990 — Antonov An

The "Antonov An 990" likely originated from:

Search volume for "Antonov An 990" spikes after major aviation events (like the destruction of the real An-225 in 2022), as fans search for a hypothetical replacement.

The claim: The An-990 is rumored to be a six-engine, double-deck behemoth with a payload of 500+ tons, designed to carry three main battle tanks or a disassembled space shuttle.

The reality: It does not exist. Any online mention of the An-990 likely stems from fan-made CGI, mislabeled models, or forum speculation.

What works (if real):

What doesn’t work:

Verdict: As a real aircraft, the An-990 is a myth. As a concept, it’s an engineer’s fantasy but a logistician’s nightmare. Stick to the proven An-124 – or wait for an actual new Antonov design. antonov an 990

Rating: ⭐⭐ (purely for creative ambition, minus three stars for lacking hardware).

If you meant a different Antonov model (e.g., An-70, An-178, An-225), let me know, and I’ll provide an accurate technical review.

Title: The Phantom of the Skies: The Story of the Antonov An-990

In the world of aviation, few names command as much respect as Antonov. The Ukrainian design bureau is responsible for some of the largest and most capable aircraft ever to grace the skies, from the massive An-225 Mriya to the versatile An-124 Ruslan. However, buried deep in the archives of Cold War aviation history lies a designation that few have heard, and even fewer have seen: the Antonov An-990.

Often referred to in speculative circles as the "Ghost of the USSR," the An-990 represents one of the great "what-ifs" of aerospace engineering—a project that promised to revolutionize transport before vanishing into the fog of history.

Following the destruction of the Mriya, China reportedly expressed interest in re-manufacturing the An-225 using leftover blueprints. This aircraft, tentatively called the CH-225, would not be an An-990 but effectively an "An-225M." As of 2025, this project remains in limbo due to engine sanctions. The "Antonov An 990" likely originated from:

The An-225 was the 225th Antonov design. The An-990 represents a clean break — 9 for “maximum lift category,” 90 for “2020s–40s generation.” Unofficially, pilots call it “Devyat’sot devyanosto” (Nine hundred ninety) or simply “The Wave” because of how its wake turbulence is said to roll across empty airfields long after it passes.

The persistence of this keyword is a fascinating case study in internet archaeology. People search for the Antonov An 990 for three psychological reasons:

Debunking the most common fake "specs" found online:

The Antonov An 990 is a fascinating case study in how the internet creates and perpetuates aviation myths. While no such plane ever rolled out of a hangar in Kyiv or Ulyanovsk, its legend captures the imagination of those who dream of skies filled with impossibly large machines.

If you ever see a blueprint or photograph claiming to be the "Antonov An 990," treat it as digital folklore. The real heroes of heavy lift are the An-124 (still flying humanitarian missions), the memory of the An-225 Mriya, and the humble An-22. Search volume for "Antonov An 990" spikes after

In summary: The An-990 is not real. But the human wonder that keeps searching for it? That is entirely genuine.

Did you find this article helpful? If you arrived here looking for the "Antonov An 990," you now know the truth. For real heavy aviation data, research the Antonov An-124 Ruslan and the legacy of the An-225 Mriya.

The Antonov An-990 is a fictional, "super-sized" aircraft mod for flight simulators designed with exaggerated, non-existent specifications. Conceived as a massive, graphene-constructed "Air Tanker," the virtual aircraft features a 870-foot wingspan and a 6,000-tonne weight capacity. For more details, visit X-Plane.org Forums. How HUGE Can Planes Get? - Antonov An 990

The Antonov design bureau’s numbering typically follows the An-2, An-24, An-124, An-225 sequence. The largest operational Antonov is the An-225 Mriya (only one unit, destroyed in 2022). The next in line, the An-124 Ruslan, remains in service. There is no credible project or prototype labeled An-990.

If this was a hypothetical or satirical request, here is a mock review of a “Antonov An-990” as an imagined ultra-heavy transport:

The An-990 was envisioned as a hybrid aircraft, bridging the gap between a traditional heavy lifter and a high-speed cruiser. While exact blueprints remain classified or fragmented, declassified fragments and testimony from retired engineers suggest a radical design philosophy: