Petro Balabuyev, top designer of world’s biggest aircraft, dead at age 75
May 17th, 2007
Petro Balabuyev, a lead designer of the world’s largest aircraft, the An-225, died Thursday, the Antonov aviation design bureau said. He was 75. Balabuyev headed the Kyiv-based bureau for almost 20 years, and was the top designer for many aircraft, including the An-225 and the An-124-100.The six-engine An-225, which first flew in 1988, is capable of carrying 250 tonnes of cargo for a distance of about 4,500 kilometres. The An-124-100 has a capacity of about 150 tonnes. Both planes are also noted for their ability to land smoothly at poorly equipped airports.
Comments are closed.