Antonov An 990 〈HIGH-QUALITY | 2025〉

If you are searching for the true spiritual successor to the Antonov heavy-lifters, look away from the fictional An-990 and toward three real projects:

By the early 1980s, a static test airframe was reportedly assembled in a remote facility outside of Kyiv. Witnesses from the era have hinted at a distinct, menacing silhouette on the tarmac—wider and flatter than the Ruslan.

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.

Following the destruction of the Mriya, China reportedly expressed interest in re-manufacturing the An-225 using leftover blueprints. This aircraft, tentatively called the CH-225, would not be an An-990 but effectively an "An-225M." As of 2025, this project remains in limbo due to engine sanctions.

The Antonov An-990 is a beautiful lie—a testament to our collective desire to see humanity push the boundaries of flight. It represents the "what if" of Soviet engineering: What if the USSR had not collapsed? What if the Buran space program had continued? What if weight and drag were merely suggestions?

The reality is that Antonov built exactly one An-225, the greatest aircraft to ever fly. It did so not with ten engines, but with six. It did so not with a 130-meter wingspan, but with 88.4 meters of pure Ukrainian titanium genius.

For now, the An-990 remains a phantom on Wikipedia edit histories and a dream in flight simulator mods. The next time you see a clickbait article claiming "Russia revives the An-990 Super-Cossack," remember: The biggest bird that ever roared is gone. And no ghost in the numbering system can replace it.

Rest in peace, Mriya (An-225). And rest in peace, the fictional An-990—born of keyword algorithms, not of Antonov.

Further Reading:

Correction Note: Some sources confuse the "An-990" with the An-70-900 proposal (a stretched military transport with 8 propfans). That project was real but never left the CAD stage. However, the "An-70-900" is frequently misread as "An-990" in poor photocopies of Russian industry magazines from 1998. This is likely the true origin of the myth.

The Antonov An-990 is not a real-world aircraft, but a prominent fictional "ultra-heavy" aircraft design popularized within flight simulation communities, specifically X-Plane 11.

In these simulations, it is depicted as a "Juggernaut" that far exceeds the capabilities of any existing aircraft, designed primarily for extreme missions like global wildfire suppression and air-launching space shuttles. Overview of the Fictional An-990

Created as a custom design for enthusiasts, the An-990 represents the absolute limit of theoretical aeronautics. It is often described as part of a series of massive concepts including the An-725 "Monster" and An-900 "Ultra-Heavy Giant".

Design Intent: In simulation lore, the An-990 "Graphene" is primarily a high-capacity Air Tanker meant to fight massive wildfires in California, Canada, and Australia.

Mission Variants: The design typically includes four versions:

Air-Launcher: Capable of carrying and launching other aircraft in-flight, such as a Boeing 747.

Buran-Launcher: Designed to launch the Soviet Buran space shuttle as a missile.

Fire-Retardant Bomber: Equipped to drop massive amounts of fire retardant.

Water Bomber: Features "water-scooping" capabilities to refill its tanks while skimming across lakes or oceans. Theoretical Specifications

The An-990's simulated stats are designed to be "earth-shattering," making it several times larger than the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya. Simulated Specification Real-World Comparison (An-225) Max Takeoff Weight 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs) 640 tonnes Wingspan 870 feet (265.2 metres) Powerplant 6x custom GE-990-480 engines 6x Progress D-18T turbofans Payload Capacity 600,000 gallons of retardant ~60,000 gallons equivalent Comparison with Real Aircraft

While the An-990 is a "dream" aircraft for sim pilots, the Antonov An-225 Mriya remains the heaviest aircraft ever actually built and flown. The An-225 was uniquely capable of carrying 250 tonnes of cargo and was famously used to transport the Buran space shuttle. Tragically, the world's only completed An-225 was destroyed during the Battle of Antonov Airport in 2022.

The name "990" is sometimes confused with the Convair 990 Coronado, a real-world American jet airliner from the early 1960s known for its high speed but limited commercial success.

The Antonov An-990 is not a real-world aircraft; it is a fictional, colossal "super-plane" created as a mod for the flight simulator

Designed by a community creator often known as "hangglider," it is depicted as a "Graphene" air tanker and "Buran-Launcher" with physics-defying specifications intended to push the limits of the simulation. X-Plane.Org Forum Fictional Specifications & Features

In the simulation, the An-990 is presented as the largest aircraft ever "built," dwarfing the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya

6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs), which is roughly 120 times the weight of a Boeing 737-100.

870 feet (265.2 meters)—roughly three times the wingspan of the real An-225.

Primarily a "Juggernaut" water bomber designed to fight massive wildfires, capable of carrying 600,000 gallons of fire retardant. Capabilities:

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

for users who enjoy flying experimental or "impossible" aircraft. X-Plane.Org Forum Performance:

Despite its size, it is designed to operate out of regular 10,000-foot runways like KBFI (Boeing Field), though it requires massive side clearances of 500 feet. VR Support: Recent versions of the mod include FMOD sound and VR compatibility download links for this mod, or would you like to know more about the real-world Antonov aircraft it was inspired by? antonov an 990

The Antonov An-990 "Graphene" is a fictional, fan-made aircraft designed specifically for the X-Plane 11 flight simulator. It is not a real-world plane produced by the actual Antonov Company.

Designed by community member hangglider, the An-990 is modeled as a "Juggernaut" aerial fire-fighter and heavy transport. It gained significant attention through flight simulation content creators like Swiss001, who showcased its "extreme" scale and capabilities. Fictional Specifications

The aircraft is designed with absurdly large dimensions and weights to test the limits of the flight simulator:

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs), which is roughly 10 times the weight of the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya. Wingspan: 870 feet (265.2 meters). Length: 826.8 feet (252 meters).

Engines: Six custom GE-990-480 turbofans, each providing 480,000 lbf of thrust.

Fire-Fighting Capacity: It can carry 600,000 gallons (2,270 tonnes) of water or fire retardant. Features in X-Plane

The "Graphene" mod includes several unique features for players to experiment with in a simulated environment:

Water-Scooping: Functional "water-scoop" switches for aerial firefighting simulations.

Size Comparison: The plane is so massive that other large aircraft, like a Boeing 747, can be carried on its back or look tiny beside it.

Custom Modding: The file includes specialized FMOD sounds, a VR-Mod for virtual reality pilots, and custom night lighting.

Watch this fictional giant in action as it demonstrates its massive scale and firefighting capabilities in a flight simulator: How HUGE Can Planes Get? - Antonov An 990 YouTube• Jul 10, 2021 AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more How HUGE Can Planes Get? - Antonov An 990

The Antonov An-990 "Juggernaut" is a fictional, ultra-heavy aircraft designed exclusively for flight simulation environments like X-Plane. While it does not exist in the real world, it represents an extreme conceptual evolution of heavy-lift aviation, dwarfing even the legendary (and real) Antonov An-225 Mriya. The "Juggernaut" Series: Variants

The An-990 is typically presented as a "Graphene" series of four specialized versions, each designed for high-intensity simulation challenges:

Air-Launcher: Capable of carrying and mid-air launching entire aircraft, such as a Boeing 747-400.

Buran-Launcher: Designed to launch the Buran Space Shuttle as a missile, featuring a 12-minute controlled flight mode.

Fire-Retardant Bomber: A specialized tanker variant carrying up to 600,000 gallons of fire retardant to combat massive wildfires.

Water Bomber: Features a "water-scooping" mechanism to refill its 600,000-gallon tanks during flight. Theoretical Performance Specifications

In the simulation, the An-990 operates at a scale far beyond any current real-world engineering capability: Max Weight: 13.2 million lbs (6,000 tonnes).

Propulsion: Six custom GE-990-480 turbofan engines, each producing 480,000 lbf of thrust.

Take-Off Speed: Rotates at approximately 145+ knots (KIAS) with Flaps 3 or 4.

Cruising Altitude: Reaches a ceiling of 32,100 ft even at maximum load.

Defensive Systems: Equipped with flares and chaff for self-defense simulations. Simulation vs. Reality

It is important to note that the An-990 is not a real-world aircraft. While Antonov is a real manufacturer known for massive planes like the An-124 and the late An-225, the An-990 is a "what-if" project created by the flight sim community (notably developers like hangglider and MGouge) to test the limits of physics engines.

In real aviation history, the largest aircraft produced by Antonov was the An-225 Mriya, which had a maximum takeoff weight of about 640 tonnes—roughly one-tenth the weight of the fictional An-990.

The Antonov An-990 represents one of the most intriguing "what-ifs" in the world of strategic airlift. While the name often surfaces in aviation forums and speculative defense blogs, it is not a flight-ready aircraft sitting in a hangar. Instead, the An-990 is a conceptual evolution—a "paper plane" designed to push the boundaries of what the legendary Antonov Design Bureau could achieve by building upon the foundations of the An-124 Ruslan and the An-225 Mriya.

Here is a deep dive into the design philosophy, the projected capabilities, and the legacy of this theoretical titan. The Vision: Beyond the Mriya

To understand the An-990, one must look at its predecessors. The Antonov An-225 Mriya was designed specifically to carry the Soviet Buran space shuttle. While it was the heaviest aircraft ever built, its design was specialized.

The An-990 concept emerged as a proposal for a next-generation "super-heavy" airlifter that would move away from the specialized role of the Mriya and toward a more versatile, mass-producible (relatively speaking) strategic transport. It was envisioned as the ultimate solution for global logistics, capable of carrying payloads that no other aircraft—including the C-5 Galaxy or the An-124—could manage. Projected Specifications and Design

While technical data remains speculative, the An-990 was generally conceptualized with the following features:

Massive Payload Capacity: If the An-124 can carry 150 tons and the An-225 can carry 250 tons, the An-990 was rumored to target a payload capacity exceeding 300 metric tons. This would allow for the transport of entire military battalions or massive industrial turbines in a single lift. If you are searching for the true spiritual

Six-Engine Configuration: 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.

Advanced Avionics: Unlike the analog-heavy cockpits of the Cold War era, the An-990 was imagined with a full glass cockpit, fly-by-wire systems, and automated cargo handling systems to reduce the crew requirement.

Landing Gear Versatility: 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

In a world of "just-in-time" delivery, the An-990 would have occupied a unique niche. Its primary applications would have included:

Humanitarian Aid: Delivering mobile hospitals, water purification plants, and tons of food to disaster zones in a single trip.

Space Exploration: Transporting rocket stages and heavy satellite components from manufacturing centers to launch pads.

Military Logistics: Rapid deployment of heavy armored vehicles and mobile bridge systems across continents without the need for disassembly. Why wasn’t it built?

The primary hurdle for the An-990 was never engineering—Antonov has proven they can build giants. The obstacles were economics and geopolitics.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the funding for "prestige projects" evaporated. The existing fleet of An-124s was sufficient for the global market's needs, and the single completed An-225 was rarely booked to its full capacity. Building an even larger, more expensive aircraft like the An-990 simply didn't make financial sense in a market where smaller, more efficient twin-engine jets were becoming the standard.

Furthermore, the ongoing conflict and political instability in Ukraine (the home of Antonov) have shifted the company's focus toward maintaining their current fleet and developing smaller, more marketable tactical lifters like the An-178. The Legacy of the Giant

Today, the "Antonov An-990" exists primarily in digital renders and the imaginations of aviation enthusiasts. It serves as a symbol of the peak of Soviet-era aero-engineering ambition. While we may never see an An-990 take to the skies, its design principles continue to influence how engineers think about "super-heavy" transport and the limits of aerodynamics.

As long as there are massive loads to be moved across the planet, the dream of the An-990—the ultimate sky giant—will continue to fascinate the world of aviation.

The Antonov An-990 is a purely fictional aircraft created solely as a mod for flight simulation games like X-Plane. No real-world plane has ever been built with these specifications.

The concept behind the An-990 community creation is outlined below: 🎮 The Flight Simulator Concept Role: Massive water bomber. Purpose: Fighting extreme global wildfires. Origin: Custom community mod for X-Plane. Material: Fictionalized "graphene" construction. ⚖️ Mind-Boggling Specifications Max Weight: 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs). Wingspan: 870 feet (265.2 meters). Capacity: 600,000 gallons of fire retardant.

Scale: 3 times larger than the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya. ✈️ Real-World Context

The actual Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov is famous for building some of the largest real planes in history. However, the An-990 is physically impossible to construct or fly with current modern technology and is strictly intended for simulator amusement.

Antonov An-990 , often nicknamed the "Juggernaut" "Graphene,"

is a fictional ultra-heavy transport aircraft created for the

flight simulation community. It is not a real-world production aircraft from the Antonov Company

but rather a digital creation designed to push the boundaries of what is possible in a flight simulator. Key Specifications & Capabilities

Developed by the user "hangglider," the An-990 is celebrated as one of the largest aircraft ever modeled for Massive Scale : It features a wingspan of (265.2 meters), which is roughly three times that of the Antonov An-225 Mriya : At a maximum takeoff weight of 6,000 tonnes

(13.2 million lbs), it is approximately 120 times heavier than a standard Boeing 737-100 Powerplant

: It is powered by six custom GE-990-480 turbofan engines, each producing roughly 480,000 lbf of thrust. Water Operations

: Despite its size, all versions are capable of taking off and landing on water. Variants of the "Juggernaut" Series

The aircraft is typically available in four specialized versions designed for different simulation missions: Air-Launcher : Designed to carry and launch other aircraft, such as a Boeing 747-400 , while in flight. Buran-Launcher : Equipped to launch the Buran Space Shuttle like a missile. Fire-Retardant Bomber : A firefighting variant capable of carrying 600,000 gallons of retardant to combat massive wildfires. Water Bomber

: Features a "water-scooping" facility to refill its tanks during low-level flight over water bodies. Flight Simulation Visuals

The following images showcase the colossal scale of the An-990 within flight simulators, often compared against other famous aircraft for size reference.

The Antonov An-990 is a fictional, "super-sized" aircraft mod for flight simulators designed with exaggerated, non-existent specifications. Conceived as a massive, graphene-constructed "Air Tanker," the virtual aircraft features a 870-foot wingspan and a 6,000-tonne weight capacity. For more details, visit X-Plane.org Forums. How HUGE Can Planes Get? - Antonov An 990

The Antonov An-990 is a legendary, massive aircraft that holds the title of the largest plane ever created within flight simulation history. While the real-world Antonov company is famous for engineering colossal real-world cargo lifters like the Antonov An-225 Mriya and the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the An-990 "Juggernaut" is a strictly fictional, community-created behemoth designed for the X-Plane flight simulator platform. ✈️ What is the Antonov An-990?

The Antonov An-990 is a freeware mod created by a flight simulation developer known as hangglider on the X-Plane.org Forums. It was built to test the extreme boundaries of physics, weight, and scale within a flight simulator. Further Reading:

The developer envisioned this fictional aircraft as a futuristic, graphene-constructed monster designed primarily for extreme aerial firefighting and heavy payload drops across global wildfire sites. 📊 Mind-Boggling Specifications

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:

Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs), which is roughly 120 times heavier than a classic Boeing 737-100.

Wingspan: 870 feet (265.2 meters). This is three times the wingspan of the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya.

Powerplants: Six custom GE-990-480 turbofan engines, each generating a massive 480,000 pounds of thrust.

Onboard Capacity: Can carry up to 600,000 gallons of water or fire retardant. 🛠️ The Four Variants of the An-990

The creator of the mod developed four distinct variations of the An-990 "Juggernaut" to give flight simulator pilots different heavy-lift challenges:

The "Air-Launcher": Designed to carry an entire Boeing 747-400 on its back, launch it mid-flight, and follow it.

The "Buran-Launcher": Pays homage to real Antonov history by carrying a Soviet Buran Space Shuttle and launching it like a massive missile.

The "Fire-Retardant Bomber": Outfitted with massive retardant tanks to combat simulated forest fires.

The "Water Bomber": Features functional water-scooping physics allowing the pilot to refill the massive 600,000-gallon tank by skimming across a body of water. 🕹️ Flying the Beast in X-Plane

Because the plane pushes simulator engines to their absolute limit, flying the An-990 is an exercise in extreme patience and planning. Creators and simulator pilots frequently post massive takeoff and landing videos of the aircraft on platforms like YouTube.

Navigating the plane requires several unique considerations:

Runway Clearances: Pilots must find massive runways with over 500 feet of side clearance to account for the immense wingspan.

Cockpit Height: The flight deck sits so high off the ground that pilots frequently misjudge their altitude and land short of the runway.

Hardware Demand: The sheer physical size and complex model of the plane are known to cause extreme frame rate (FPS) drops on average computers.

While you will never see this aircraft gracing the skies at a real-world airshow, the Antonov An-990 stands as a fascinating testament to the creativity of the flight simulation community.

Beyond the "An-990": The Mythical Future of the World’s Largest Cargo Planes

Have you seen the stunning videos circulating of the "Antonov An-990" taking off in Microsoft Flight Simulator? The graphics are breathtaking, showing a colossal aircraft dominating the runway. But for aviation enthusiasts, this raises a burning question: Does the Antonov An-990 actually exist?

Let’s clear up the myths, look at the reality of Antonov's legendary fleet in 2026, and discuss the future of heavy airlift. The Truth About the "An-990" As of April 2026, there is no real-world Antonov An-990.

The images and videos you likely saw are hyper-realistic mods for flight simulators. While it’s exciting to imagine a successor to the legendary An-225, the An-990 is a fictional concept designed by passionate creators to simulate the ultimate cargo experience. Remembering the True King: An-225 Mriya While the An-990 is virtual, the Antonov An-225 Mriya

("Dream") was very real. It was the largest and most powerful cargo plane ever built, with a wingspan of 88 meters and six engines.

Sadly, the one-of-a-kind Mriya was destroyed during the initial days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Will a New "Dream" Rise?

The dream of heavy lift is not dead. In late 2022, Antonov confirmed plans to rebuild the An-225, with estimated costs topping $500 million. While its return is a long-term goal, Antonov currently focuses on its fleet of An-124 Ruslan

transport planes, which have played a crucial role in delivering massive cargo worldwide. The Future of Cargo Giants

The fascination with the "An-990" proves the world still needs giant cargo planes. As we move closer to 2030, new designs like the WindRunner are designed to carry massive, clean-energy components.

The spirit of the Mriya lives on in simulators, and perhaps one day, in a new generation of real-world aircraft that will push the boundaries of what can fly.

Enjoyed this article? Let us know in the comments: Would you prefer to see the An-225 rebuilt, or focus entirely on new, futuristic designs?

The Antonov design bureau’s numbering typically follows the An-2, An-24, An-124, An-225 sequence. The largest operational Antonov is the An-225 Mriya (only one unit, destroyed in 2022). The next in line, the An-124 Ruslan, remains in service. There is no credible project or prototype labeled An-990.

If this was a hypothetical or satirical request, here is a mock review of a “Antonov An-990” as an imagined ultra-heavy transport: