The Antonov An-225 Mriya was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was the largest aircraft ever built, with a wingspan of 88.4 meters (290 feet) and a maximum takeoff weight of 640,000 kilograms (1,411,000 pounds). The Mriya was powered by six turbofan engines and had a range of 15,400 kilometers (9,570 miles). It was first flown in 1988 and entered service in 1989.
The Mriya was designed to transport heavy and oversized cargo, including military equipment and humanitarian aid. It was used in a variety of operations, including the Soviet-Afghan War, the Gulf War, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The Mriya was also used to transport the Buran spacecraft, the Soviet equivalent of the American Space Shuttle.