Engineering: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
Performance
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The weird and short story of twin-fuselage An-225 Mriya" (in en). https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/27240-The-weird-and-short-story-of-twin-fuselage-An-225-Mriya.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "OOS, el sistema espacial de lanzamiento aéreo definitivo" (in es). 2011-12-18. https://danielmarin.naukas.com/2011/12/18/oos-el-sistema-espacial-de-lanzamiento-aereo-definitivo/.
- ↑ "OOS, la bestia de Tupolev y Antonov - Ciencia y educación" (in es). 2013-08-07. https://www.taringa.net/+ciencia_educacion/oos-la-bestia-de-tupolev-y-antonov_vsdk1.
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