Antonov An-124 facts for kids

An Aeroflot Antonov An-124

The Antonov An-124 (also known as "Ruslan" or by its NATO name: Condor) is a super-large transport airplane. It was designed in the Soviet Union by a company called Antonov. This amazing aircraft is one of the biggest airplanes in the world! It's used to carry extremely heavy or very large cargo that wouldn't fit in other planes.

What is the Antonov An-124?

The An-124 is a giant cargo plane. It was first built in the 1980s. Its main job is to move very big and heavy things across long distances. Imagine a plane that can carry parts of a rocket or even a train! That's what the An-124 can do.

Why Was It Built?

The An-124 was originally designed for the Soviet military. They needed a way to transport large equipment, like tanks and missiles. But it quickly became useful for civilian jobs too. Companies around the world now use it to move special cargo.

How Big Is It?

This plane is truly massive. It has a huge wingspan, which is the distance from one wingtip to the other. It also has a very long body. Because of its size, it can carry an incredible amount of weight. It's like a flying warehouse!

Carrying Heavy Loads

The An-124 can lift hundreds of tons of cargo. This means it can carry things that are too heavy for most other aircraft. It has special features to help with this, like a strong landing gear and powerful engines.

What Does the An-124 Carry?

The An-124 is famous for carrying unusual and oversized cargo. It has helped transport many important items around the world.

Examples of Cargo

• Rocket parts: It can carry large sections of rockets used for space launches.
• Heavy machinery: Big generators, mining equipment, or even parts of oil rigs can fit inside.
• Emergency aid: After natural disasters, the An-124 has flown in huge amounts of supplies, vehicles, and rescue equipment.
• Special vehicles: It can transport large military vehicles or even other aircraft.

Loading and Unloading

One cool thing about the An-124 is how it loads cargo. The nose of the plane can lift up, creating a huge opening. There's also a ramp at the back. This makes it easy to drive large items directly into the plane. It even has built-in cranes to help lift heavy objects.

Who Uses the Antonov An-124?

Both military forces and private companies use the An-124.

Military Use

The Russian Air Force uses the An-124 for military transport. It helps them move troops, equipment, and supplies quickly to different locations.

Civilian Use

Many private cargo airlines, like Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines, operate An-124s. They offer their services to companies that need to transport very large or heavy items. This includes things like industrial equipment, humanitarian aid, or even parts for other airplanes.

Images for kids

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  Polet Airlines An-124 cockpit

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  An-124 during unloading of an Atlas V rocket main stage

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  Mobile air traffic control tower loaded onto an An-124 to Haiti

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  The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle "Mystic" being loaded at Naval Air Station North Island, California, United States

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  Volga-Dnepr Antonov An-124-100M-150 with nose door open at MAKS 2005, Moscow – Zhukovskiy; Cubana de Aviación Ilyushin Il-96 in background

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  224th Flight Unit An-124 inflight with 2 Sukhoi Su-27s of the Falcons of Russia at the 2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade

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  A Volga-Dnepr An-124-100

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  AN-124 of Antonov Airlines at Long Beach Airport. Cargo: composite parts for Airbus A350 XWB.

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  An-124 of Maximus Air Cargo at Brno–Tuřany Airport

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  Payload-range diagram

See also

In Spanish: Antonov An-124 para niños