Antonov AN-124 at DIA

[SubaCool]

I drove Lisa to work yesterday (again) and coming back I saw an Antonov 124 parked off the cargo runway area. So I drove out there to see if I could get as close as possible to snap some pics. Funny thing, I just saw a documentary on Lockheed Martin using this mammoth to transfer rockets for NASA from Denver. The last time I've seen one of these in person was when I was like 12 (early 90's), at an airshow in Slovakia. I still remember walking through it and seeing the nose raised and lowered. It's a very cool plane!

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/43994/2079851570101960247S600x600Q85.jpg


http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/44056/2282786150101960247S600x600Q85.jpg


http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/21149/2083148200101960247S600x600Q85.jpg


http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/45074/2933032270101960247S600x600Q85.jpg


http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/42456/2111405590101960247S600x600Q85.jpg


http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/34331/2684022360101960247S600x600Q85.jpg

[ShutUpHippie]

That thing is awesome! You can see right through it...

[RockyMtnHigh]

Man I miss all the cool stuff and I live out here!:mad:

[A-TRAC]

Funny thing, I just saw a documentary on Lockheed Martin using this mammoth to transfer rockets for NASA from Denver.


It's funny that Lockheed uses the AN-124 to transport stuff and not their own C-5 Galaxy. Flip side is, I'm not sure the C-5s are owned by any private transportaion companies.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/C5_galaxy.jpg/800px-C5_galaxy.jpg

[WINKY]

was about to mention the c-5a galaxy, i got to walk through those as a kid in daytona airshow.

[greenramp]

c-5's suck to parachute from on a static line.

Just in case any of you ever were offered to do so.

[SubaCool]

I don't know. I'm guessing that flying a Russian plane might be cheaper? :D
Btw, the C-5 looks the same as the An-124 (or the other way around)... wonder if that's a "coincidence"? :rolleyes:

---------- Post added at 01:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Ok, quick look at wikipedia shows that the AN-124 is capable of carying 25% more payload than the C-5. So, there you go. It also has a better "track record" with only 4 crashes, versus 7 (C-5) :p

The C-5 was introduced in the early 60's, while the Antonov came into light in the 80's. Wonder if the Russians "stole" some designs :rolleyes:

Also, a little more info on what they were doing at DIA: "Lockheed Martin contracts the An-124 to transport the Atlas V launch vehicle from its facilities near Denver to Cape Canaveral. Two flights are required to transfer each launch vehicle (one for the Atlas V main booster stage and another for the Centaur upper stage)." Makes me wish I've stayed around a bit longer yesterday...

[KnuckleHead]

That's big a** plane.... I use to work out there and seen some cool ones but never one like that... good pics to... how close did you manage to get? Looks really close in the pics

[SubaCool]

That's big a** plane.... I use to work out there and seen some cool ones but never one like that... good pics to... how close did you manage to get? Looks really close in the pics
The side pictures were taken from about 250 yds away, and the pics looking at the back from about 1/4 mile. My camera has a good zoom. Here's a map of aprox. where I was in relation to the plane: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=39.828083,-104.667542&spn=0.007531,0.013797&t=h&z=16&msid=102245196024416091920.00047740f5840a4c0b5bc
I kept waiting that someone was gonna run out and yell at me ;)

[Mporter]

That thing is awesome! You can see right through it...

It's more aerodynamic

[Haku]

It's funny that Lockheed uses the AN-124 to transport stuff and not their own C-5 Galaxy. Flip side is, I'm not sure the C-5s are owned by any private transportaion companies.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/C5_galaxy.jpg/800px-C5_galaxy.jpg

weight capacity aside, I think the Antonov is significantly larger volume wise as well. From what I've seen on TV and such, they are pretty hard to beat. I know there is one ginormous one that they made, thats half again as big as the one pictured, but even the normal ones are are the biggest thing you'll ever see flying. I got to poke around on a Galaxy and a Hercules at a Air National Guard recruitment airshow in Cheyenne
a year ago, and its defintely a big plane. Looking at that picture though, comparing the two you can see the AN is quite a bit taller and wider, and even a bit longer.

I was at the Airport yesterday, kinda bummed I didn't notice it being there. Too busy being scared by the Devil Horse again I guess.

JH

[SubaCool]

Too busy being scared by the Devil Horse again I guess.
http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/45225/2667404080101960247S500x500Q85.jpg
BOO! :D

[BlackRubi]

c-5's suck to parachute from on a static line.

Just in case any of you ever were offered to do so.

I'll jump from a Chinook any day, though. I really miss all of that.
That, and rappelling from Blackhawks.