Antonov An 990 ^hot^ Guide

The Antonov An-990 is a fictional "monster" aircraft popular in the X-Plane flight simulation community. It is often described as a colossal water bomber designed for fighting massive wildfires worldwide.

Since this is a fantasy aircraft from the simulation world, here is a social media-style post designed to highlight its "titan" status: ✈️ Meet the Titan: The Antonov An-990 "Monster" ✈️

Ever wondered what the ultimate firefighter looks like? Move over, Mriya—the An-990 is here to redefine "heavy lifter."

Originally designed as a colossal water bomber for the world's most extreme wildfires, this fictional behemoth is a legend in the X-Plane community. By the Numbers:

Wingspan: A staggering 870 feet (265 meters)—that’s 3x the wingspan of the real-life An-225! Max Weight: 6,000 Tonnes (13.2 Million lbs). Scale: Roughly 120 times the weight of a Boeing 737-100.

While it might only exist in the digital skies for now, its sheer scale reminds us why we love aviation engineering (and flight sims!).

#Antonov #An990 #AviationGeek #XPlane #FlightSim #MonsterPlane #AviationDaily #Firefighting

Antonov An-225 Mriya / Cossack Project - Page 2 - X-Plane.Org Forum antonov an 990

The Antonov An-990 "Juggernaut" is a colossally-sized fictional aircraft created specifically for the X-Plane 11 flight simulator. Designed by flight-sim developer "hangglider," it is imagined as a "Graphene-constructed" ultra-giant capable of performing tasks that are physically impossible for real-world aircraft.  Performance Specifications 

The An-990 is designed to dwarf even the largest real-world aircraft, such as the Antonov An-225.  Feature  Specification Max Takeoff Weight 6,000 Tonnes (13.2 million lbs) Wingspan 870 feet (265.2 meters) Powerplant 6× Custom GE-990-480 Turbofans Engine Thrust 480,000 lbf (2135 kN) per engine Cargo/Liquid Capacity 600,000 Gallons (5 million lbs) Operational Guide for Flight Simulators 

Operating the "Juggernaut" requires specialized techniques due to its extreme mass and cockpit height.  Take-Off Procedures: Set Flaps to 3 or 4. Rotate at 145+ KIAS (knots indicated airspeed).

The aircraft is capable of taking off from water even at its full 6,000-tonne weight. Landing Procedures:

Runway Requirements: Requires at least 10,000 feet of runway with 500 feet of side clearance due to its massive wingspan.

Approach: Maintain a long approach at 165 KIAS with Flaps 3. Touchdown: Aim for 163 KIAS.

Visual Correction: Pilots must account for the extreme cockpit height above the runway to avoid "landing short". The Antonov An-990 is a fictional "monster" aircraft

Stopping: Use a combination of regular brakes, speedbrakes, and thrust reversers to stop within standard large-scale runways.  Available Variants 

The An-990 series for X-Plane includes four specialized versions: 

Air-Launcher (Graphene): Designed to carry and launch other aircraft, such as a Boeing 747, mid-flight.

Buran-Launcher: Specialized for carrying and launching the Soviet Buran space shuttle.

Fire-Retardant Bomber: Equipped with a 600,000-gallon tank for massive aerial firefighting.

Water Bomber: Features water-scooping capabilities to refill its tanks from open water. 

You can download the An-990 mod and find detailed community discussions on the X-Plane.Org Forums.  A typo or misremembering of the An-225 (the

Antonov's numbering system typically follows a sequence (An-2, An-24, An-124, An-225, etc.), and no "An-990" has ever been designed, built, or proposed. The largest aircraft Antonov ever produced is the An-225 Mriya (which had six engines and was designed to carry the Buran space shuttle).

If you encountered the name "An-990" online, it may be:

• A typo or misremembering of the An-225 (the world's heaviest aircraft).
• A fictional or speculative design from a game, concept art, or internet meme.
• A misreading of a different model (e.g., An-158, An-178, or An-70).

If you meant a different aircraft, please clarify. If you'd like a review of the Antonov An-225 Mriya (the closest real equivalent), let me know, and I'll provide a detailed overview of its design, history, and capabilities.

3.3 The An-218 (Closest numerical relative)

• Purpose: A wide-body, twin-aisle passenger airliner for 300-400 passengers.
• Engines: 2x Progress D-18T (the same engines as the An-124!)
• Status: Full-scale mock-up built in 1994. Cancelled due to collapse of Soviet airline industry.

Note: The An-218 is numerically closer to "220" than "990," but it shows Antonov’s numbering pattern stopped in the 200-300 range for jets.

2. The Windrunner (Radia)

An American startup, Radia, is building the Windrunner — a cargo aircraft designed to carry 72+ tonnes of wind turbine blades. While smaller than an An-225, its wingspan (80 meters) rivals the Mriya. This is the closest real aircraft to the mythical An-990 in terms of "oversized logistics."

What it was meant to be

• Role: Ultra-large cargo/transport airlifter designed to move outsized payloads and large troop or equipment complements over intercontinental distances.
• Size & presence: Imagine a wingspan and fuselage so broad it casts a long shadow on the tarmac—an aircraft designed to dwarf standard freighters. Its bulk suggested the capability to swallow tanks, rail cars, or entire modular shelters in one load.
• Design cues: Drawing on Antonov’s tradition (An-22, An-124, An-225), the An-990’s silhouette would combine a high-set wing for ground clearance, rugged landing gear for austere fields, and an expansive cargo hold with a rear or nose-loading ramp. Powerful turbofans clustered under a robust wing would give it the thrust to lift heroic weights.

3. Antonov An-22 Antei (The real "An-990" of its era)

• Configuration: 4 x turboprops + contra-rotating propellers
• Payload: 80 tons
• Nickname: "Cock" (NATO: "Antheus")
• Key fact: For a brief period in the 1960s, the An-22 was the largest aircraft in the world.

If any Antonov deserved a "9" prefix, it was the An-22. But the bureau never used triple digits.