ALL AIRCRAFT Antonov An-124

Antonov An-124

A massive aircraft designed from the outset for cargo. Features an opening nose and a large rear door for easy loading and unloading. Handles the largest loads of any aircraft.

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ENGINEERED FOR EXTREME HEAVY-LIFT MISSIONS

Go-To Aircraft for Oversized Cargo Transport

The An-124 is one of the largest aircraft in the world and was designed specifically for transporting exceptionally oversized industrial components and equipment to remote or underutilized areas. The aircraft is equipped with a nose that can be tilted up and clear of the cargo area and a nose and tail ramp system to enable roll-on and roll-off loading. Its multi-strut landing gear can kneel to further adjust the height and angle of the fuselage and aid in the smooth loading and unloading of wheeled or tracked vehicles directly from ground level. It also has an internal crane system capable of lifting loads of up to 40,000 pounds and rollers to easily maneuver containerized cargo.

Due to its high-mounted, shoulder wing design, the An-124 can operate from unpaved, gravel, or frozen runways in regions with underdeveloped infrastructure if necessary. The An-124 is a capable aircraft for heavy-lift cargo operations with solid reliability and serviceability under managed conditions.

Choose AirFreight.com and get the right aircraft for your shipment. Let our concierge-level customer service and complete shipment flexibility get your delivery where it needs to be when you need it there.

Exclusive use of aircraft, ensuring no conflicting priorities

24/7/365 service availability for whenever you need transport

Platinum-level service and timing to reduce stress

In-flight tracking for accurate delivery status information

Cargo Capacity & Access

Unlike the 747’s split-deck cargo area, the An-124’s design allows it to carry heavy and oversized air shipments on its single main deck for a combined weight of approximately 264,000 pounds and a combined volume of approximately 36,000 cubic feet.

Nose Door and Rear Cargo Doors: The nose can be tilted up clear of the cargo area and the rear cargo doors can be opened to expose the main deck and ramp systems.

Single Deck: The single main deck can accommodate cargo up to a height of 173 inches, a width of up to 251 inches, and an uninterrupted length of approximately 1,420 inches (118 feet).

Ramp System: The An-124’s internal ramp system can be extended at the front and rear to enable roll-on and roll-off loading.

Internal Crane System: To assist in loading very heavy equipment that is not wheeled or tracked or cannot be transferred by other external means, the aircraft has an internal crane system capable of lifting loads of up to 40,000 pounds and rollers for containerized cargo, allowing rapid and flexible loading and unloading.

Top Down Cutaway

Main Deck

Cargo Cross Section

Width: 251 in
Height: 173 in

Max Payload

Cubic ft: 36,085
Weight: 264,554

Nose Cargo Door

Width: 251 in
Height: 173 in

Range & Routes

The An-124 is a highly specialized aircraft and flies a variety of international routes based on need and the type of cargo being airlifted. It has a non-stop range of approximately 2,300 miles fully loaded, making it ideal for routes throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico, and routes connecting major global markets worldwide.

Airport Requirements

The An-124 is a very large aircraft and requires airports equipped to handle its size and weight. Airports need sufficiently wide and strong runways to support its maximum takeoff weight. Runway pavements must be rated to support nearly 400 tons, including the added weight during takeoff and landing maneuvers.

Taxiway Width: The aircraft’s length of 226 feet and wingspan of 240 feet requires wide taxiways with large available areas to accommodate its turning radius.

Many major cargo hubs in the USA, such as, but not limited to, JFK, Miami, Philadelphia, Dallas/Fort Worth, LAX, Moffett Field, are very familiar with and already accommodate the An-124. Smaller regional airports may face some limitations.

Parking Apron Space: The An-124 requires spacious parking aprons that allow for loading, unloading, and servicing. The need for access to its nose and rear cargo doors also means parking space should not be too close to other obstacles.

Ground Handling: Specialized equipment may be needed to load and unload cargo, including cranes, forklifts, and custom loaders.

Fueling: Refueling may be carried out using high pressure aviation refueling systems or a pantograph fuel hydrant. Fuel capacity is ultimately dependent on the weight of the payload carried by the An-124 but may be approximately 65,000 gallons.

Power and Air Support: The An-124 contains two internal auxiliary power units. Additional ground power units may be needed to back up the internal crane systems.

Runway Requirements

Takeoff Runway Length: For a fully loaded An-124, a minimum runway length of approximately 9,800 feet is required to safely reach takeoff speed. This requirement can vary based on altitude, temperature, and wind conditions. High-altitude airports with elevations over 8,000 feet may require longer runways due to lower air density.

Landing Runway Length: The An-124 requires a normal minimum runway length of 7,800 feet at maximum payload, but a minimum landing distance of 3,000 feet might be achieved if absolutely necessary. 3,000 feet is considered extremely short for an aircraft of this size and weight and is made possible by its powerful thrust reversing engines. Wet, icy, or unpaved runways may increase the minimum landing distance required for safe operation.

Crew

The An-124 is flown with a crew of eight: pilot and co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, electrical flight engineer, radio operator, and two load masters. Additional cargo support personnel may be assigned to the flight by Airfreight.com to monitor the cargo and coordinate seamless end-to-end delivery.

KEY AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS

Length

226 feet

Wingspan

240 feet

Maximum Takeoff Weight

886,000 pounds

Maximum Payload

Approximately 264,000 pounds

Range

2,300 miles with a full payload

Cargo Volume

Approximately 36,000 cubic feet

Cruise Speed

535 miles per hour or Mach 0.69

Engines

Typically equipped with four high-thrust Progress D-18T high-bypass turbofan engines

Ultra-Critical Delivery with the An-124

AirFreight.com can make urgent and time-critical airborne deliveries within the US, Canada, or Mexico. With an in-depth understanding of global cargo routes and air cargo schedules, we explore multiple options to prevent delays and ensure the fastest delivery possible for heavy and oversized air shipments.

The Challenge

Picture yourself in charge of a major oil refinery in Mexico City when a major issue strikes: a critical fault is discovered in one of the massive oil and gas pressure towers, forcing the shutdown of that section of the facility. On further investigation by your team, the affected portion of the tower cannot be repaired—it must be replaced. You know the replacement tower component is only manufactured in Pennsylvania, and you checked to see if at least one has already been manufactured. With every minute of downtime costing thousands of dollars, time is of the essence.

What Sets Us Apart

Because you’ve worked with AirFreight.com before on other time sensitive deliveries, you know you will be assigned a dedicated Expeditor; a single point of contact whose sole focus will be to find the optimal transportation solution, coordinate all aspects of the shipment, and communicate to you on the status of the shipment from end to end.

You tell the Expeditor the location of the tower component and its approximate weight and dimensions: greater than 9 feet in height, 8 feet in width, and 80 feet in length. Based on experience, the Expeditor recognizes this exceeds the cargo access provided by the 747 and that the only other aircraft capable of airlifting the tower component in one piece is the An-124—an aircraft that can accommodate items that are simply too large or heavy for any other aircraft.

A quick check by the Expeditor finds two An-124s on the East Coast offloading other cargo and one can be made available for transporting the cargo if needed. The Expeditor calls the manufacturer and verifies the tower component’s size and weight and other necessary details.

Your Expeditor proposes several options to you, including an exclusive air charter so you would have complete possession of the aircraft and in-flight tracking of the shipment from start to finish. Because you are operating under an ultra-critical delivery deadline, you authorize the exclusive air charter of the An-124.

The Expeditor also arranges ground transportation using heavy-duty tractor trailers to transport the tower component from the manufacturer’s facility to the airport in Philadelphia, and then from the airport in Mexico City to the refinery.