Antonov An-225 Mriya Flown White Skin Relic Display
Authentic fragment of white-painted aluminum skin from the world's only An-225 combined with Ron Cole's original artwork of this amazing aircraft in these 13x19-inch open framed canvas relic displays. The Antonov An-225 Mriya was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft designed in the 1980s by the Antonov Design Bureau. It was originally developed to transport the Soviet Space Shuttle, and only one example was ever completed. After successfully fulfilling its military missions, it was refurbished and reintroduced into commercial operation with Antonov Airlines, carrying oversized payloads. With a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tons the An-225 held several records, including heaviest aircraft ever built and largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service. The Mriya attracted a high degree of public interest, attaining a global following due to its size and its uniqueness. People frequently visited airports to see its scheduled arrivals and departures. The An-225 was destroyed in the