• The Antonov An-225 Mriya, the World’s largest plane, can carry 250 tonnes of supplies in its enormous hold
  • The plane was originally designed in the 1980s to carry a space shuttle, but has since been re-purposed 
  • Commissioned by the Polish government, it will make two trips, transporting 400 tonnes of PPE supplies
  • Some have praised China for it’s aid shipments, but others have warned it is trying to change perceptions

The world’s largest cargo plane has flown from China to Poland as part of a 400-tonne medical supply run amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

The Antonov An-225 Mriya landed at Tianjin Binhai International Airport in North China late on Sunday (12th April), picking up roughly 250 tonnes of critical medical supplies in what is to be two round-trip journeys.

Mriya, or ‘Dream’, was contracted by the Polish government and landed in Warsaw today (14th April), carrying personal protective equipment including seven million surgical masks, as well as thousands of face shields and decontamination suits.

 

The Polish Ministry of State Assets reportedly said of the decision to hire the six-engine freighter: ‘With just one flight, the An-225 can bring as much cargo from China as 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.’

Despite Mriya’s record-setting 250-tonne cargo capacity, it will need to make a second trip to China in order to transport the full 400-tonne supply.

Chinese state media reported that Germany would also be employing the heavy-duty cargo aircraft – the only one of its kind in the world – for medical supplies from China, while contracts are believed to cost governments at least 1 million USD (800,000 GBP).

The plane can hold a record cargo of 250,000 kilograms. To access the hold, the node of the plane opens upwards (pictured left). Right: Forklift trucks at China’s Tianjin international airport begin to load medical supplies into the plane, which will carry them to Warsaw, Poland. The plane was designed in the 1980s by the Antonov Design Bureau

Despite it’s 250 tonne capacity, the plane will make two round-trips from China to Poland to deliver the 400 tonnes of supplies that are being transported

The medical supplies will help Poland’s medical workers in their battle with the coronavirus. Poland has ordered seven million surgical masks, as well as thousands of face shields and decontamination suits which will be transported on the plane

Source: Dailymail.co.uk