After returning to base for a routine checkup of its six engines that lasted for a month, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest operating aircraft, is finally back into the skies. Its first mission is taking it to Bangor International Airport (BGR), United States.
With over eleven transcontinental flights within two months of an intensive flight campaign dedicated to the coronavirus COVID-19 relief effort, the An-225 had to return to its base in Kyiv, Ukraine for a routine maintenance check of its engines. Additionally, the airframe was checked in order to extend the aircraft Airworthiness Certificate into 2021.
On July 31, 2020, AN-225 Mriya took off from its home base, Antonov Airport (GML) in Hostomel, Ukraine, for positioning of the aircraft in Bangor International Airport (BGR), United States, in preparation of an upcoming charter flight.
Video of the #AN225 departure for a commercial mission.
— Antonov Company (@AntonovCompany) July 31, 2020
On July 31, 2020, Mriya, the world’s largest transport aircraft took off from #Kyiv–#Antonov-2 airport.
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31.07.2020р найбільший в світі транспортний літак #Ан225 вилетів з аеродрому #Київ–#Антонов-2 у комерційнійний рейс pic.twitter.com/d8g3ILd8JA
The AN-225 was reportedly chartered thanks to its “unique airlift performances”, a representative of Antonov Airlines told AeroTime. “The volume of the cargo cabin and max payload of the aircraft on the route allow our customer to transport all cargoes in a single flight minimizing delivery time of the cargo and the efforts associated with the organization of air shipment,” the spokesperson said in an email. The identity of the new customer and the content of the cargo were not disclosed.
The flight can be followed live on flightradar24.
