Rare Antonov An-124 aircraft spotted at Minneapolis airport

On March 7, a large crowd gathered at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to see a rare sight: the Antonov An-124 Ruslan. This is currently the heaviest cargo plane in operation, and it took off for California at 8:10 a.m., after arriving in Minnesota the night before. People were excited about this opportunity, as the An-124 does not often visit the area. The plane is the smaller sibling of the Antonov An-225, which was destroyed in 2022 during the conflict in Ukraine. The An-124 can carry up to 150 tons of cargo and has been in service since the 1980s. The An-124 stands out for its four-engine design and advanced features. It includes a unique "kneeling" mechanism that eases the loading of heavy cargo. Its latest models can carry even more weight and have an extended flight range. The An-124 was developed over many years, with its first flight in December 1982. It is a crucial aircraft for transporting oversized cargo, having set multiple world records for its capabilities. Many people in Minnesota came early on Friday morning to catch a glimpse of this magnificent machine taking off.