Antonov at Moffett Field?
Pandit Baba
in Aeroflot livery has been at the south ramp at Moffett quite
frequently over the past year. Although it bears a Russian flag
on the vertical stabilisor, it also bears the "H" logo of a private
operator.
Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
tj1...@my-deja.com
The aircraft that you seen would have been an Antonov 124-100
freighter. Russian company Volga Dnepr operates several of these
aircraft in co-operation with UK based freight company HeavyLift.
(H for HeavyLift on the tail)
Other aircraft operated by HeavyLift are Belfast, Il-76, Hercules, CL-
144, and B707. Boeing charter them in the US for movement of aircraft
engines etc. Royal Air Force charter them for movement of heavy freight.
When I was down the Falklands this year one delivered a Sea King to
Mount Pleasant airfield. The reason why a C-5 is not used is because
the USAF probably has strict operating rules regarding operating for
civilian contracts. It's cheaper and simpler to go for civilian
heavylift freight companies.
TJ1234.
Matt Manspeaker
> Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
There are 2 Tupolev transports that are a good bit larger than the C-5.
Can't recall their designations at the moment though. One is the
'Condor', the other is the 'Dream'
--
Regards,
Matt Manspeaker
Penn State Aerospace Engineering (Aerodynamics) / ^ \
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/6517 -(.)==<.>==(.)-
'88 Mazda 323GTX 'Habu' SR-71 Blackbird
D. Scott Ferrin
wrote:
>
>> Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
>
>There are 2 Tupolev transports that are a good bit larger than the C-5.
>
>Can't recall their designations at the moment though. One is the
>'Condor', the other is the 'Dream'
Also known as Cossack (NATO) and Myra (sp?)
Gatt
I saw it there across from the big hangar about two years ago. I don't
think NASA is using it; we got as close as we could and it looked like it
just might be a private operation. Damn impressive airplane, though!
-gatt
On Wed, 8 Sep 1999, Pandit Baba wrote:
> A huge jet tansport with hinged nose and rear ramp (Antonov?)
> in Aeroflot livery has been at the south ramp at Moffett quite
> frequently over the past year. Although it bears a Russian flag
> on the vertical stabilisor, it also bears the "H" logo of a private
> operator.
>
> Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
>
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
>
>
Chris Gattman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,'
but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." -Mike Royko
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Manspeaker
Matt Manspeaker wrote:
>
> > Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
>
> There are 2 Tupolev
Make that Antonov....
Ken Duffey
> > Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
>
> There are 2 Tupolev transports that are a good bit larger than the C-5.
>
> Can't recall their designations at the moment though. One is the
> 'Condor', the other is the 'Dream'
> --
> Regards,
> Matt Manspeaker
> Penn State Aerospace Engineering (Aerodynamics) / ^ \
> http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/6517 -(.)==<.>==(.)-
> '88 Mazda 323GTX 'Habu' SR-71 Blackbird
For some pics of both - the four-engined ANTONOV An-124 (NATO Reporting
name CONDOR, Russian name RUSLAN - a Russian folk hero) and the 6-engined
ANTONOV An-225 (NATO Reporting name COSSACK, Russian name MRIYA - Dream),
check out my pics at :- http://www.lindenhillimports.com/photo.htm
The An-124 is currently the worlds largest production a/c - in terms of
weightlifting capability.
The single An-225 was the world largest a/c, but is currently grounded and
providing spares for the An-124 fleet.
The An-124 is (was) a contender for an RAF leasing order for a large
strategic transport. One proposal (by Antonov & Air Foyle) was to re-engine
it with Rolls Royce RB-211's but the whole procurement has been put back
into the melting pot.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers - http://www.lindenhillimports.com/flankers.htm
S-37 Model - http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/5634/
Genuine E-mailers - remove the x after uk
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hugh Dickson
tj1...@my-deja.com wrote:
> In article <7r6mud$66i$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> Pandit Baba <rah...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> > A huge jet tansport with hinged nose and rear ramp (Antonov?)
> > in Aeroflot livery has been at the south ramp at Moffett quite
> > frequently over the past year. Although it bears a Russian flag
> > on the vertical stabilisor, it also bears the "H" logo of a private
> > operator.
> >
> > Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
> >
> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> > Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
> >
>
> The aircraft that you seen would have been an Antonov 124-100
> freighter. Russian company Volga Dnepr operates several of these
> aircraft in co-operation with UK based freight company HeavyLift.
> (H for HeavyLift on the tail)
> Other aircraft operated by HeavyLift are Belfast, Il-76, Hercules, CL-
> 144, and B707. Boeing charter them in the US for movement of aircraft
> engines etc. Royal Air Force charter them for movement of heavy freight.
> When I was down the Falklands this year one delivered a Sea King to
> Mount Pleasant airfield. The reason why a C-5 is not used is because
> the USAF probably has strict operating rules regarding operating for
> civilian contracts. It's cheaper and simpler to go for civilian
> heavylift freight companies.
>
> TJ1234.
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Unless you have to fly an orca to Iceland.
Seem to recall that Nasa/Ames was testing some
Russian space station stuff.
Hugh
Steve Hix
> A huge jet tansport with hinged nose and rear ramp (Antonov?)
> in Aeroflot livery has been at the south ramp at Moffett quite
> frequently over the past year. Although it bears a Russian flag
> on the vertical stabilisor, it also bears the "H" logo of a private
> operator.
An Aeroflot An-72, isn't it?
> Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
Cheaper to fly stuff from Russia to Moffat for Space Station
hardware?
John Clear
Pandit Baba <rah...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>A huge jet tansport with hinged nose and rear ramp (Antonov?)
>in Aeroflot livery has been at the south ramp at Moffett quite
>frequently over the past year. Although it bears a Russian flag
>on the vertical stabilisor, it also bears the "H" logo of a private
>operator.
>
The An-124 and C-5 are often seen at Moffett picking up satellites
and other large space gadgets from Lockheed Martin and Loral Space
Systems. The C-5s are used for US Military and US Government
cargo, and the An-124s for everyone else. There was a discussion
awhile back about how it was interesting that a Russian transport
was landing at a US government airfield to pick up cargo to be
launched by a Chinese rocket. BTW, The Learning Channel (US Cable TV)
had a segment on the An-124 on their 'Big Stuff' series last night.
John
--
John Clear - j...@panix.com http://www.panix.com/~jac
silverpelican
the second largest in the world (AN-225?) flew into St. Augustine under
contract to Northrup-Gruman. The St. Augustine General Aviation airport
sports twin 12k foot runways, handled this a/c with aplomb.
The a/c flew right over my house, was pretty impressive.
--
"When pelicans grow older, their feathers turn
silver", Birds of the World, First Edition
If there had been a lumber cartel, I hoped to acquire a new roosting pos
There is no Lumber Cartel and I am not unit# 1932.
Ken Duffey
Are you sure it was six engined ??
AFAIK The six-engined Antonov An-225 (NATO Cossack, Russian Mriya/Dream -
the worlds largest plane) has been grounded at Gostomel near Kiev for the
past few years providing spare parts for the FOUR engined Antonov An-124
(NATO Condor, Russian Ruslan - the worlds largest PRODUCTION plane).
The An-124 is used all over the world for heavy freighting - I suspect that
this is what you saw. I would love to be proved wrong though.
My pics of both a/c are at :- http://www.lindenhillimports.com/photo.htm
silverpelican
copy or a tear sheet later. The plane I saw definitely had 6 engines as
it was on approach before rolling into final. I hadn't seen a 6 engine
since the early B-36s at San Diego.
St. Augustine is the US busiest general aviation airport with 146,000
TO/l in 1998. It has both a seaplane ramp and a blimp mooring post-both
functional.
Liable to see anything flying in here. In one month, saw a PBY, a Gypsy
Moth, canadian version, and several bi-planes and a Beaver on floats.
silverpelican
verified it was an Antonov, no model number, said not their charter,
they just loaded for Europe delivery, St Augustine FBO just died. We
have no control tower, no landing log. End of the line, apparently.
2Fast4U
Somewhat interesting sidenote... In Russian the word MRIYA does not mean
Dream. It actually doesn't exist. MRIYA was borrowed from the language of
one of the republics, Latvia I would venture to guess. They also had a
pretty tasty candy that had the same name ;-)
2Fast4U
Paul Koshevoy
Well, myself being a quarter Ukrainian, I would say that Mriya is Ukraininan for
dream. It makes sense too, Ukrainian airplane, Ukrainian dream.
at...@my-deja.com
> Somewhat interesting sidenote... In Russian the word MRIYA does not
mean
> Dream. It actually doesn't exist. MRIYA was borrowed from the
language of
> one of the republics, Latvia I would venture to guess. They also had a
> pretty tasty candy that had the same name ;-)
I thought mriya was russian for "peace", and was chosen to emphasize
that the mission of the AN-225 was non-military, which is why it has no
rear doors or ramp. Has anyone actually seen it? I was lucky wnough to
get to go see it when it came to Bradley International Airport in
Connecticut. I think it was there to pick up supplies for a
humanitarian mission, but it was open to the public. It is nothing
short of awe inspiring. I also got to talk to the pilot, who had also
flown the Condor and other russian heavy lifters.
Vladimir Malukh
silverpelican wrote:
> I don't have the newspaper anymore but will try to get either the web
> copy or a tear sheet later. The plane I saw definitely had 6 engines as
> it was on approach before rolling into final.
In that case very certainly it is An-225 Mrya.
--
Vladimir Malukh
-----------------------------------------
Ken Duffey
I agree, Vladimir, that the only possible six-engined a/c is the
An-225, but didn't the one of the contributors to this thread say that
there was a RECENT sighting of a SIX-ENGINED transport at St Augustine
??
>>Couple of months ago, a six engine a/c, described by the local paper as the second >>largest in the world (AN-225?) flew into St. Augustine under contract to >>Northrup-Gruman. The St. Augustine General Aviation airport sports twin 12k foot >>runways, handled this a/c with aplomb. The a/c flew right over my house, was >>pretty impressive.
Note :- this thread started out as report about an Antonov An-124 at MOFFETT, then it got confused with a supposed SIX-ENGINED transport at St Augustine - see quote above retrieved from Dejanews.
My query still is - how can the An-225 have been seen at St Augustine 'a couple of months ago' when it hasn't flown for the last 5 years ?? Or is there something I don't know ?
Just curious
Paul Koshevoy
> I thought mriya was russian for "peace", and was chosen to emphasize
> that the mission of the AN-225 was non-military, which is why it has no
> rear doors or ramp. Has anyone actually seen it? I was lucky wnough to
> get to go see it when it came to Bradley International Airport in
> Connecticut. I think it was there to pick up supplies for a
> humanitarian mission, but it was open to the public. It is nothing
> short of awe inspiring. I also got to talk to the pilot, who had also
> flown the Condor and other russian heavy lifters.
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
MIR is Russian for Peace (and World too).
Mriya is Ukrainian for Dream.
John Halliwell
>A huge jet tansport with hinged nose and rear ramp (Antonov?)
>in Aeroflot livery has been at the south ramp at Moffett quite
>frequently over the past year. Although it bears a Russian flag
>on the vertical stabilisor, it also bears the "H" logo of a private
>operator.
Is 'H' red or blue? It probably refers to Heavylift, a UK company who
specialise in lifting big heavy things. I think they operate some
Antonovs as a joint venture with Aeroflot.
--
John
Preston, Lancs, UK.
Pandit Baba
The Russian aircraft at Moffett Field has four engines
and clean horizontal stabilisors - no auxiliary vertical
stabilisors at the ends.
So I gather that its an AN124 charted by Lockheed/Martin
to haul satellites or other space junk. Sure looks like a
heavy lifter to me! You could hold a hockey game in the
cargo hold...
>
> Note :- this thread started out as report about an Antonov An-124 at
MOFFETT,
> then it got confused with a supposed SIX-ENGINED transport at St
Augustine -
> see quote above retrieved from Dejanews.
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Pandit Baba
Vladimir Malukh
2Fast4U wrote:
>
> >ANTONOV An-225 (NATO Reporting name COSSACK, Russian name MRIYA - Dream)
>
> Somewhat interesting sidenote... In Russian the word MRIYA does not mean
> Dream. It actually doesn't exist. MRIYA was borrowed from the language of
> one of the republics, Latvia I would venture to guess.
It's ukranian - Antonow head-quarter is located in Kiev.
--
Vladimir Malukh
-----------------------------------------
MtViewGuy
The reason is simple: An-124's are seen all over the world
in air freight service for cargo that would not fit even
inside a 747-400F freighter.
Well, at least the An-124 fleet is making lots of hard
foreign currency shipping outsized cargo around the world.
Re-engine the An-124 with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines
rated at 70,000 lb thrust and give it Western-made cockpit
electronics--there will certainly be a market for such a
plane.
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Ken Duffey
On a recent trip to the Aviastar 'factory' at Ulyanovsk, I saw three An-124 in
various states of repair in one hangar - I don't know where they are built -
Kiev ??
The Russian AF fleet were recently grounded following the engine failure that
caused the crash at Urkutsk - we saw a line-up of them at Ulyanovsk, but weren't
allowed near them. I think they may now be flying again.
As for re-engining, the Antonov Design Bureau example that appeared at RIAT
Fairford in July, was a contender for the RAF heavy-lift leasing requirement.
Antonov were proposing (with operator Air Foyle) to fit RB-211's and western
avionics to meet the requirement - but the whole RAF request for tenders is now
apparently back in the melting pot. Rather cheekily, Antonov had some great
publicity photographs at Fairford showing the An-124 with some outsize loads -
and a schematic showing a 'typical' load of SEVEN AH-64 Apache helicopters !
As for the comparison with the 747F - while it may have the volume, it can't
take the really heavy loads - like an M-1 Abrams or a couple of large
excavators.
Patrick Dunford
Hash: SHA1
Behold, on Wed, 08 Sep 1999 22:31:30 GMT in
rec.aviation.military:<37D6E3BC...@psu.edu>, Matt Manspeaker
(mansp...@psu.edu) didst uttereth:
>
>> Why would NASA contract one of these instead of a C5?
>
>There are 2 Tupolev transports that are a good bit larger than the C-5.
>
>Can't recall their designations at the moment though. One is the
>'Condor', the other is the 'Dream'
Both are Antonov.
Condor is the NATO name for the AN-124, which is a bit bigger than a C-5.
The "Dream" (Russian Miriya or something) is the AN-225 which is not flying
at present.
- --
Patrick Dunford, Christchurch, NZ
http://patrick.dunford.com/
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGPfreeware 6.0.2i
iQA/AwUBN+UpZZ/ufSMMVdBMEQJlkACeKiCVS7nW9yNR8gvAfbkGepHVUSMAoM9T
ohS4dybaEtKo9/mN8UAAeKhW
=3/Cs
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----