Garth Calitz
- Sep 25, 2019
- 5 min
Antonov AN-225 Mriya – Rebirth of a Giant
The Antonov AN-225 Mriya, codenamed "Cossack" by NATO, is a super heavy strategic airlift cargo aircraft. Designed and built by then Soviet Union, Antonov State Company in the 1980's, she is powered by six turbofan engines. The AN-225 is the world's longest and heaviest airplane ever to take to the air. This incredible piece of engineering has a maximum take-off weight of around 710 tons and has the largest wingspan of any aircraft currently in active service, the only aircra
1,002 views
Garth Calitz
- Sep 11, 2019
- 9 min
Lydia Litvyak – First Female Fighter Ace
Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak, affectionately known as Lilya, was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II. Historians estimates for her total victories range from five to twelve solo victories and two to four shared kills in her 66 combat sorties. In about two years of operations, she was the first female fighter pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft, the first of two female fighter pilots who have earned the title of fighter ace and the holder of the record
1,215 views
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