World's Largest Plane Takes Off From MSP Wednesday Night
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The world's largest plane is sitting on the tarmac at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The Antonov 225 landed at MSP over the weekend. Operators of the aircraft postponed its take off until 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
"It's a Soviet aircraft that was actually meant to help launch space shuttles for the Soviet Union," Pat Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, said. "It's used now to handle large pieces of cargo."
The massive aircraft is in town, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, to pick up air conditioning equipment. Its final destination is the Middle East.
Hogan says the plane stops in the Twin Cities about four to five times a year and it's a sight to see.
"I saw a 747 not too far away from the Antonov and it really put things into perspective. Because a 747 is a darn big plane but it doesn't hold a candle to the Antonov," Hogan said.