Not really a warbird, but the largest aircraft destroyed

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2022 12:31 pm

This showed up on the Fire Aviation website this morning. Very unfortunate situation. This airplane was reportedly destroyed in the Ukrainian. No further comments due to WIX policy.

A link to the article on Fire Aviation site

https://fireaviation.com/2022/02/27/wor ... n-ukraine/

A2FBE5E0-1CD4-4471-8FDD-DBF8991B811E by tanker622001, on Flickr

3C5375C7-DC41-4C44-8A53-E8A86B743AB7 by tanker622001, on Flickr

0C695C56-9384-4145-9057-6A77A0F15FE3 by tanker622001, on Flickr

B39F3A1B-D632-4A56-AC81-E5F2BB5D67CC by tanker622001, on Flickr

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 671

Reportedly, they had removed an engine for repairs and could not fly it out when things started turning bad. I have not seen any confirmation other than a very grainy image of the 225 enclosure with a fire.

A second 225 is partially complete so perhaps there is some hope that another one can be constructed.

quemerford · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 1576

The second one has attracted a few potential customers of late, so hopefully...

JohnB · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2022 5:40 pm

I read a news report (So make of that what you will) saying Antonov has already said they would "rebuild" it...probably meaning finishing the uncompleted example.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:19 pm

There is one satellite shot floating around, that's all I've found.

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Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 427

There's this: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/sat ... -survived/

I know I'm not helping.... but is it just me who finds it odd that we're lamenting the (possible) loss of an aircraft while there is still a war going on with numerous human losses on a daily basis? I am sure that there are other threads that I have missed that cover that side of the conflict... but the duality of the situation struck me as strange just now.

maradamx3 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:28 am

I too hope there is enough to rebuild, but seeing just the tail sticking out of the hangar reminds me of all that was left of the B17 Nine-0-Nine. Not much to start with, but if the other airframe just needs a tail...

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1195

Archer wrote:

There's this: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/sat ... -survived/

I know I'm not helping.... but is it just me who finds it odd that we're lamenting the (possible) loss of an aircraft while there is still a war going on with numerous human losses on a daily basis? I am sure that there are other threads that I have missed that cover that side of the conflict... but the duality of the situation struck me as strange just now.

I am sure all of us are thinking about the far more important aspects of this than a single airframe, but I think most of us can multi-task and this is an aviation forum where it is appropriate to discuss aviation matters. Politics and other feelings are best posted on different platforms.

K5DH · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2022 11:48 am

Many years ago, as we landed at Philadelphia International Airport, I got to the An 225 parked on the cargo ramp. I got a good look as we taxied in. Lordy, what a huge airplane! There was an article in the newspaper with a photo. Apparently the '225 was there to pick up a load of very large electrical power transformers to be flown to Turkey.

Archer · **Joined:** Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:13 pm **Posts:** 427

Some pretty clear photos here: https://www.austrianwings.info/2022/03/ ... sgebrannt/
Including:

maradamx3 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 04, 2022 7:16 am

Archer wrote:

Some pretty clear photos here: https://www.austrianwings.info/2022/03/ ... sgebrannt/
Including:

That sucks!

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 671

Archer wrote:

Some pretty clear photos here: https://www.austrianwings.info/2022/03/ ... sgebrannt/

To put a positive spin on it, I see a lot of salvageable components that can be used for completing the second example if they survive the conflict.

Larry Kraus · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:56 am

Some of this information is covered in the Austrian Wings link posted by Archer. This latest post on the Fire Aviation website has the advantage of being in English and it has an interesting video from a local Ukrainian reporter.

Here’s a link to the Fire Aviation article

https://fireaviation.com/2022/03/04/vid ... raine-war/

Here’s a beautiful picture from better days

4AEDFB88-3B78-4C0A-90DE-CEE43C02655A by tanker622001, on Flickr

What it looks like now

E00DE59F-9350-47D4-A28A-9948C2945E6F by tanker622001, on Flickr

old iron · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2022 8:00 pm

There are plans to rebuild the An-225. I wish them well: seems an insurmountable project, but after what the Ukranians have accomplished, we should be wary of doubting their abilities. Certainly, getting this back into the air, likely with no help from the Antonov firm, would be another boost to national pride.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/antonov-an225-mriya-rebuild-2022/index.html

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Not really a warbird, but the largest aircraft destroyed

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