Antonov Transport Aircraft Books - History and Models

Antonov's Heavy Transports: From the An-22 to An-225, 1965 to the Present

This book presents the development and service history of the Antonov design bureau's heavy transport aircraft. Work began in the late 1950s with the An-22, designed to carry 50 tons. Powered by four turboprop engines of 15.000 hp each, it was the world's heaviest transport aircraft when it first flew in February 1965.

The An-124, fitted with four turbofan engines, continued this progress. Introduced in 1982, it became the most capable airlifter of its time, with a payload of 120 tons. It proved its value in military and humanitarian missions and later gained recognition as a commercial freighter for heavy and oversized cargo.

The six-engined An-225 "Mriya" was created to carry the Buran space shuttle. Although the Buran program ended, the aircraft served for many years on the exceptional cargo market until it was destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The book contains many new photographs, colour artwork and technical drawings.

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Wings Above the Planet: The History of Antonov Airlines

This book presents the history and activities of Antonov, a Ukrainian company that grew out of the former Soviet Antonov Design Bureau, known for developing large transport aircraft.
Formed in the late 1980s during the unstable post-Soviet period, the company soon concentrated on the international heavy-lift aviation market. Antonov Airlines became the first operator to offer the An-124 Ruslan for commercial use, creating a new sector for transporting oversized and extremely heavy cargo.

Since then, the airline has carried an exceptional range of items, including live animals, military vehicles, locomotives, satellites, generators, pressure vessels, boats and even other aircraft. Many of these loads could not have been transported by air without the capability of the An-124.

The book offers a detailed view of a part of the aviation industry that is rarely highlighted. It follows the company's difficult path from a division of a secret Soviet organisation to a leading operator in a demanding global market.

Richly illustrated, the book also provides information on the design, production and operation of the An-12, An-74, An-124 and the giant An-225 Mriya.

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Antonow An-124 - Russlands riesiges Transportflugzeug Ruslan

The An-124 "Ruslan" forms the backbone of Russia's strategic transport forces, allowing the movement of large military cargo and personnel to any point in the world.

It succeeded the An-22, first introduced twenty years earlier. With its maiden flight in December 1982, the An-124 became the largest aircraft in the world, surpassing the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. In May 1985, the Soviet Union presented the heavy-lift aircraft to the international public at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget.

Development took place at the Antonov design bureau under chief designer Balabujew. The design benefited from both experience with the An-22 and knowledge of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.

In addition to military use, the An-124 excels in charter cargo operations. Tanks and trucks with low-bed trailers can drive directly into the open nose via a flat ramp. The aircraft can also safely land on poorly prepared runways and frozen snow.

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Antonov 22 - Kurs Kiew-Speyer

No aircraft has influenced the development and construction of large transport planes worldwide as much as the Antonov An-22 "Antaeus." Of the seven prototypes built in the 1960s, only two survived the test series.

This book follows the An-22 on its remarkable final flight from Kyiv to Speyer. It describes the design and development of the world's largest propeller-driven cargo aircraft and recounts the adventurous career of the "01-03" as a test and transport plane for the Antonov design bureau.

The book brings to life an important chapter of Soviet and international aviation history, illustrating the technical achievements and challenges faced during the aircraft's operational life. Richly illustrated, it captures both the engineering significance and the human stories behind this iconic transport plane.

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