Antonov An 990 Jun 2026

The sheer size of the An-990 dwarfts existing aerospace achievements. An-225 Mriya (Real-world) An-990 Graphene (Concept) 88.4 m (290 ft) ~ 265 m (870 ft) Engines 6 (Lotarev D-18T) 6 (GE-990-480) Max Payload ~ 250 Tonnes 2270 Tonnes (9x the An-225)

According to aviation lore, the An-990 performed high-speed taxi tests in 1983. The propfan engines, however, proved problematic. The acoustic resonance generated by the experimental blades caused severe structural vibration, threatening to tear the airframe apart.

The An-990 is not real. But the human wonder that keeps searching for it? That is entirely genuine.

Much like the An-225, the An-990 would likely have required six high-bypass turbofan engines. However, the proposal suggested using updated, more fuel-efficient engines (potentially modernized Progress D-18T variants or newer Western equivalents) to increase range and reduce operating costs. antonov an 990

It features a "BURAN-Launcher" version to launch the Buran space shuttle as a missile and includes water-scooping features for firefighting. X-Plane.Org Forum Flight Simulation Context The An-990 is a popular custom design in the X-Plane forum

Here is a quick comparison of the two giants:

The is a colossally-sized fictional aircraft created specifically for the X-Plane 11 flight simulator. Designed by flight-sim developer "hangglider," it is imagined as a "Graphene-constructed" ultra-giant capable of performing tasks that are physically impossible for real-world aircraft. Performance Specifications The sheer size of the An-990 dwarfts existing

The digital physics and scale of the Antonov An-990 dwarf any aircraft that has ever actually flown in the real world. To comprehend just how large this simulation aircraft is, it helps to look at the raw numbers provided on its X-Plane.org download page:

The history of heavy aviation is defined by a quest for scale, from the Antonov An-124 to the legendary An-225 Mriya. However, in the digital realm of advanced simulation, the boundaries of engineering are pushed even further. The , sometimes referred to as the "Juggernaut," stands as a conceptual marvel, a six-engine behemoth designed to redefine payload capacities, firefighting capability, and overall aerial scale.

The An-990 myth often simply doubles the An-225’s stats, claiming a 1,200-ton MTOW. But physics prevents this: runways would crumble, tires would burst, and no engine exists that could lift such a mass. The acoustic resonance generated by the experimental blades

Due to its massive interior cargo deck, players use the An-990 to transport other large aircraft. Pilots can load a space shuttle or a heavy airliner inside, fly to cruising altitude, and deploy them directly from the air. Why Can't It Be Built in Real Life?

One of the hallmarks of Antonov aircraft is their ability to land on semi-prepared or dirt runways. The An-990 design featured a complex, multi-wheel landing gear system to distribute its immense weight, theoretically allowing it to operate from airfields that would normally be off-limits to such a large plane. The Role of the An-990 in Modern Logistics

The is a famous, fictional ultra-heavy concept aircraft originally created as a custom flight simulator modification for platforms like X-Plane . Modeled loosely after the engineering legacy of the real-world Antonov Company , this digital megastructure represents a radical, imaginary expansion of aviation technology.

Some mod variants feature experimental configurations, including high-power vertical takeoff capabilities to help lift its massive simulated weight into the air without needing a three-mile runway. Why the An-990 Cannot Be Built in Real Life