Often referred to in speculative circles as the "Ghost of the USSR," the An-990 represents one of the great "what-ifs" of aerospace engineering—a project that promised to revolutionize transport before vanishing into the fog of history.
It can carry 600,000 gallons (2,270 tonnes) of water or fire retardant. Features in X-Plane
No hangar on earth can house a plane with a 265-meter wingspan. Airport taxiways would crack under a 6,000-ton load. antonov an 990
To understand the community's fascination with creating the An-990, one must look at the real aircraft that inspired it:
No current real-world carbon fiber or aluminum alloy can support a wing of that length without it snapping from structural stress during turbulence. Often referred to in speculative circles as the
, it is not a real-world project but rather a conceptual "Juggernaut" designed to push the boundaries of virtual aviation. The "Graphene Juggernaut": A Digital Titan
While details remain scarce and often shrouded in the secrecy of the Cold War’s twilight years, the An-990 is generally understood to have been a design study for a next-generation, ultra-heavy cargo transport, intended to succeed or supplement the An-124. Airport taxiways would crack under a 6,000-ton load
If you meant a different aircraft, please clarify. If you'd like a review of the (the closest real equivalent), let me know, and I'll provide a detailed overview of its design, history, and capabilities.
While you will never see this aircraft gracing the skies at a real-world airshow, the Antonov An-990 stands as a fascinating testament to the creativity of the flight simulation community.