The six-engine AN-225 Mriya, the world's largest and heaviest aircraft, has remained an absolute one-of-a-kind to this day. Built in 1988 during Soviet times, it was supposed to become a test platform for the Buran soace glider, an orbiter similar in concept to the American space shuttle, As is well known, nothing came of it, and after the collapse of the USSR, the entire program was discontinued in 1994.

It was not until 2001 that its second maiden flight was ordered by the now Ukrainian manufacturer, this time as a super freighter for extremely heavy loads.