How big was the Antonov An-225 Mriya?
In real-world aviation, the Antonov An-225 Mriya was 84 metres (275 ft 7 in) long, with an 88.4-metre (290 ft) wingspan and an 18.1-metre (59 ft 5 in) tail height. Its maximum take-off weight reached 640 tonnes, while its cargo hold was 43.3 metres long and maximum payload was 250 tonnes.
What were the Antonov An-225's dimensions?
The An-225 combined an exceptionally long fuselage and broad wing with the highest maximum take-off weight of any operational aeroplane.
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 84 m | 275 ft 7 in |
| Wingspan | 88.4 m | 290 ft |
| Tail height | 18.1 m | 59 ft 5 in |
| Wing area | 905 m² | About 9,740 sq ft |
| Maximum take-off weight | 640 tonnes | About 1.41 million lb |
| Maximum payload | 250 tonnes | About 551,000 lb |
| Cargo compartment | 43.3 × 6.4 × 4.4 m | 142 × 21 × 14.4 ft |
Some references give a 600-tonne maximum take-off weight. That was an earlier rating; 640 tonnes is the later uprated maximum normally quoted for the aircraft in its final operational form. Maximum take-off weight includes the aeroplane, fuel, crew and payload—it does not mean the An-225 could carry 640 tonnes of cargo.
How large was the An-225's cargo hold?
Its cargo compartment provided roughly 1,300 cubic metres of space, with a usable cross-section large enough for generators, turbines, vehicles and other outsized industrial loads.
Cargo entered through the hinged nose after the forward fuselage was lowered using the kneeling nose gear. There was no rear freight door. The 250-tonne payload figure was a structural maximum, not a guarantee that any object of that weight would fit: dimensions, loading-aperture clearance, floor loading, centre of gravity and securing points could all impose lower limits.
Fuel load also reduced the payload available for a particular flight. Our separate breakdown of the An-225's payload, range, speed and runway figures explains those operational trade-offs.
Was the An-225 the world's biggest aircraft?
Judged by maximum take-off weight, the An-225 was the heaviest aeroplane ever to enter operational service. However, “biggest” depends on the measurement being used.
Its 88.4-metre wingspan was not the widest ever flown: the Hughes H-4 Hercules spanned about 97.5 metres, while the later Stratolaunch aircraft spans roughly 117 metres. The An-225 was also lower than the Airbus A380, despite being longer and having a wider wing.
Against the Boeing 747-8, the Mriya was about 7.7 metres longer and its wingspan was roughly 20 metres greater. Our side-by-side An-225 and Boeing 747 comparison covers the differences in dimensions, weight and carrying role.
These figures describe UR-82060, the only completed An-225. It was destroyed at Hostomel Airport in February 2022; our account of the An-225's destruction at Hostomel covers what happened to the aircraft.
What did its size mean at an airport?
Airport suitability depended on pavement strength, taxiway width, turning room, stand clearance and loading access—not runway length alone.
Six D-18T turbofans powered the aircraft, while its 32-wheel undercarriage distributed the enormous load across the pavement. Even so, departure weight, temperature, elevation and wind changed the runway distance required, and its 88.4-metre span demanded careful wingtip clearance during taxiing and parking.