FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2013

Contact:

Belinda Zephir, Air Service & Marketing Manager (850) 436-5000

One of Worlds Largest Aircraft Operates From Pensacola International Airport

Charter company Volga-Dnepr has landed a massive Antonov An-124 heavy lift cargo aircraft at Pensacola International Airport for a brief operational stopover Saturday evening. People out and about in Northeast Pensacola Saturday evening most likely couldnt help but notice the enormous plane as it slowly descended on its approach to the airport, eventually touching down on the north-south runway. It isnt every day that you have an opportunity to see an aircraft of this size and stature, said airport director, Greg Donovan. This demonstrates our abilities and proves that our airfield is capable of handling the largest of aircraft. The Russian-made Antonov An-124 is one of the worlds largest aircraft currently flying. It is the second largest operating cargo aircraft in the world. The only cargo aircraft larger than the An-124 is the An-225, another aircraft manufactured by Antonov. There is only one An-225 in existence. In service since the mid-1980s, the An-124 is a workhorse in the world of specialized air cargo. With a length of 226 feet and a wingspan of 240 feet, it is comparable in size to a Boeing 747 airliner and the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy cargo transport plane operated by the U.S. Air Force. The 4-engine plane has two sets of nose gear and actually lowers itself close to the ground to allow ease of cargo operations when its nose door is opened up. The plane requires a flight crew of 6 and can carry up to 88 passengers in its upper deck. Its main landing gear is comprised of 20 wheels and tires. Expect to see more operations such as this as Pensacola International grows industry and advances commerce, said Greg Donovan. About Pensacola International Airport Owned and operated by the City of Pensacola, Pensacola International Airport is the largest airport between New Orleans and Jacksonville, serving more than 1.5 million passengers each year. The airport supports over 5700 jobs and generates an estimated annual impact of over $565 million. ###