| Keywords | testvluchten oefenvluchten | Caption | KIV03 - 20010507 - KIEV, UKRAINE : Ukrainian Antonov An-225 - the world's largest aircraft and almost the length of a football pitch- sits on the airstrip before its test flight not far from Kiev on Monday 07 May 2001, seven years after it was last used. The An-225 was built as a part of a Soviet aeronautic program and made first flight in 1988. Technicians at Antonov and Motor Sitch have modernized the plane, which is 84 metres (275 feet seven inches) long and has a wingspan of 88,4 metres (290 feet), to enable it to carry a payload of up to 250 tonnes and fly at speeds of up to 850 kilometres per hour (510 miles per hour). EPA PHOTO EPA/SERGEI SUPINSKY |