Freighter Giant Photo

Photographer’s Note

On the way home after holidays, just before landing on small Tampere - Pirkkala airport it was quite a surprise to see this one, waiting on a taxiway for takeoff. I had just time to disembark my plane, before the Antonov turned to runway and started to accelerate for takeoff. It's size is hard to conceive of a picture, but check the landing gear and how small cockpit windows look compared to the rest of the aircraft.

Measured by payload, Antonov An-124 is the biggest series produced transport aircraft in the world. It is capable of tranfer load of around 150,000 kg, depending on the flight range. Typically they are used on ad hoc oversized transfer operations, moving airplane components or military freight. I don't know what it did in Pirkkala, but possibly it had something to do with heavy metal industries in Tampere region.

An-124 was originally developed as Soviet strategic airlifter. Nowadays most of these giants are on civil duties serving specialiced freighter enterprises like Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

AiresSantos, phwall, bj40, PixelTerror, feather, xuaxo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

AiresSantos (42924) 2009-07-10 0:55

Hi Kari
Fine capture of this big airplane.
Well framed, good details and colours
I also like your informative note
TFS and have a nice weekend
Aires

phwall (5705) 2009-07-10 1:06

Hi Kari,
I got to walk inside one of these giants, they are huge.
Good shot, I presume you shot this through the window of your aircraft.
Regards
Peter

bj40 (1273) 2009-07-10 1:39

Hi Kari,What a fine big beast.You could have had a brighter day, still a good clear and detailed image.Thanks Tom.

baba_flies (8099) 2009-07-10 4:25

Hello Kari! Impressive "bird" ... for some years they were also landing in Zuerich but I guess the noise hold them back these days, but somehow I miss them. They were or are for sure something special. This is a good shot, I like the light under the nose, this for me is the thing that makes it different, it gives a little "light" to the overcast sky. Happy weekend, Barbara.

PixelTerror (86853) 2009-07-10 13:57

Terve Kari
So you've be flying Volga-Dnepr to finally land by the Limmat.... nice image on the fly of the giant, had the opportunity to enjoy their take off over my former home near Basel, I can tell the noise equals the size, and it's not an easy noise to forget ;-)
Have a fine week end JY

feather (50154) 2009-07-10 14:27

From the thumbnail I thought you'd captured it just before it landed as it seems to hover above the runway. You did well to frame the image so quickly. Interesting note.
Kath

gunbud (28163) 2009-07-10 16:24

Hi Kari,
Wonderfully graphice lines to this streamlinned jet that stands out beautifully against the green and contrast blue backdrop.
Regards, Tom

xuaxo (5835) 2009-07-16 9:33

Hi Kari,
Very interesting view of the big boy. Yes, I noticed firstly the landing gear.
Greetings,
Francisco

pablominto (41372) 2009-07-16 9:41

Hello Kari,

These giants appear regularly in my region too, as they are used to transport fresh salmon from Trondheim Airport Wærnes to the Far East mainly Japan!
The big bird is captured with fine details even if it is hard to find scaling for the size...

Greetings,
Pablo -