The only flying AN-225 is destroyed. :(

[Mitch Cronin]

 

[Rich Pulman]

Such an unnecessary loss.

[Guest1]

2 hours ago, Rich Pulman said:

Such an unnecessary loss.

As happens in most wars, just remember Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and of course Vietnam.  Average citizens lost , the only people who won were those who supplied the weapons......   

[Airband]

Plans Made to Rebuild the World’s Biggest Plane Destroyed in Ukraine

Design work has begun, but rebuild unlikely to happen soon

The Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo aircraft after it was destroyed by Russian forces in April

Tue Nov 8, 2022 - Bloomberg News
ByLow De Wei

Plans are being made to rebuild the world’s largest plane first destroyed by Russian forces in the early days of its invasion of Ukraine  -- though its manufacturer says such a goal remains far off.

Design work on a second Antonov An-225 cargo plane, also known as the Mriya -- “dream” in Ukrainian -- has begun, according to a statement posted on Facebook Monday by state-owned Antonov Co., which said exact details will only be specified once Russia’s war in Ukraine ends.

Hurdles for a rebuild of the giant aircraft, which was destroyed in February while undergoing repairs at an airfield near Kyiv, remain significant. Antonov estimates that a rebuild of the giant aircraft, which had an 88-meter (290-feet) wingspan, will cost “at least” $500 million and acknowledged that could grow further as it was “too early” to talk about specific costs.

It was not immediately clear how financing will be obtained for such an effort, with Ukraine’s economy under significant stress due to Russia’s assault, and the power supply curbs in place due to Russian air-attacks on energy infrastructure. Antonov’s parent company, state-run Ukroboronprom initially said after the aircraft’s destruction that restoring it would take more than five years and cost over $3 billion.

Antonov said about 30% of the components from the original plane can be used in building a new version after assessment by experts. It said it was responding to what it called “inaccurate” reports by German newspaper Bild and Ukrainian media that work on the aircraft had already begun. 

Bild had originally cited an interview with Antonov General Director Eugene Gavrylov, who said that the company plans to sell merchandise like models of the plane and pictures in Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport to raise cash and attract sponsors.

The six-engine jet first flew in December 1988. It was used to transport Covid-19 vaccines around the world during the pandemic, before its destruction made it a symbol of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Political figures such as Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba have used it as a rallying cry, while it has also appeared on items like national stamps. 

[JL]

There was a partially built second fuselage from years ago...but may be somewhere else in Russia.

[boestar]

There was a push to complete the second one about 15 years ago or so.  It never went anywhere

 

[PaulD]

Maybe there is hope.

https://aeroxplorer.com/articles/antonov-begins-designing-new-an-225.php