On 16 June the Antonov An-225 Mryia outsize cargo transport set a new payload record for an aircraft when it took off from Prague, Czech Republic carrying a commercial payload of 247t.
The flight, which was operated by Antonov Airlines, was carrying oil pipeline machinery to Tashkent, Uzbekistan with stops in Kiev, Ukraine and Ulyanovsk, Russia on behalf of the Uzbekistan government.
Meanwhile, Russian outsize cargo carrier Polet has taken delivery of what could be the last example of the An-225's smaller sister, the An-124 Ruslan, if efforts to resurrect production of the giant airlifter are not successful. The aircraft was delivered on 18 June from the Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk.
About 60 An-124s have been assembled at two plants - Aviant in Kiev and Aviastar in Ulyanovsk. Two unfinished airframes remain at Aviastar, but their completion seems unlikely as many components and systems are missing.
Source: Flight International