Antonov An-124 touches down at Cairns Airport
One of the world’s largest military transport aircraft in service has made a dramatic entry into Far North airspace to the excitement of aviation enthusiasts.
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One of the world’s largest military transport aircraft in service has made a dramatic entry into Far North airspace roaring overhead to the excitement of aviation enthusiasts.
The Antonov An-124 Ruslan touched down at Cairns Airport at 7am Sunday morning arriving from Malaysia.
Cairns Airport shared images of the Ukrainian-built heavy transport aircraft flanked on both sides by a rainbow.
The four-engined aircraft’s decals now carry the message ‘Be Brave Like Okhtyrka’, in honour of the city bombed early in the Russian invasion of the country.
The 36-year-old cargo plane, one of the world’s heaviest, was created by Antonov Design Bureau in Ukraine itself.
An expected departure time of 6.30am on Monday has meant the stopover has literally been a flying visit but the reason for the big bird’s stay has not been revealed.
The Antonov Airlines operated plane and crew is planning to drop back into Cairns Airport again at 4.30pm on Monday before taking off for the final time on Tuesday morning at about 9am.
ABOUT THE ANTONOV
The Antonov AN-124 is a strategic airlift jet aircraft which can carry superheavy and oversized cargo up to 120 tonnes across the greatest range.
It was designed in the 1980s by the Antonov design bureau in the Ukrainian SSR, then part of the Soviet Union.
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Originally published as Antonov An-124 touches down at Cairns Airport
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