If you're an aviation geek, chances are you're reading this from Shannon Airport's runway right now.

The Antonov-AN225, the world's largest aircraft is currently sitting on the only runway in Ireland big enough to accommodate it.

How big is the Antonov, you might ask?

BIG ENOUGH TO FIT A LOCOMOTIVE INTO IT.

Yes, that's an Irish Rail locomotive being brought into Ireland via the Antonov AN-225.

The massive aircraft, which is capable of taking SIX-HUNDRED-AND-FORTY TONNES, is currently sitting on Shannon Airport's runway and, by all accounts so far, is a sight to behold.

The AN-225 was originally designed to ferry a space shuttle around the place because, y'know, that makes perfect sense.

It's understood the AN-225 is in Ireland with gas and oil equipment and is headed onward from Shannon to somewhere in France. The aircraft currently acts as a heavy cargo plane and, in some cases, is the only bidder for certain contracts to lift.

So how much would it cost to fly something in the AN-225?

To fly a chimney duct from Denmark to Kazakhstan would set you back €220,000. Of course, if you're sending a chimney duct to Kazakhstan for no reason, chances are that kind of money's nothing to you.

 

 

Thanks to Sean Curtin, we've got a better look at the AN-225 on the runway. He sent these into us and, we've gotta say, it's look even bigger than we could have imagined.