Located below in the photo, the An-124 Ruslan is the largest air transport airliner on the planet as of today. The vessel was designed by Antonov Design Bureau. Its main purpose was to transport long-distance heavy and bulky goods for the needs of the national economy, as well as airborne and motorized infantry equipment with crews. In addition, the machine is capable of performing tasks related to the parachute landing of military equipment and cargo.
The first flights and records
The An-124 model made its very first flight in Kiev on December 21, 1982. The crew headed by V.I. Tersky included: test pilot A.V. Galunenko, navigator A.P. Poddubny, flight engineers V.M. Vorotnikov and A.M. Shuleschenko, as well as flight attendant M.A. Tupchienko . The leading test engineers were V. S. Mikhailov and M. G. Kharchenko. After successful testing of the machine, its mass production started.
In 1985, the airliner set 21 world records. Their list included the achievement of such a parameter as load capacity (weight 171,219 kg was raised to a height of 2 thousand meters). In the same year, the ship was demonstrated to the world. This happened during an air show in Paris. Two years later, the aircraft appeared in service with the Soviet Army. Testimonials from pilots and testers characterized him as a reliable airliner, which features precise control and navigation systems. In addition, experts noted high load capacity and quick loading with unloading.
General structure
The model is built according to the plan of a high-wing equipped with a swept wing, like many other heavy transport aircraft. This solution can significantly improve aerodynamic characteristics, therefore, the flight range. The airliner is characterized by a single-tail tail. In general, composite materials were widely used in the design and upholstery of the machine , which made it possible to reduce its weight by almost two tons. The floor is made of durable titanium alloy. The landing gear of the aircraft is multi-racked and hides during flight. It is equipped with 24 wheels, so that the liner can be operated even with the presence of unpaved runways. In addition, the vessel boasts the ability to change the angle of inclination of the hull and clearance, which can significantly facilitate the work on its loading and unloading.
Specifications
One of the main advantages of the model over its competitors, which the Ruslan aircraft boasts, is the technical characteristics of its power plant. It consists of four D-18T dual-circuit engines developed by V. A. Lotarev. The total power of the motors is 23,400 kgf. At the same time, they are distinguished by low weight and low fuel consumption, as well as a relatively low level of generated noise. Under the condition of maximum load (120 tons), the aircraft is able to cover a distance of 5600 km. The ship's carrying capacity exceeds the similar indicators of the Il-76 and An-22 models by almost three times. At the same time, fuel consumption per ton-kilometer of cargo is 2.5 times less. Such characteristics of the An-124 allow it to significantly exceed its main competitor - the American S-5V Galaxy.
Flight and other characteristics
The maximum possible speed of the model is 865 km / h, while cruising is 800 km / h. The flight range in the presence of a reserve fuel reserve when loading up to 120 tons is 4800 kilometers, and subject to the availability of cargo weighing up to 40 tons - 12 000 kilometers. The highest flight altitude is 12,000 m. With normal take-off weight to take off, the airliner requires a distance of 2520 meters. The crew, depending on the modification of the vessel, includes from four to six people. The maximum fuel weight is 230 tons.
Fuselage
For the An-124 Ruslan airliner, the fuselage consists of two decks. This is to facilitate repair and maintenance. Each of them is divided into separate, sealed compartments having a specialized purpose. The main and shift crews are located on the upper front deck, and the people who accompany cargo and equipment are in the upper rear compartment (it is designed for 80 people). It should be noted that due to the pressurization system, a pressure drop is ensured inside, not exceeding the mark of 25 kPa. Thanks to this, passengers can be at an altitude of up to 8000 meters without oxygen equipment.
Loading and unloading
The loading and unloading processes in this model are carried out quite quickly. In addition to the rear hatch, the ship has a reclining bow, which allows you to quickly work with non-standard, long and bulky loads. The length without a ramp, the width and height of the cargo compartment are 26.5, 6.4 and 4.4 meters, respectively. Thus, its total volume is more than 1000 cubic meters. Due to the fact that the floor is made of high-strength titanium alloy, it becomes possible to load all types of self-propelled and non-self-propelled equipment on a caterpillar track. The carrying capacity of each of the onboard cranes with which the machine is equipped is 10 tons. In addition, the designers installed electric mobile floor winches in it.
Chassis
An-124 is an aircraft, the chassis of which is equipped with a set of devices that provide the ability to squat. This can significantly reduce the slope of the ramp. Each of the main chassis supports has five two-wheeled racks, which are independent of each other. As for the front support, it consists of two racks (also two wheels in each). Thanks to the presence of a control system for the rotary mechanism, the liner is able to turn around on the runway, the width of which is 50 meters. At the same time, to ensure the full use of the capabilities of the vessel, it must be operated on strips having a concrete coating and a length of at least three kilometers. Be that as it may, it was already noted above that the liner can take off and land under certain conditions on a dirt surface.
Other equipment
The on-board equipment of the An-124 Ruslan aircraft includes: an automated steering wheel control system, a four-channel hydraulic complex, as well as a navigation radar system. In total, there are 34 computers in his control system. One cannot fail to note the high level of life support for the crew and the power supply of the machine. Among the auxiliary devices here are used: automatic communication system TIP-15, navigation sighting system PNPK-124, as well as radio navigation equipment “Omega” and “Laurent”.
Major modifications
One of the first modifications of Ruslan was the An-124-100 airliner. It was built in 1992 in order to ensure the commercial transportation of goods. A little later, a civilian version of this model was born and was certified.
The An-124A model is considered the next stage in the development of the aircraft. It was distinguished by improved takeoff and landing characteristics, which allowed the liner to be used even in second-class strips.
On March 18, 1999, the Russian company Aviastar, together with the British company Air Foil, turned to the Antonov Design Bureau with a proposal to lease the UK another version of the airliner - An-124-200 / 210. In particular, it was proposed to install engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce on the ship. Another modification was to become the An-124-200 with power plants from the American corporation General Electric. In both cases, the practical range should increase by almost 10 percent. In addition, new engines can significantly reduce take-off distance. Both the first and second versions of Ruslan are proposed to be equipped with liquid crystal monitors and modern digital equipment, which will reduce the crew to three people. The result of this decision will be a reduction in the total weight of the equipment and an increase in its reliability. Such characteristics of the An-124 make it possible to surpass its serious competitor (S-17 from the Boeing company) in all key parameters. As for the terms of construction, upon receipt of an order for one of these modifications, it can be completed approximately 2.5 years after the conclusion of the contract.
Exploitation
At the very beginning of 1986, the active use of An-124 Ruslan airliners by Aeroflot began. It was mainly operated on Siberian Airlines, where it satisfied the state's need for transportation of bulky goods for oil and gas exploration. In addition, the ship was actively used for military purposes. For example, they transported the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system during military operations in Afghanistan. In September 1990, Ruslan managed to transport 451 refugees along the Amman – Dhaka route in one flight. Then the liner was additionally equipped with a tank with drinking water of 570 liters and toilet units with the function of chemical regeneration. To accommodate passengers in a horizontal position, the cabin was covered with sponge rubber.
Biggest disaster
Over the entire period of operation with aircraft of this brand, several tragic accidents occurred. The largest of them happened on December 6, 1997 at 14.40, when the An-124 Ruslan airliner crashed near the construction village of Irkutsk-2. The crash resulted in the death of seventeen crew members and six employees of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. In addition to them, death overtook 72 residents of the town. The fact is that after about 25 seconds after take-off, the liner crashed into a four-story apartment building, completely destroying it. During the investigation of the tragedy, "black boxes" were deciphered. The investigation found that the cause of the accident was a shutdown of engines that occurred as a result of a malfunction in the on-board computer.