The An‑124 Ruslan is a heavy cargo aircraft designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in Kyiv. It is one of the largest cargo aircraft ever built in series and carries up to 120 tonnes — single pieces too heavy or too big for other freighters.
Design work began in 1971. The first An‑124 flew in December 1982 and was presented to the world at the 1985 Paris Air Show.
The aircraft entered service in 1986. The civil An‑124‑100 followed and is the version flown on commercial cargo charters today. Around 55 aircraft were built.
Its size gives it an edge over other freighters, including the Boeing 747F: the hold is 6.4 m wide and 4.4 m high, and the nose and rear doors open to the full width of the hold.
The aircraft kneels on its nose gear for ground loading and carries its own overhead crane and winch, so it can work at airports with little equipment. Several versions were built:
Since the 1990s the An‑124 has moved oversized industrial cargo around the world: power-plant turbines and generators, oil and gas equipment, mining machinery and aircraft components.
It also delivers humanitarian aid after natural disasters, carries satellites to launch sites and flies helicopters and yachts in one piece — days instead of weeks by sea.
Cargo is loaded at the front or at the rear: the nose lifts and the rear ramp lowers, both with extendable ramps. An overhead crane in the ceiling of the hold lifts heavy pieces and moves them along the deck; a winch pulls in items up to 120 t.
The hold is 36.5 m long, 6.4 m wide and 4.4 m high. The aircraft kneels on its nose gear, so vehicles drive straight in.
