Antonov An-990 [repack] ★ <SAFE>

Approximately 870 feet (265 metres), which is three times wider than the An-225 Mriya .

Officially, the An-990 never existed. No technical manual, no wind tunnel model, no grainy black-and-white photograph has ever been authenticated. Yet, among post-Soviet aerospace engineers, it is a cautionary fable of "what if the constraints of physics were merely suggestions?" antonov an-990

The project was buried. The prototype, according to the tale, was disassembled and its parts absorbed into the construction of the second (never-completed) An-225. Approximately 870 feet (265 metres), which is three

| Factor | Insight | |--------|----------| | | Projected 30 % lower cost per tonne‑kilometre than the An‑225 due to twin‑engine efficiency and reduced crew requirements (pilot + flight engineer + 2 loadmasters). | | Fuel Efficiency | Approx. 0.15 kg fuel / tonne‑km (including payload). This is comparable to modern wide‑body freighters such as the Boeing 777‑F when scaled for payload. | | CO₂ Emissions | Estimated 0.42 t CO₂ / tonne‑km , meeting emerging ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) benchmarks for heavy cargo aircraft. | | Lifecycle | Designed for 30 000 flight‑hour service life with a modular “mid‑life upgrade” path (e.g., new engine variants, avionics refresh). | Yet, among post-Soviet aerospace engineers, it is a

| Feature | Detail | |---------|--------| | | Conventional high‑wing, all‑metal construction with extensive use of advanced aluminum‑lithium alloys and carbon‑fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in secondary structures. | | Wing | 84 m (275 ft) span, featuring a high‑aspect‑ratio design with blended winglets for drag reduction. The wing incorporates integrated fuel tanks (≈ 150 t total). | | Engines | Two Progress D‑436‑5 turbofan engines (or optionally the newer Ukrainian‑developed PW‑5000 series), each delivering ~45 000 kgf thrust, mounted on a high‑mounted pylon to keep the fuselage floor clear for cargo loading. | | Landing Gear | 16‑wheel main gear (4 bogies per side) plus a nose gear, all equipped with steerable, self‑locking brakes and a low‑pressure “soft‑field” tire option for unpaved runways. | | Cargo Bay | Rectangular volume: 45 m (L) × 7.5 m (W) × 5 m (H). Equipped with a modular roller‑floor system, 8 overhead cranes (max 30 t each), and a rear cargo door that can be opened in flight for airdrop operations. | | Avionics | Glass cockpit with dual‑redundant flight‑control computers, fly‑by‑wire (FBW) system, integrated navigation/communication suite (ADS‑B, CPDLC, SATCOM), and a full‑flight simulator certification package. | | Safety Systems | Triple‑redundant hydraulic systems, fire‑suppression in all cargo compartments, on‑board health‑monitoring diagnostics, and an optional “emergency parachute” system for the main fuselage (experimental). |

: It is described as likely the biggest aircraft in X-Plane, with a maximum weight of 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs), which is roughly 120 times the weight of a Boeing 737-100.

While still in the design stage, the AN‑990 holds significant promise for governments, commercial carriers, and specialized operators seeking a one‑stop solution for the world’s heaviest and most awkward cargoes.