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The AN-225 was in a category of its own. In fact, the Dreamlifter was modified to fit components for the 787, but it actually has a lower max takeoff weight (80
by btgeekboy 5y ago
The AN-225 was in a category of its own. In fact, the Dreamlifter was modified to fit components for the 787, but it actually has a lower max takeoff weight (803k lbs) than the original 747 it came from (875k lbs).
Meanwhile, the Beluga XL only has a max takeoff weight of 500k lbs.
The AN-225 had a max takeoff weight of 1.4m lbs.
- alliao 5y agowow 747 doesn't mess around huh, just a naive lb/engine would bring 747 up to 1.3m lbs (4 on 747 and 6 on AN-225) very cool
- rob74 5y agoWell yeah, both the Dreamlifter and the Beluga were designed to carry aircraft parts, which are large, but not particularly heavy. Also, they are modified versions of civilian cargo aircraft. Both the AN-124 and the AN-225 are (were) basically military transport aircraft with high wings and short landing gears to allow loading via ramps - so a different kind of beast...
- p_l 5y agoMriya also has internal crane to help in loading and unloading - a legacy of being designed for carrying all sorts of "project cargo" that isn't easy to palletize (it, and M4 bombers modified into VM-T, had to carry rocket parts that were too big to move by rail as Baikonur can't be supplied easily otherwise)
- masklinn 5y agoThe crane is actually a hold-over from the 124. In fact the 124's is more capable: to save on weight, the 225 dropped the rear cargo doors. On the 124, the crane extends into the tail and over the rear doors, meaning it can crane loads in and out of the plane, so you can just reverse a truck behind the plane and load straight from the trailer (obviously flatbed or intermodal). The crane can lift 30 tonnes so it's pretty damn capable.
- p_l 5y agoNice, forgot that bit. And IIRC, AN-124 can be abused into rough landing deliveries if necessary, just rarely seen because of rarity of the plane and costs.