Antonov An-124 Ruslan

Quad Jet· 55 globally registered

The Antonov An-124 Ruslan stands as one of aviation's most impressive heavy-lift cargo aircraft, designed in the Soviet Union during the 1980s to transport oversized military equipment and outsize civilian cargo that no other aircraft could handle. Only the Antonov An-225 Mriya (of which just one was built) exceeds its capacity. With a maximum takeoff weight of 405 tonnes and a cargo hold large enough to swallow multiple helicopters or entire railway locomotives, the An-124 pioneered capabilities that redefined strategic airlift. Its nose and tail both open for drive-through loading, and the onboard overhead cranes can position payloads up to 30 tonnes without ground equipment, making it indispensable for remote-site operations. Powered by four Ivchenko Progress D-18T high-bypass turbofans, the same engines that powered the An-225, the Ruslan cruises at Mach 0.73 and can reach altitudes above 40,000 feet even when heavily loaded. It holds the distinction of being the first Soviet widebody, and its kneeling landing gear allows the cargo floor to lower to truck-bed height for direct roll-on/roll-off loading. The type entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1986, and a civilian variant operated by Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr became the backbone of the global outsize charter market, transporting everything from power-plant turbines to spacecraft components. Though production officially ended in 2004 after roughly 55 airframes, the An-124 remains in active commercial and military service across Russia, Ukraine, and Libya. Its unmatched combination of payload volume, range, and rough-field capability ensures it continues to dominate missions where nothing else will fit: humanitarian relief, oil-field equipment, even entire factories relocated across continents. Western sanctions and the war in Ukraine have complicated operations for Ukrainian-registered aircraft, but the type's strategic value keeps it flying on the world's most challenging cargo routes. SkyMeter has tracked 24 flights across 7 airframes and 1 operators, covering distinct routes.