The new largest aircraft in the world, the Stratolaunch, has rolled out of its assembly hangar. The jet, made by Scale Composites (which is owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen), has some impressive features, such as its 117 metre (383.86 feet) wingspan, its 6 turbofan engines and 650 tonne gross weight.
The Antonov An-225, the largest cargo aircraft in the world, will begin a week-long flight schedule from its home base in Ukraine to South America this Thursday.
ANTONOV AN-225 FLIGHT SCHEDULE: (subject to change)
| Date | Flight | Scheduled Departure | Origin | Destination | Scheduled Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov | ADB304F | 10:00 | GML/UKKM | LEJ/EDDP | 12:00 |
| 11 Nov | ADB3704 | 17:00 | LEJ/EDDP | KEF/BIKF | 20:45 |
| 11 Nov | ADB3704 | 23:15 | KEF/BIKF | YYR/CYYR | 03:00 |
| 12 Nov | ADB3704 | 05:30 | YYR/CYYR | IAD/KIAD | 09:00 |
| 12 Nov | ADB3704 | 22:00 | IAD/KIAD | MIA/KMIA | 00:30 |
| 13 Nov | ADB3704 | 03:00 | MIA/KMIA | PBM/SMJP | 07:30 |
| 13 Nov | ADB3704 | 10:00 | PBM/SMJP | IQQ/SCDA | 15:00 |
| 14 Nov | ADB300F | 08:45 | IQQ/SCDA | VCP/SKBP | 12:30 |
| 15 Nov | ADB300F | 00:30 | VCP/SKBP | GRU/SBGR | 01:00 |
| 15 Nov | ADB3700 | 10:00 | GRU/SBGR | SCL/SCEL | 14:00 |
(Table information: FlightRadar24)
HOW TO TRACK THE ANTONOV AN-225:
There are multiple ways to track the An-225 on FlightRadar24:
Ukraine’s Antonov Design Bureau is set to resume production of the An-225 “Mriya” ultra heavy transport aircraft after it signed a joint-cooperation agreement with the Aerospace Industry Corporation of China (AICC).
Under the first phase of the agreement, the partially finished second An-225 will be completed ahead of its handover to the AICC. The second phase will bring the resumption of full-scale licensed production of the type in China.
Antonov Airlines operates the only operational An-224, registered UR-82060 (MSN 19530503763), on special ultra heavy lift missions across the world. The 28 years-old An-225 was originally designed to carry the Soviet Union’s Buran Space Shuttle. However, after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the aircraft was converted to commercial use.
Sunday was the last day of the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow, which has brought us a lot of news from all aspects of the aviation industry.
Have a look at some videos from the Airshow and some pictures
This article will cover all the big orders that manufacturers, like Airbus and Boeing, have received with some photos from the airshow and a short interview to the Boeing Communications Manager for the UK and Europe, Katerina Giannini.
First off let’s start with the orders this year at Farnborough. Many aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, ATR displayed their aircraft at FIA16 in hope of securing as many orders as possible.
Airbus took the top spot for order value, sealing orders for 279 Aircraft valued at $35billion comprising of 187 firm orders worth $22.6 billion, and commitments (eg. MoUs) for 82 aircraft worth $8.7 billion.
Asian Budget Carriers splashed the cash with the largest orders for Airbus Aircraft including 100 A321neos from AirAsia, a MOU for 72 A320neos from GoAir, an order from Synergy Aviation for 62 A320neos for Avianca’s Fleet Renewal and Germania ordered 25 A320neos. Also Norwegian and ALAFCO converted some orders for A320neos into orders for A321neos.
In the widebody segment Airbus won firm orders for 14 aircraft worth $3.4 billion comprising two options for A330-300s from IAG, an order for up to four A330-900s from ARKIA Israeli Airlines and an order for 8 A350-1000s from Virgin Atlantic. In addition to these new widebody orders, the show also saw the launch order from DHL Express for the A330-300 Passenger-To-Freighter conversion programme, in partnership with EFW and ST Aerospace.
Unfortunately, however, Airbus received no orders for the A380 and announced that it would be reducing the deliveries per year to 12 by 2018.
John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer, said: “Our orders this week at Farnborough confirm a buoyant industry in which we have once again surpassed our competitor. In addition, airlines upsizing to the A321neo shows that this aircraft is the undisputed ‘middle-of-the-market’ champion.”
Boeing trailed behind at 182 aircraft worth $26.8 billion including some important deals but only 20 Firm Orders, these being an order from Volga Dnepr’s Air Bridge Cargo division for 20 747-8s, which will keep the production line for the Queen of the Skies going.
Boeing also received several orders for their Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which debuted at FIA this year: Xiamen Airlines announced a commitment for thirty 737 MAX 200s, Donghai Airlines announced another one for tweet-five 737 MAX 8s , the TUI Group placed an order for ten more 737 MAX 8s, Kunming Airlines announced a commitment for ten 737 MAX 7s and Air Europa was revealed to be an undisclosed customer for twenty 737 MAX 8s.
Boeing received more orders than Airbus regarding wide body aircraft, having received orders/commitments for twelve 787-9 Dreamliners (an order for six from Ruili Airlines, a commitment for five from Donghai Airlines and one order and one option from the TUI Group) and the order for the twenty 747-8Fs we have talked about above.
Boeing also received some orders from the UK Ministry of Defense. These orders include: an order for 50 Apache AH-64E helicopters and an order for nine P-8A Poseidons.
On Saturday at FIA16, Avineesh Suppiah and Jake Butler interviewed a Boeing employee, Katerina Giannini, Communications Manager for UK and Europe, on how the Trade Show and Centennial Anniversary was for the company. Katerina said it was “an honor to be part of the centennial,” and that it was very “significant that the company celebrate the event, especially when they are at the very top of their game.”
Also, Katerina commented on the orders this year for Boeing saying “the deals for the 737 MAX, 747 and P-8A were very important to the company.” When asked about the competition between Airbus and Boeing, the two largest aerospace companies, she commented “It’s a very vibrant industry with healthy competition and focus on customers and innovation currently.” Finally, we asked Katerina about the 777X and whether it would be a suitable competitor for the A350 and A380. “We are focusing on making the aircraft light, quiet and efficient,” she said, “it could definitely be a strong competitor for Airbus’ next generation aircraft.”
Comac announced commitments for ninety ARJ21 jets from two Chinese lessors. The first of the two commitments includes a tripartite collaborative framework between Coman, China Aircraft Leasing (CALC) and Friedmann Pacific Asset Management. Under this deal, CALC will buy sixty ARJ21-700s to support Friedmann’s newly bought Indonesian airline, that will base its fleet around the Comac regional jet. The second deal was signed by AVIC Leasing, which signed a commitment for thirty ARJ21s.
Mitsubishi has attracted its first European order from Swedish lessor Rockton, which signed a Letter of Intent which includes a firm order for ten MRJ90s and ten additional options.
Four carriers have placed commitments with Embraer for a total of twenty-five E-Jets, most of them are for the re-engined version, the E-jet E-2. That includes Arkia’s tentative deal for six E195-E2s and Indonesian regional Kalstar’s firm orders for five of the type.
Nordic Aviation Capital has ordered four E190s and Japan Air Lines has converted a previous option for an E170 to a firm E190 order.
Bombardier has received an order for three Q400s from Canada’s Porter Airlines.
On the 10th of May, the largest cargo plane in the world will start a 9 day long journey from Ukraine to Australia.
The only Antonov An-225 Mriya in flying conditions will move a large generator to Perth, arriving of the 15th of May.
Here is the schedule of all the flights*:
- 10/05: ADB310F GML0700 – PRG0855
- 12/05: ADB3610 PRG0400 – KRW1000
- 12/05: ADB3610 KRW1300 – HYD1830
- 13/05: ADB3610 HYD2000 – CGK0200+1
- 14/05: ADB3610 CGK2130 – PER0200+1
- 1705: ADV310F PER0001 – DWC1300
- 19/05 ADB356F DWC0100 – LEJ0730
- 20/05 ADB3656 LEJ0700 – CAI1130
- 20/05 ADB3656 CAI1330 – AUH1730
*Data from FlightRadar24, may be subject to change.
You can follow the flight on flightradar24.com or with their mobile apps. During the journey, it may pass through zones where coverage is not available due to the An-225 not being equipped with an ADS-B transponder, which means the plane is tracked using MLAT technology.
You can track it on FlightRadar24 in multiple ways:
The World of Aviation 