The Antonov An 990 is a fascinating case study in how the internet creates and perpetuates aviation myths. While no such plane ever rolled out of a hangar in Kyiv or Ulyanovsk, its legend captures the imagination of those who dream of skies filled with impossibly large machines.
If you ever see a blueprint or photograph claiming to be the "Antonov An 990," treat it as digital folklore. The real heroes of heavy lift are the An-124 (still flying humanitarian missions), the memory of the An-225 Mriya, and the humble An-22.
In summary: The An-990 is not real. But the human wonder that keeps searching for it? That is entirely genuine.
Did you find this article helpful? If you arrived here looking for the "Antonov An 990," you now know the truth. For real heavy aviation data, research the Antonov An-124 Ruslan and the legacy of the An-225 Mriya.
The Antonov An-990 "Juggernaut" is a colossally-sized fictional aircraft created specifically for the X-Plane 11 flight simulator. Designed by flight-sim developer "hangglider," it is imagined as a "Graphene-constructed" ultra-giant capable of performing tasks that are physically impossible for real-world aircraft. Performance Specifications
The An-990 is designed to dwarf even the largest real-world aircraft, such as the Antonov An-225. Feature Specification Max Takeoff Weight 6,000 Tonnes (13.2 million lbs) Wingspan 870 feet (265.2 meters) Powerplant 6× Custom GE-990-480 Turbofans Engine Thrust 480,000 lbf (2135 kN) per engine Cargo/Liquid Capacity 600,000 Gallons (5 million lbs) Operational Guide for Flight Simulators
Operating the "Juggernaut" requires specialized techniques due to its extreme mass and cockpit height. Take-Off Procedures: Set Flaps to 3 or 4. Rotate at 145+ KIAS (knots indicated airspeed).
The aircraft is capable of taking off from water even at its full 6,000-tonne weight. Landing Procedures:
Runway Requirements: Requires at least 10,000 feet of runway with 500 feet of side clearance due to its massive wingspan.
Approach: Maintain a long approach at 165 KIAS with Flaps 3. Touchdown: Aim for 163 KIAS.
Visual Correction: Pilots must account for the extreme cockpit height above the runway to avoid "landing short".
Stopping: Use a combination of regular brakes, speedbrakes, and thrust reversers to stop within standard large-scale runways. Available Variants antonov an 990
The An-990 series for X-Plane includes four specialized versions:
Air-Launcher (Graphene): Designed to carry and launch other aircraft, such as a Boeing 747, mid-flight.
Buran-Launcher: Specialized for carrying and launching the Soviet Buran space shuttle.
Fire-Retardant Bomber: Equipped with a 600,000-gallon tank for massive aerial firefighting.
Water Bomber: Features water-scooping capabilities to refill its tanks from open water.
You can download the An-990 mod and find detailed community discussions on the X-Plane.Org Forums.
The Antonov An-990 "Graphene" is a fictional, fan-made aircraft designed specifically for the X-Plane 11 flight simulator. It is not a real-world plane produced by the actual Antonov Company.
Designed by community member hangglider, the An-990 is modeled as a "Juggernaut" aerial fire-fighter and heavy transport. It gained significant attention through flight simulation content creators like Swiss001, who showcased its "extreme" scale and capabilities. Fictional Specifications
The aircraft is designed with absurdly large dimensions and weights to test the limits of the flight simulator:
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs), which is roughly 10 times the weight of the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya. Wingspan: 870 feet (265.2 meters). Length: 826.8 feet (252 meters).
Engines: Six custom GE-990-480 turbofans, each providing 480,000 lbf of thrust. The Antonov An 990 is a fascinating case
Fire-Fighting Capacity: It can carry 600,000 gallons (2,270 tonnes) of water or fire retardant. Features in X-Plane
The "Graphene" mod includes several unique features for players to experiment with in a simulated environment:
Water-Scooping: Functional "water-scoop" switches for aerial firefighting simulations.
Size Comparison: The plane is so massive that other large aircraft, like a Boeing 747, can be carried on its back or look tiny beside it.
Custom Modding: The file includes specialized FMOD sounds, a VR-Mod for virtual reality pilots, and custom night lighting.
Watch this fictional giant in action as it demonstrates its massive scale and firefighting capabilities in a flight simulator: How HUGE Can Planes Get? - Antonov An 990 YouTube• Jul 10, 2021 AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more How HUGE Can Planes Get? - Antonov An 990
The Antonov An-990 is a purely fictional aircraft created solely as a mod for flight simulation games like X-Plane. No real-world plane has ever been built with these specifications.
The concept behind the An-990 community creation is outlined below: 🎮 The Flight Simulator Concept Role: Massive water bomber. Purpose: Fighting extreme global wildfires. Origin: Custom community mod for X-Plane. Material: Fictionalized "graphene" construction. ⚖️ Mind-Boggling Specifications Max Weight: 6,000 tonnes (13.2 million lbs). Wingspan: 870 feet (265.2 meters). Capacity: 600,000 gallons of fire retardant.
Scale: 3 times larger than the real-world Antonov An-225 Mriya. ✈️ Real-World Context
The actual Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov is famous for building some of the largest real planes in history. However, the An-990 is physically impossible to construct or fly with current modern technology and is strictly intended for simulator amusement.
The Antonov An-990 is a fascinating, albeit phantom, entry in the annals of aviation history. It represents a "what might have been"—a conceptual leap in Soviet heavy-lift cargo design that never quite materialized into flying steel. Did you find this article helpful
Because the An-990 was a project that never progressed past the design/concept stage, a deep text on the subject requires exploring the context of its conception, its intended technological breakthroughs, and the reasons for its cancellation.
Here is a deep dive into the Antonov An-990 project.
During the Cold War, the Antonov Design Bureau (now Antonov ASTC) in Kyiv, Ukraine, did explore concepts beyond the An-225. Declassified documents from the late 1980s reference studies for a "super-heavy transport" to support the Soviet Energia-Buran space program and oversize cargo for Siberian development. However, those concepts were designated An-218 (a wide-body airliner) and An-325 (a modified An-225 with extra engines).
There is no archival evidence of an "An-990." The number "990" does not fit the Soviet GURT indexing system. So where did the myth begin?
The claim: The An-990 is rumored to be a six-engine, double-deck behemoth with a payload of 500+ tons, designed to carry three main battle tanks or a disassembled space shuttle.
The reality: It does not exist. Any online mention of the An-990 likely stems from fan-made CGI, mislabeled models, or forum speculation.
What works (if real):
What doesn’t work:
Verdict: As a real aircraft, the An-990 is a myth. As a concept, it’s an engineer’s fantasy but a logistician’s nightmare. Stick to the proven An-124 – or wait for an actual new Antonov design.
Rating: ⭐⭐ (purely for creative ambition, minus three stars for lacking hardware).
If you meant a different Antonov model (e.g., An-70, An-178, An-225), let me know, and I’ll provide an accurate technical review.