Antinov 124-100M
Base Ohakea, Manawatu
The Antonov An-124 Ruslan (NATO reporting name "Condor") is a strategic airlift aircraft designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. When it entered service in 1986, the An-124 was the world's largest production cargo aircraft, a distinction it held until the appearance of its larger sibling, the An-225 Mriya. The An-124 is powered by four Progress D-18T turbofan engines and features a maximum payload capacity of 150 tons, with a cargo hold measuring 36 meters long, 6.4 meters wide, and 4.4 meters high. The aircraft's distinctive design includes nose and tail cargo doors that allow drive-through loading and unloading, a fully pressurized cargo compartment, an onboard overhead crane system, and the ability to kneel its landing gear to facilitate loading operations. Its strategic airlift capability made it invaluable for military operations, oversized cargo transport, and humanitarian missions worldwide.
“The aircraft’s distinctive design includes nose and tail cargo doors that allow drive-through loading and unloading, a fully pressurized cargo compartment, an onboard overhead crane system, and the ability to kneel its landing gear to facilitate loading operations. Its strategic airlift capability made it invaluable for military operations, oversized cargo transport, and humanitarian missions worldwide.”
The An-124-100M designation refers to a modernized variant of the original An-124, incorporating upgraded avionics, glass cockpit displays, improved navigation systems meeting Western certification standards, and enhanced engine management systems. These upgrades allow the aircraft to operate more freely in international airspace and meet contemporary air traffic control requirements. The An-124-100M has been operated both by military forces (particularly the Russian Air Force) and civilian cargo operators such as Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov Airlines, which have used the type for commercial heavy-lift operations including transporting aircraft engines, industrial equipment, humanitarian aid, and even other aircraft. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and international sanctions have significantly impacted An-124 operations, as Antonov's production facilities are in Ukraine while many aircraft are operated by Russian entities. Despite geopolitical complications, the An-124 remains one of the few aircraft capable of transporting extremely oversized and heavy cargo that cannot be accommodated by standard strategic airlifters like the C-17 or C-5, making it irreplaceable for certain specialized missions. Approximately 55 An-124s were built, with around 35-40 remaining operational as of recent years.
