Antonov An-124 Ruslan
The Antonov An-124 Ruslan is one of the largest cargo aircraft ever built, able to carry oversized loads such as locomotives, satellites, and even other aircraft fuselages through its front and rear cargo doors. Its 24-wheel main landing gear can 'kneel' to adjust the cargo floor height for easier loading and lets it operate from unpaved or lightly prepared airstrips despite its huge weight. Only a small number remain in commercial service, chartered for exceptional heavy-lift jobs no other aircraft can handle. Development of a larger six-engine derivative, the An-225, stretched the same basic design even further, though only one was ever completed.
Did you know?
The An-124 Ruslan can 'kneel' its 24-wheel landing gear to adjust cargo floor height for easier loading.
Specifications
| Length | 69.1 m (227 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 73.3 m (240 ft) |
| Height | 20.8 m (68 ft) |
| Persons on board | 88 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 405 t |
| Range | 2,410 NM (4,463 km) |
| Maximum speed | 460 kt (852 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 39,370 ft (12,000 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 33,000 ft (10,058 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,300 ft/min (6.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 3,000 m (9,843 ft) |
| Landing distance | 900 m (2,953 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 348,700 l |
| Engines | 4x Progress D-18T |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
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