An-225 also set for service in 2001(320 words)

Published: 1/12/2001

It seems likely that the An-124-100 recently acquired at auction by Air Foyle (but operated by Antonov Airlines), is due to return from Maastricht to Kiev in the latter part of January, for a six month overhaul by Antonov. As part of this, it may undergo a number of new modifications, which will cut the flight crew from the usual six down to four, and also raise the aircraft's maximum payload from 130 to 150 tonnes. Air Foyle confirmed that this type of upgrade would be logical, and that their aircraft would most likely be the first An-124-100 to undergo this type of work. The increase in payload has been made possible due to the improved reliability of the aircraft's engines, the ZMKB Progress/Ivchenko D-18Ts. The engine, now in its third series, was originally certified on the civilian An-124-100, for a maximum take-off weight of 392 tonnes with a payload of 120 tonnes. The aircraft was however, tested during the late eighties with a 150 tonnes payload and a take-off weight of 470 tonnes. Improvements in the production and operation of the engines over the past eight years, according to Air Foyle, have meant considerably better reliability, consumption and engine life (extended recently, to 24,000 hours, from a reported 3,500 hours in the mid nineties). The improvement in the powerplant can be largely attributed to the data feedback from the aircraft's major operators, Antonov and Volga Dnepr, in combination with ZMKB Progress' investment of a reported $50,000. The General Director of Antonov Airlines, Konstantin Lushakov, according to the Ukrainian media, said that one of Antonov's two An-225s would fly during the next two months. Six new D-18Ts are currently being installed on the aircraft, which was scheduled to get an airworthiness certificate in May 2001, before visiting Le Bourget, prior to commercial operation commencing in the second half of the year. This would be in accordance with the schedule outlined by Air Foyle (Antonov's marketing partner), in July of last year.

Article ID: 2285