Antonov AKS
| AKS | |
|---|---|
| Role | Mother ship aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union (Ukrainian SSR) |
| Design group | Antonov |
| Status | Canceled |
| Number built | 0 |
| Developed from | Antonov An-225 Mriya |
The Antonov AKS was a Soviet proposed mother ship aircraft intended to carry the Tupolev OOS air-launch-to-orbit spaceplane. It was to consist of two Antonov An-225 fuselages connected by a conjoined wing.
Design and development
Designed in the 1980s, the AKS was a twin-fuselage design consisting of two An-225 fuselages, with the OOS to be carried under the raised center wing. Multiple engine configurations were proposed, ranging from 18 Progress D-18T turbofans to as many as 40 engines, with placements both above and below the wings.[1][2][3] An alternative design for the AKS was to use entirely new fuselages, each with a single tail.[2]
The AKS was deemed unfeasible, and no prototypes were ever built.[1]
Specifications (18-engined AKS)
General characteristics
- Wingspan: 153 m (502 ft 0 in)
- Empty weight: 625,000 kg (1,377,889 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,650,000 kg (3,600,000 lb)
- Wheelbase: 40 m (130 ft)
- Powerplant: 18 × Progress D-18T turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) thrust each
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ a b c "The weird and short story of twin-fuselage An-225 Mriya". www.aerotime.aero. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
- ^ a b c "OOS, el sistema espacial de lanzamiento aéreo definitivo". Eureka (in Spanish). 2011-12-18. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
- ^ "OOS, la bestia de Tupolev y Antonov - Ciencia y educación". Taringa! (in Spanish). 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2022-02-28.