Comments on: New Build An-124 http://www.an124.com/2010/01/11/new-build-an-124/ All about the Antonov An-124 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:33:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Gilles http://www.an124.com/2010/01/11/new-build-an-124/#comment-28 Gilles Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:45:51 +0000 http://www.an124.com/?p=378#comment-28 This is the picture I meant to post http://russianplanes.net/EN/ID14206 This is the picture I meant to post

http://russianplanes.net/EN/ID14206

]]> By: Bruce http://www.an124.com/2010/01/11/new-build-an-124/#comment-27 Bruce Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:08:22 +0000 http://www.an124.com/?p=378#comment-27 Gilles, Thanks for your input. That looks like a rational interpretation to me. Bruce Gilles,
Thanks for your input. That looks like a rational interpretation to me.

Bruce

]]> By: Gilles http://www.an124.com/2010/01/11/new-build-an-124/#comment-26 Gilles Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:22:26 +0000 http://www.an124.com/?p=378#comment-26 I was reading a couple things this morning and had a different reading than you did in this article. You wrote`: "However, despite military aircraft and those of Rossiya being seen more frequently these days there is no mention of the maybe 40 aircraft that were in military service at the break up of the Soviet Union and subsequently mothballed. These must surely be more cost effective for the military to put back into service." However, here, on the page where VD talks about restarting An-124 production (http://www.volga-dnepr.com/eng/group/projects/reconstruction124/) they say: "The commencement of large-scale Military reorganization beginning 2008 resulted in the intention of the Russian Ministry of Defense to place an order for AN-124 fleet modernization being in operation of the military aviation. The aircraft will be upgraded at Aviastar-SP involving the Volga-Dnepr operational, financial, and intellectual resources. The order size (over 20 machines to be upgraded) will allow to establish a full production line and train a qualified staff for further serial manufacture of new Ruslan aircraft. " My interpretation is not that the Russian Air Force is to order new An-124s but rather that the resumption of new An-124s is dependent on the Russian Air Force providing Aviastar with a contract for upgrading over 20 of its machines, probably to at least An-124-100 standard. Reading some Russian forums http://aviaforum.ru/showthread.php?t=2156&page=9 and looking at pictures like this Dec 2009 one (http://russianplanes.net/EN/IDM14209) it seems that this process has maybe begun. RA-82013 ( http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia---Air/Antonov-An-124-Ruslan/1144252/&sid=078a3f5b7ed9605d2151441a2b027d0c) which had been grounded for years after a hard landing and a runway overrun has recently been overhauled and upgraded Just a theory anyway......... I was reading a couple things this morning and had a different reading than you did in this article.

You wrote`:

"However, despite military aircraft and those of Rossiya being seen more frequently these days there is no mention of the maybe 40 aircraft that were in military service at the break up of the Soviet Union and subsequently mothballed. These must surely be more cost effective for the military to put back into service."

However, here, on the page where VD talks about restarting An-124 production (http://www.volga-dnepr.com/eng/group/projects/reconstruction124/) they say:

"The commencement of large-scale Military reorganization beginning 2008 resulted in the intention of the Russian Ministry of Defense to place an order for AN-124 fleet modernization being in operation of the military aviation. The aircraft will be upgraded at Aviastar-SP involving the Volga-Dnepr operational, financial, and intellectual resources. The order size (over 20 machines to be upgraded) will allow to establish a full production line and train a qualified staff for further serial manufacture of new Ruslan aircraft. "

My interpretation is not that the Russian Air Force is to order new An-124s but rather that the resumption of new An-124s is dependent on the Russian Air Force providing Aviastar with a contract for upgrading over 20 of its machines, probably to at least An-124-100 standard.

Reading some Russian forums http://aviaforum.ru/showthread.php?t=2156&page=9 and looking at pictures like this Dec 2009 one (http://russianplanes.net/EN/IDM14209) it seems that this process has maybe begun. RA-82013 ( http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia—Air/Antonov-An-124-Ruslan/1144252/&sid=078a3f5b7ed9605d2151441a2b027d0c) which had been grounded for years after a hard landing and a runway overrun has recently been overhauled and upgraded

Just a theory anyway………

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