The Antonov AN-225 “Mriya”, the largest plane in the world, was destroyed during the fighting near Kiev in Ukraine on February 27, 2022, 4 days after the start of the Russian invasion. The end of a legendary aircraft for aircraft lovers, especially the “spotters” of Toulouse. (1st publication March 4, 2022)
The doubt about its destruction continued to hover. A report from the Russian channel Pervi Kanal, broadcast on March 3, 2022 buried the last hope of seeing the Antonov-225 “Mriya”, the largest aircraft in the world, in one piece.
Behind the Russian journalist, all that remains under the huge hangar of Antonov airport, located in the town of Hostomel north of Kiev, is the white, yellow and blue nose, as well as a wing of the juggernaut of the air.
The Antonov company may affirm that “dreams (Mriya in Ukrainian) do not burn”, it is clear that the jumbo jet was indeed completely destroyed during the clashes between Russian and Ukrainian military forces on February 27, 2022. information particularly saddened the “spotters” of Toulouse, these aviation enthusiasts traveling through airports and aerodromes to observe, list and take photos of planes.
” Sad to know that the AN225 is considered destroyed. He came to Toulouse three times, I got to see him up close the last time in 2014, this plane has been the dream of thousands of AvGeeks across the planet and I hope he will come back one day“, tweeted one of them the day after the first rumors of its destruction.
Pour Nuno Seletti, alias Icare Spotter on social media,” Obviously the loss of this plane is nothing compared to the immense human losses of the war in Ukraine. And it will never replace human lives. But for enthusiasts, this is really sad news. “
Because for this spotter from Blagnac, the Antonov-225 “Mriya” is a kind of “Grail”: “the ultimate aircraft to have seen and photographed in a lifetime.“
“Pour me, when I was little, the Antonov AN-225 was a bit like the plane of all records and it was a childhood dream to see him in person one day“, he admits.
To the point of deciding to go to Châteauroux airport to finally see it and photograph it: “On the first photo, I took it from the front. When it took off and passed over our heads, it was the greatest aviation moment of my life! A deafening noise, a giant mass hovering, the smoke from the 6 engines, and the smell of kerosene, it gave me chills… Afterwards, the Beluga or the A380 remain impressive, but the 225 is unbeatable! It was for me a consecration and an immense satisfaction to see him. A childhood dream.“
An experience all the more rare as the aircraft did not fly much. It was nevertheless used during the Covid crisis to transport humanitarian equipment. Last AN-225 mission carried PPE to Denmark the February 4, 2022 . But the prospect of seeing this giant of the air again may not be completely lost. It exists and second AN-225 whose construction was never completed and which could be used to revive the phoenix from its ashes.
