One of the world’s most impressive aircraft touched down in Auckland this afternoon, turning heads among plane spotters across the country.
The Antonov AN-124 Ruslan, a massive Ukrainian-built cargo plane, arrived at Auckland Airport as part of a private freight operation. The airport confirmed the visit, saying large charter cargo aircraft do fly into Auckland occasionally, though the specific details of this particular delivery are being kept private.
The AN-124 is a seriously big machine. It has a wingspan of 73.3 metres, which is about the length of two Olympic swimming pools side by side, and stands 21 metres tall. The aircraft flew in from Hawaii earlier today.
The plane is operated by Antonov Airlines and holds an impressive record: it once lifted a payload of over 171 tonnes to an altitude of 10,750 metres, one of 30 world records set by the aircraft. It is considered the world’s largest aircraft still in production.
There was once an even bigger plane, the Antonov AN-225 Mriya. However, it was destroyed in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, leaving the AN-124 as the reigning giant of the skies.
The NZ Defence Force confirmed it had no involvement in the visit. Auckland Airport said the cargo movement is being managed privately, so what exactly was on board remains a mystery for now.
For plane enthusiasts, a visit from an AN-124 is a pretty rare treat. These aircraft are used to carry oversized or heavy cargo that ordinary freight planes simply cannot handle, from industrial machinery to emergency supplies.
