Antonov An-124
. "Heavy lift strategic transport
Powerplants: Four 229.5kN (51,590lb) ZMKB Progress (Lotarev) D-18T turbofans.
Performance: Max cruising speed 865km/h (468kt), typical cruising speeds between 800 and 850km/h (430 to 460kt). Range with max payload 4500km (2430nm), range with full fuel load 16,500km (8900nm).
Weights: Operating empty 175,000kg (385,800lb), max takeoff 405,000kg (892,875lb).
Dimensions: Wing span 73.30m (240ft 6in), length 69.10m (226ft 9in), height 20.78m (68ft 2in). Wing area 628.0m^2 (6760sq ft).
Accommodation: Flightcrew of six consisting of two pilots, two flight engineers, navigator and communications operator. Upper deck behind the flightdeck area comprises a galley, rest room and two relief crew cabins. Upper deck area behind the wing can accommodate up to 88 passengers. Main deck cargo compartment is designed to carry an extremely large range of bulky and oversized cargoes including 12 ISO standard containers, heavy artillery, main battle tanks, SAM systems, helicopters, SS-20 mobile LRBM, etc. The An-124's total payload in weight is 150 tonnes (330,695lb).
Armament: None
Operators: Russia, Ukraine.
History: The massive An-124 for a time held the mantle of the world's largest aircraft before the arrival of the An-225, a stretched six engine derivative, and is the largest aircraft in the world to achieve full production status.
The An-124 was developed primarily as a strategic military freighter to replace the turboprop powered An-22 (described separately) but also for use by the Soviet state airline Aeroflot for carriage of bulky and oversize cargoes. The first prototype An-124 flew on December 26, 1982, while a second prototype, named Ruslan after Pushkin's mythical giant, made the type's first western public appearance at the Paris Airshow in mid 1985, preceding the type's first commercial operations in January 1986. Since that time the An-124 has set a wide range of payload records.
Except for its low set tail, the An-124's configuration is similar to the United States Air Force's Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (described separately), which, with a maximum takeoff weight of 350 tonnes, is slightly smaller. Notable features include nose and tail cargo doors which allows simultaneous loading and unloading, 24 wheel undercarriage allowing operations from semi prepared strips, the ability to 'kneel' for easier front loading and a fly-by-wire control system.
An-124 models include the basic An-124, the commercial An-124-100 certificated in Russia in 1992, the An-124-100M with western avionics, and the EFIS equipped An-124-102.
Almost all An-124s built serve under Aeroflot markings, but these aircraft commonly perform military tasks, while a smaller number of Ruslans are assigned directly to the Russian air force (deliveries began in 1987). The An-124 has the NATO reporting name of 'Condor'.
Photo: While most An-124s operate in Aeroflot or other civil markings, this example wears the Russian air force's red star."
(source: International Directory of Military Aircraft 1998-1999)
But before any such bullets can hit it, I think budget constraint would limit the numbers. Talk about birth control!
