Watching the local news last night and  an item on the Shoebox Appeal, a charity that sends shoeboxes full of presents to needy children all over the world. This years appeal was for the Ukraine. They showed some footage of children on the ramp of an aircraft loading these shoeboxes into the belly of an extremely large aircraft. The shot pulled back as the reporter explained that the aircraft was the biggest in the world. Low and behold they showed the AN225 ....... Location EGNX (East Midlands). They then went on to show a cockpit shot  and revealed that the aircraft would be taking off at 08.00 this morning.

Soooooo I braved a 6am alarm, the elements, poor light and a less than adiquate camera to DO MY SIMV DUTY and with probably 2000 others went to get some shots.

Here we have the only two shots that were good enough to post.

http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/AN225eno00

http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/AN225eno01

All the rest of the shots were too blurred due to the poor light but at least I can say I've seen it for real.

EDIT : As a sideline this was the first commercial flight of the AN225 from the UK.

Ooh......I have yet to see that giant...I have seen the AN124 up close and personal...it was overwhelming...it landed in front of my house in Sudan and then did a back track...it was awesome...a few days later, I stood next to it as I was allowed into the airport (diplomatic status)....an experience i will never forget.

Geez! What a big one! 

Cudos Eno, Cudos for your loyalty to simv! 

AWESOME 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Quote:


Probably using the same amount of runway that it used to take off ....... almost all !!!

Good one Eno.

It's been rumoured that it may be back in this country sometime in the new year.

Very nice shots Eno. Yo´re fortunate to see in person the An-225. Some years ago I have see at Madrid-Barajas an An-124 in Russia colours (the same of my this month contest shot), and I was very impressed.

Saludos desde España.

Regards from Spain.