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                World's Largest Plane Touches Down in Australia

   by VOA News

   The world's largest airplane touched down in Perth, Australia, Monday,
   to deliver a 117-ton generator.

   The Ukraine-made Antonov An-225 Mriya is 84 meters long and weighs a
   whopping 175 tons, excluding cargo and fuel. It's powered by six
   engines, and its landing gear has 32 wheels.

   Over 25,000 aircraft enthusiasts reportedly lined the roads to catch a
   glimpse of the huge plane.

   "It's a monster," yelled airplane fan John Norcic, who was on hand to
   watch the arrival, according to [1]Yahoo News in Australia. "The kids
   think I'm crazy coming out here so early in the morning, but it was a
   once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

   The massive plane was designed in the former Soviet Union as a way to
   transport that country's fledgling space shuttle program.

   ''The one-of-a-kind aircraft was built in 1988. However, it spent eight
   years mothballed before being upgraded and returned to service, where
   it has been contracted out to various companies and governments.

   The trip to Australia began in Prague, where the generator was loaded,
   and then made stops in the Middle East and Asia before arriving in
   Perth.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/mht-worlds-largest-plane-australia-an
   tonov-an-255-mriya/3332373.html

References

   1. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/31606083/monster-crowd-as-antonov-an-225-colossus-touches-down/
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/mht-worlds-largest-plane-australia-antonov-an-255-mriya/3332373.html