unfinished An-225 and develop it into an [[air launch to orbit]] platform for commercial [[satellite]]s at altitudes up to {{convert|12000|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="AICC-BBC">{{cite news |last1= Borys |first1= Christian |others= Pictures by Anton Skyba |title= The world's biggest plane may have a new mission |url= http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170503-the-worlds-biggest-plane-may-have-a-new-mission |work= [[BBC]] |language= en-gb |date= 4 May 2017 |access-date= 28 February 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211025214812/https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170503-the-worlds-biggest-plane-may-have-a-new-mission |archive-date= 25 October 2021 |url-status= live |quote= Although the plane, nicknamed 'Mriya' ('Dream') in Ukrainian, is in fine condition, there are very few jobs that call for something so large. And the jobs need to be urgent, if you want to use the An-225 it will cost around $30,000 (£23,220) an hour|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The aviation media cast doubt on the production restart, speculating that the ongoing
On 25 March 2020, the first An-225 commenced a series of test flights from [[Hostomel Airport]] near Kyiv, after more than a year out of service, for the installation of a domestically designed power management and control system.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/an-225-returns-to-flight-after-modernisation/137555.article |title= An-225 returns to flight after modernisation |first= David |last= Kaminski-Morrow |date= 26 March 2020 |work= Flightglobal |access-date= 27 March 2020 |archive-date= 26 March 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200326165339/https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/an-225-returns-to-flight-after-modernisation/137555.article |url-status= live }}</ref>
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Under Antonov Airlines, the An-225 received its type certificate from the Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR) on 23 May 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mak.ru/english/kommissions/aviareg/certificates/sertifikati_tipa_na_vozdushnie_suda.html |title= Type Certificates for Aircraft |access-date= 8 January 2007 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080430200431/http://www.mak.ru/english/kommissions/aviareg/certificates/sertifikati_tipa_na_vozdushnie_suda.html |archive-date= 30 April 2008}}</ref> The type's first flight in commercial service departed from [[Stuttgart]], Germany, on 3 January 2002, and flew to [[Thumrait, Oman]], with 216,000 prepared meals for American military personnel based in the region. This vast number of ready meals was transported on 375 pallets and weighed 187.5 tons.{{Sfn|Eisenstein|2003|p=35}}<ref name=airfoyle2>{{cite web |url= http://www.airfoyle.co.uk/services/an225.asp |website= airfoyle.co.uk |title= Antonov Airlines:An-225 Mriya |access-date= 10 September 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060523173109/http://www.airfoyle.co.uk/services/an225.asp |archive-date= 23 May 2006 |url-status= dead}}</ref> The An-225 was later contracted by the Canadian and U.S. governments to transport military supplies to the Middle East in support of coalition forces.<ref name="aircraft info"/> An example of the cost of shipping cargo by An-225 was over {{DKK|2 million|link=yes}} (about {{€|266,000}}) for flying a chimney duct from [[Billund Airport|Billund]], Denmark, to Kazakhstan in 2004.<ref name="steelcon">{{cite web |url= http://www.steelcon.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/News/Steelcon__News_GB.pdf |title= Steelcon News |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716133659/http://www.steelcon.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/News/Steelcon__News_GB.pdf |archive-date= 16 July 2011 |publisher= steelcon.com |access-date= 13 June 2010}}</ref>
During 2016, Antonov Airlines ceased cooperation with Air Foyle and partnered with [[Volga-Dnepr Airlines|Volga-Dnepr]] instead. This
When the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] impacted the world in early 2020, the An-225 participated in the relief effort by conducting flights to deliver medical supplies from China to other parts of the world.<ref name="covid-globe">{{cite news |last1= Chase |first1= Steven |title= World's biggest cargo plane to ship Chinese PPE to Quebec |url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-worlds-biggest-cargo-plane-to-ship-chinese-ppe-to-quebec/ |access-date= 2 May 2020 |work= [[The Globe and Mail]] |date= 27 April 2020 |archive-date= 1 March 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210301235141/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-worlds-biggest-cargo-plane-to-ship-chinese-ppe-to-quebec/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1= Charpentreau |first1= Clément |title= Antonov An-225 Mriya breaks two records in one week |url= https://www.aerotime.aero/clement.charpentreau/24837-antonov-an-225-mriya-breaks-two-records-in-one-week |website= Aerotime Hub |access-date= 2 May 2020 |date= 20 April 2020 |archive-date= 9 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201109202748/https://www.aerotime.aero/clement.charpentreau/24837-antonov-an-225-mriya-breaks-two-records-in-one-week |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Ukraine's Mega-Plane Works Overtime Through Pandemic |url= https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraines-giant-freight-plane-works-overtime-during-pandemic/30581731.html |access-date= 2 May 2020 |agency= Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date= 29 April 2020 |archive-date= 27 February 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220227153028/https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraines-giant-freight-plane-works-overtime-during-pandemic/30581731.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1= Holmes |first1= Loren |last2= Roth |first2= Bill |title= World's largest cargo plane stops in Anchorage on its way to Canada with medical supplies |url= https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/05/01/worlds-largest-airplane-stops-in-anchorage-on-its-way-to-canada-with-medical-supplies/ |access-date= 2 May 2020 |work= Anchorage Daily News |date= 1 May 2020 |archive-date= 24 February 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220224234432/https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/05/01/worlds-largest-airplane-stops-in-anchorage-on-its-way-to-canada-with-medical-supplies/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
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On 1 March, a new photograph, taken since the initial conflict, was tentatively identified as the tail of the aircraft protruding from its hangar, suggesting that it remained at least partly intact, however, further evidence proved to show that the aircraft is inoperable due to the extreme damage it sustained.<ref name=":0" /> On 3 March, a video circulated on social media, showing the aircraft burning inside the hangar alongside several Russian trucks, confirming its likely destruction. Nonetheless, Antonov stated again that until the aircraft is inspected by experts, its official status could not be fully known.<ref>{{Cite web |last= Díaz (diazpez) |first= Pablo |date= 3 March 2022 |title= [Video]: First images confirming the destruction of the Antonov An-225 |url= https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/03/video-primeras-imagenes-que-confirman-la-destruccion-del-antonov-an-225-2/ |access-date= 3 March 2022 |website= Aviacionline.com |language= es |archive-date= 6 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220306142113/https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/03/video-primeras-imagenes-que-confirman-la-destruccion-del-antonov-an-225-2/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |title= NO NO NO NO… Currently, until the #AN225 has been inspected by experts, we cannot report on the technical condition of the aircraft. Please wait for the official announcements about the condition of the aircraft #StopRussia #Ukraine |user= antonovcompany |number= 1499355838854701064 |access-date= 3 March 2022}}</ref> On 4 March, footage on Russian state television [[Channel One Russia|Channel One]] showed the first clear ground images of the destroyed aircraft, with much of the front section missing.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url= https://theaviationist.com/2022/03/04/here-are-the-first-clear-images-of-the-remains-of-the-an-225-inside-the-hangar-at-antonov-airport/ |title= Here Are The First Clear Images Of The Remains Of The An-225 Inside The Hangar At Antonov Airport |last= Cenciotti |first= David |website= The Aviationist |date= 4 March 2022 |access-date= 4 March 2022 |archive-date= 6 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220306024856/https://theaviationist.com/2022/03/04/here-are-the-first-clear-images-of-the-remains-of-the-an-225-inside-the-hangar-at-antonov-airport/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Following Russia's withdrawal from northern Ukraine, the second unfinished aircraft airframe was reported to be intact, despite Russian artillery strikes on the hangar housing it at the Antonov factory at [[Sviatoshyn Airfield]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= 17 April 2022 |title= Can the world's largest plane ever fly again? |url= https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/antonov-an-225-ukraine-rebuilding/index.html |publisher= CNN |access-date= 17 April 2022 |archive-date= 17 April 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220417114254/https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/antonov-an-225-ukraine-rebuilding/index.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/03/ukraine-russia-shells-antonov-factory-housing-second-and-never-completed-an-225/ |title= Ukraine: Russia shells Antonov factory housing second and never-completed An-225 |date= 14 March 2022 |access-date= 25 March 2022 |archive-date= 24 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220324153047/https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/03/ukraine-russia-shells-antonov-factory-housing-second-and-never-completed-an-225/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
Major [[Dmytro Antonov (pilot)|Dmytro Antonov]], the pilot of the An-225, alleged on 19 March 2022 that Antonov Airlines knew that an invasion was imminent for quite some time, but did nothing to prevent the loss of the aircraft. On his [[YouTube]] channel, Antonov accused company management of not doing enough to prevent the destruction of the aircraft, after having been advised by NATO to move the aircraft (ready to fly status) to [[Leipzig]], Germany, in advance.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/03/an-225-pilot-blamed-antonov-management-for-the-destruction-of-the-worlds-largest-airliner-and-was-threatened/ |title= An-225 pilot blamed Antonov management for the destruction of the world's largest airliner and was threatened |website= aviacionline.com |date= 19 March 2022 |access-date= 25 March 2022 |archive-date= 24 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220324155147/https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/03/an-225-pilot-blamed-antonov-management-for-the-destruction-of-the-worlds-largest-airliner-and-was-threatened/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://mentourpilot.com/an-225-pilot-airline-could-have-evacuated-the-aircraft/ |title= An-225 Pilot: Airline Could Have Saved The Aircraft! |website= mentourpilot.com |date= 20 March 2022 |access-date= 25 March 2022 |archive-date= 25 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220325054328/https://mentourpilot.com/an-225-pilot-airline-could-have-evacuated-the-aircraft/ |url-status= live }}</ref> Multiple Antonov staff have denied his allegations.
On 1 April, drone footage of Hostomel Airport showed the destroyed Mriya, with the forward fuselage completely burned and destroyed, but with the wings partly intact.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://theaviationist.com/2022/04/01/drone-footage-hostomel/ |title= Dreadful Drone Footage Shows What Remains Of Hostomel Airport And The An-225 After Russian Forces Left |first= David |last= Cenciotti |date= 31 March 2022 |access-date= 1 April 2022 |archive-date= 1 April 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220401085223/https://theaviationist.com/2022/04/01/drone-footage-hostomel/ |url-status= live }}</ref> It was later revealed that the right wing had been broken, but was held up only by its engines resting on the ground.<ref name="NYT March 2023">{{Cite news |last=Kramer |first=Andrew E. |date=2023-03-27 |title=Restoring a Giant Plane: Ukrainian Resilience or Folly? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/27/world/europe/ukraine-giant-plane-mriya.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330102636/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/27/world/europe/ukraine-giant-plane-mriya.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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{{blockquote |It's impossible to talk about the repair or restoration of this aircraft -- we can only talk about the construction of another Mriya, using individual components that can be salvaged from the wreckage and combining them with those that were, back in the 1980s, intended for the construction of a second aircraft.}}
On 20 May 2022, Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] announced his intentions to complete the second An-225, to replace the destroyed aircraft and as a tribute to all the Ukrainian pilots killed during the war.
In March 2023, the Ukrainian government announced that it detained two of three Antonov officials suspected of preventing the [[National Guard of Ukraine|Ukrainian National Guard]] from setting up defenses at Hostomel Airport in anticipation of an invasion.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Olena |last=Harmash |date=2023-03-10 |title=Ukraine detains officials over destruction of famous plane at start of war |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-detains-officials-over-destruction-famous-plane-start-war-2023-03-10/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328050926/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-detains-officials-over-destruction-famous-plane-start-war-2023-03-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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