A year has already passed since the famous An-225 model was destroyed. And while work is being done on his recovery, Antonov, the world’s largest plane, has already begun to fly again, thanks to Microsoft and its simulator. Microsoft Flight Simulator.
On February 27, 2023, new content was made available to X-Box users that allows virtual pilots to take on the challenge of controlling this huge plane, and, at the same time, helping to revive it.
Several classic planes have already been recovered in the virtual sky of the game. But in this case, every penny of the free $19.99 software plug-in goes toward rebuilding efforts so we can see Antonov fly again in real form.
What was the world’s largest aircraft had six engines and was built in the 1980s to transport the Soviet space shuttle. Later, it became the largest cargo carrier, with twice the capacity of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
The massive six-engine craft, some 275 feet 7 inches long, was built in the 1980s to carry the Soviet space shuttle and was the only one of its kind to be completed.
Despite its great utility for cargo flights, one of its problems is precisely its size. Only 35% of the airports have the capacity to receive the aircraft and its operating costs are close to a million dollars per flight.
How is your reconstruction?
At the end of 2022, the manufacturer revealed that it was advancing with the works in a secret place and that the assembly of the plane had already reached -at that time- 30% of the planned works. The new aircraft will be assembled using parts from an unfinished second airframe, as well as parts from the first aircraft and other new components.