Russia has announced that it is working on the design of a new heavy transport aircraft called the ‘Elephant.’ The aircraft would act as the successor to the Antonov An-124 four-engine cargo plane. The firm behind the works is The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute of Russia (TsAGI).
According to a statement released on July 7, a group of researchers have modified the design and configuration of the proposed aircraft, particularly the fuselage cross-section, in order to increase its capacity for transporting cargo. Authorities hope that the new freighter will boast a maximum cargo load of 180 tons.
What do we know so far?
Russia is keen to get this new aircraft into production and is hoping to have wind tunnel testing of the plane design completed by the end of 2022. The firm has been researching different winglets and how they might affect the aircraft’s performance. TsAGI said:
“Particular attention is paid to removable wingtips of various configurations. By comparing their impact on the lift-to-drag ratio during testing, experts will be able to choose the best option.”
What’s more, the new design will be able to accommodate Russia’s PD-35 turbofan engine, capable of thrust of up to 35 tonnes. UEC-Aviadvigatel is developing the larger engine intended to power widebody aircraft, such as the CR929, by basing its design on the earlier PD-14. A contract was provided by the federal government for the research and development of the engine in 2016.
The researchers explained that:
“The project is dedicated to the research of technologies to develop a promising transport aircraft in order to replace the An-124 Ruslan heavy long-range transport aircraft. This aircraft will be designed to transport heavy and bulky cargo over a distance of about 7,000 kilometers [4,349 miles] at a speed of 850 kph [528.13 mph]”.
The An-124
Designed by the Antonov design bureau in Ukraine when the country was a part of the Soviet Union, the An-124 is a four-engined strategic heavy-lift aircraft built for the Soviet Air Force.
Manufactured between1982 and 2014, the An-124 was the largest cargo aircraft globally but was superseded by the An-225. Flown by a crew consisting of two pilots, two flight engineers, a navigator, and a communications operator, the An-124 has room for 88 passengers on its upper deck and can carry bulky and oversized cargo. Two of Antonov Airlines’ An124s have been modified to carry an even more, impressive 150,000kg (330,693lbs).
The aircraft’s only bigger relative, the An-225, known affectionately as Mriya, was destroyed earlier this year during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The front of the aircraft was badly damaged, while the fuselage forward of the wings was reduced to a burnt-out shell, with the cockpit of the six-engine cargo jet actually having been separated altogether.
Before Russia’s previous 2014 invasion of Ukraine, Russia and Ukraine had been looking at developing their own joint aircraft. However, plans for this were soon abandoned.
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