Russia, Ukraine To Make Huge An-124 Planes

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russia and Ukraine will jointly resume production of the Antonov An-124 cargo jet, the largest aircraft ever mass produced, a consortium said Tuesday.

Antonov An-124 aircraft
Russia`s Volga-Dnepr consortium and Ukraine`s Motor Sich have formed Flying Cargo Vehicles as a joint venture to make the An-124, whose production was halted in the early 1990s, the Russian Information Agency Novosti reported.

The joint venture will initially make two An-124 Condor heavy transport aircraft and several dozen in the next 10 years.

The aircraft -- similar in appearance to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but larger -- will feature advanced avionics, upgraded power units, an increased payload capacity of up to 165 tons, an extended flight range and a smaller crew, Novosti said.

The An-124 has been used to carry locomotives, yachts, aircraft fuselages and other oversized cargo. It is able to 'kneel' to allow for easier front loading.

Source: UPI