You don't get much bigger?

Jetset · Post by **Jetset** » 08 Oct 2006, 18:56

A career in flight dispatch can be an interesting one! In my time I have dispatched almost all of the Boeing and Airbus family, with the odd Fokker, Dash and DC thrown in for good measure. But Thursday so far has been the pinnacle of my career, when I dispatched this........

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1122037/M/

I have never seen such an immense aircraft!

Plus, look at the video of it taking off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyJHtFKEOp0

Enjoy, I certainly did!

Buggyman · Post by **Buggyman** » 08 Oct 2006, 19:44

Brilliant!

I remember seeing its younger sister, the An 224, calling in to RAF Leeming for the first time. I was amazed at the size of the aircraft and the amount of equipment it swallowed up - it was the build up to NATO going into Kosovo. The take off was even more impressive, it was airborn well within 3/4 of the runway and relatively quiet too.

We saw quite a few visits thereafter until the C-17 began taking the heavier cargo.

I can still smell th eunburn avtur..............

Thanks Jetset

Allan

Post by **Garry Russell** » 08 Oct 2006, 19:48

I saw it a Paris in 1989 with the shuttle on top

But it was just static

Thanks for the LInks Jetty

Garry

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 08 Oct 2006, 20:13

They have some good engineers in these CIS places (Antonov is strictly Ukrainian rather than Russian). I think its sad that no one buys their planes anymore because the western operators only trust the likes of Boeing, Airbus, Bombarider and Embraer and of course the former east-bloc airlines have been using the opportunity to buy western equipment. Theres a few promising designs in development by these companies but what if any takeup there will be I dont know :sad:

Mr Putin has from this February initiated what our government did in 1960 - to merge all the airrcaft manufacturers into one. What will come of this is unclear but apparently theres rumours that Russia (via a state controlled bank) wants to buy into EADS. The French and even the Germans are apparently not that averse to this idea. Although that leaves us in a fix as BAE and QinetiQ are looking to strengthen their position in the US whilst still staying in the European loop and of course the Americans arent going to want to work with companies who also work with the Russians, even in this post-cold-war time :think:

More on topic... well done Jetty, I have texted Neil to mention your involvement to him. He told me about seeing the -225 on the day!

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 08 Oct 2006, 20:45

I went to see it land at the viewing park, allthough I spent most of my time there nosing around ZK

Chris558 · Post by **Chris558** » 08 Oct 2006, 20:49

Good footage. What was it bringing in to Manchester?

I'd love to see this come into Brize, or display at Fairford!

Brian Franklin · Post by **Brian Franklin** » 08 Oct 2006, 20:54

Thanks for that shot, I had picked up a friend of mine from Manchester airport on the morning of the 3rd October and was sure I'd seen that out of the corner of my eye as I drove out of the terminal 1 car park. Nice to know I wasn't seeing things.

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 08 Oct 2006, 22:43

OMFG. I missed it. I really don't know what to say.... :crying:

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 08 Oct 2006, 22:43

I think it was picking up kit for a band or something?

jab · Post by **jab** » 08 Oct 2006, 23:14

Hi all it was in MAN Bring something in for a sick BMI A330 which has Serious failure in MLG pintle bearing casting and it could be out for some 6 weeks :-({|=

James