Aviation

Ukraine Reaffirms Plans to Rebuild World’s Largest Cargo Aircraft, An-225 Mriya

In a statement made during the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., which took place from July 9-11, 2024, a Ukrainian official has reconfirmed plans to rebuild the An-225 Mriya, one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world. As reported by Ukraine’s news agency Ukrinform.

The only operational An-225 was destroyed during the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The announcement was made by a Ukrainian official, who chose to remain anonymous and did not provide additional details about the project’s expected timeframe or technical specifics. Despite the lack of details, the official’s confirmation has an 225 rebuild update reignited hope and interest in the aviation community about the possible resurrection of this iconic aircraft.

Airbus & An-225: The Best Partnership for Rebuilding the Largest Aircraft:Read more

The An-225 Mriya, known for its immense size and cargo-carrying capacity, was entirely destroyed in combat at Hostomel Airport near Kyiv. The loss of the aircraft was a significant blow, not only to Ukraine but also to the global aviation industry, given its unique capabilities.

Since the destruction of the An-225, there have been discussions and reports about the possibility of rebuilding the aircraft. As early as November 2022, CNN reported on alleged plans to restore the Mriya.

However, such a project faces substantial technical challenges and financial hurdles. Estimates suggest that the endeavor could require investments ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of US dollars.

World’s biggest plane An-225 to be built again, design work begins:Read more

One potential avenue for the rebuild involves a half-built airframe that has been in storage since the late Soviet era. an-225 rebuild progress However, the condition of this airframe is uncertain, and there are significant questions about whether it could be updated with modern technology to meet current aviation standar ds.

Despite these challenges, the confirmation from the Ukrainian official at the NATO Summit provides a glimmer of hope. The rebuild of the An-225 Mriya would not only symbolize resilience and recovery for Ukraine but also restore a critical asset to the aviation industry.

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.