Aviation

Ukraine dreams of rebuilding the world’s largest airplane. Can Richard Branson help?

Numerous Ukrainians lost hope four months ago, at the start of the conflict, upon hearing that the largest cargo jet in the world, manufactured in their country, had been destroyed in a fierce battle. Mriya, which means “The Dream” in Ukrainian, was Ukraine’s pride. Only one was ever built. It was a global aircraft celebrity. Now it was a twisted wreckage.

The efforts to resurrect Mriya received a significant boost Richard Branson the British aerospace mogul, visited the airfield in Hostomel, a city near Kyiv, where the plane had been based. On Wednesday, Ukrainian aerospace experts discussed the possibility of rebuilding it.

A Virgin Group representative, Branson was determining what would be required to restore the aircraft. The attention will turn to identifying methods that the worldwide community might assist the project and contribute in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s airfield and aviation sector.
According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Branson had “stated his desire to help in any way he can,” according to Ukrainian MP David Arakhamia.

Ukrainian defenders eventually drove them away, but the airfield and Mriya were both destroyed as a result of a direct hit from an explosive shell. The Antonov An-225 Mriya was the largest and heaviest aircraft in the air at 276 feet long and six floors tall it weighed more than a 747 with all of its passengers and cargo on board. Turbine blades or even smaller jets could be placed into its cavernous belly through the opening in the nose cone, which flipped up. Built in 1988 as part of the Soviet space program, it was still flying until February, ferrying COVID-19 supplies.

Ukrainian officials have vowed to rebuild it using a second, partially completed Mriya fuselage that is now stored in undisclosed aeroplane manufacturer. However, they have recognized that the project would exceed $1 billion in costs and that they want outside assistance, which is why they were thrilled about Branson’s arrival.

Ukrainian news media also said Branson was interested in helping rebuild the Hostomel airport.Three million unique commemorative Mriya postage stamps were produced by Ukraine. They were expected to be sold out before the end of this week.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.