News / Society / Sci-Tech

Biggest plane on Earth lands in Perth, Australia

Sunday, 15 May 2016 8:24 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 21 May 2016 6:39 PM ]

The world's largest aircraft, the Ukraine-built Antonov An-225 Mriya, is positioned after touching down at Perth Airport on May 15, 2016. (AFP)

Watch the world's largest plane battle strong cross winds before landing in Perth, Australia. The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a Soviet-designed Ukrainian cargo plane and is capable of carrying twice as much as a Boeing 747 freighter.

On Sunday, some 20,000 enthusiastic onlookers gathered in Perth to watch the giant land with its cargo of a 117-ton generator belonging to a Western Australian mining company.

The plane had taken off from Prague, Czech Republic on Friday and was scheduled to remain in Perth until Tuesday.

“The sheer size of the An-225 was breathtaking, with the click of camera shutters audible over the roar of the six engines as it taxied past,' said Perth Airport spokeswoman Fiona Lander.

Roads leading to the city suffered heavy congestion over the plane’s arrival, with many people even arriving the night before and camping in their cars to get a better view.

The aircraft measures over 84 meters from head to tail and 88 meters from one wing tip to another and weighs around 600 tons, which also makes it the world's heaviest plane, enjoying a top speed of 850 kilometers an hour.

"It's the equivalent of a five-story plane flying through the air," said aviation specialist Henton Harmadi.

*The Antonov An-225 Mriya carrying 'the Buran' Soviet space shuttle, on display at the Paris Air show in 1989.*

The cargo aircraft was initially designed as a mid-air space launch station and can easily hold a space shuttle on it back or ten battle tanks in its hold.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk