Antonov An-124 Ruslan Returns UK Military Helicopters

While Russia was delivering helicopters into Chad, an An-124-100 Ruslan of Antonov Design Bureau was operating the same day into Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) near Darlington in the UK.

Antonov Airlines An-124-100 at Durham Tees Airport

Civil, commercial airplane or not the An124-100 was carrying a load of three Army Lynx helicopters arriving from Athens, Greece, with its cargo believed to be destined for a nearby airbase.

The various military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan have provided a steady stream of work for the An-124 aircraft of all the commercial charter operators for more than a decade now either in support of the military or for humanitarian work arising as a consequence both of military activities and natural disasters.

A spokesman for DTVA said: "Some people were surprised to see it – its one of the biggest in the world.  "But this is a great example of what Durham Tees Valley can handle.  Although we are a small regional airport, this demonstrates perfectly the airports capabilities."

The An-124 Ruslan aircraft left the airport the same afternoon demonstrating the flexibility of use of these ramp loading aircraft.