Ukrainian heavy transport airplane made its first flight on December 21, 1988 (breaking 106 world records). Mriya found its place on the pages of the Guinness book of records as the transport vehicle with the longest list of aviation records. According to the Antonov’s plant press-service International Aviation Federation (FAI) has registered 6 world records set up by this airplane on June 16, 18 and 19, 2004. Thus, the total number of records fixed by the plane make 240. The representatives of the Antonov press service informed that 240 world records demonstrated by An-225 (with max cargo weight of 640860 kg on its board) had opened the way for Mriya to the Guinness book of records.
It is until now the largest working plane in the world, there is only one specimen of it and it is used by Antonov Airline for exceptional transport missions (An-225 at Gostomel airport). Mriya now has the Ukrainian flag painted on its drift and is recorded under the name UR-82060. Moreover, it has undergoes some modifications such as the addition of new safety systems, navigation and communication. According to the manufacturer the fuselage was reinforced which allowed increasing the maximum gross weight to 640 tonnes (1,410,000 lb). Lastly, it was equipped with a new cockpit and a new passengers cabin.
After being modified for heavy cargo transport An-225 was placed back in service under the management of Antonov Airlines. On 23 May 2001, the An-225 received its type certificate from the Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register (IAC AR). The type's first flight in commercial service departed from Stuttgart, Germany on 3 January 2002, and flew to Thumrait, Oman with 216,000 prepared meals for American military personnel based in the region. This vast number of ready meals was transported on some 375 pallets and weighed 187.5 tons. Beginning in June 2003, the An-225, along with An-124s, delivered over 800 tons of equipment to aid humanitarian efforts in Iraq. The An-225 has also been contracted by the Canadian and U.S. governments to transport military supplies to the Middle East in support of Coalition forces. On 11 August 2009, the heaviest single cargo item ever sent via air freight was loaded onto an Antonov 225. At 16.23 metres (53.2 ft) long and 4.27 metres (14.0 ft) wide, the consignment–a generator for a gas power plant in Armenia and its loading frame–weighed in at a record 189.09 tonnes (416,900 lb). Also during 2009, the An-225 was painted in a new blue and yellow paint scheme. In February 2010, the An-225 transported 108 tonnes of construction machinery from Japan to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for quake-stricken Haiti.
Link to the video about Mriya plane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prd4RNuB6YY&feature=related
An-225 got the prominent role in “2012” movie. Trailer with plane participation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Wucar1vxQ
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