Volga-Dnepr took time out from flying charter freight and humanitarian aid by dropping into ILA with one of its Antonov AN-124-100-150 Ruslans yesterday.
Managing director Valery Gabriel was taking part in the European Air Transport Congress in Hall 6 and used the Ruslan to highlight its capability to attendees.
“There is a growing demand for this sort of aircraft,” says Gabriel. “It was designed primarily to be a military aircraft, but the -100 means it is certified for civil use. This is an aircraft that can fly anywhere in the world. And it has a 150-tonne payload capacity too.”
To further showcase its load capacity and highlight its ability, an airport fire engine was driven into the cargo hold.
Together with Antonov Airlines, Volga-Dnepr bases two Ruslans at Leipzig to cover the basic SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) requirement.
When required the contract calls for six to be available. Yesterday’s appearance was only brief before the aircraft departed onto its next stop at Warsaw in neighbouring Poland.
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Source: Flight Daily News