Antonov An-225 by iniBuilds released
After a month of anticipation, iniBuilds has released their rendition of the legendary Antonov An-225 Mriya for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) today. The aircraft was developed by iniBuilds and is sold exclusively by the MSFS team through the in-game marketplace for $19.99, of which 100% is contributed to the project rebuilding the real An-225.
The addon was developed in cooperation between Microsoft and Antonov to bring the aircraft’s legacy into Microsoft Flight Simulator. The An-225 for MSFS, apart from featuring high-resolution textures with an extensive level of detail, features an accurate flight model with all six Progress D-18T turbojet engines simulated. What’s more, flight simmers can open the cargo doors in the aircraft’s nose for proper cargo operations, retract the loading ramps, and notice the small details near the 32-wheeled gear system.
The An-225 for MSFS does not feature proper FMC but instead uses GNS 750. Since we’re already talking about the aircraft’s interior, it is also good to mention that the flight deck includes Captain and First Officer’s seating, followed by the Flight Engineer’s panel, the Electrical Engineer’s panel, the Navigator’s section and finally, the Radio Operator’s section. Of course, we can’t forget about the crew rest area which is also depicted in this rendition of the An-225 for MSFS the same way the whole cargo area is. In other words, it’s not just an external model like we sometimes tend to see nowadays, but a proper addon.
You can purchase the An-225 for MSFS mentioned throughout the article for $19.99 through the in-game marketplace. Release for Xbox is planned after Sim Update 12 release. The Antonov An-225 Mriya was a strategic cargo aircraft produced by Antonov in the Soviet Union. Until the last example was destroyed in February 2022 in Hostomel, Ukraine, Mriya was the largest cargo aircraft in the world still operating. The aircraft had a wingspan of 88 meters (290ft) and could carry up to 1,300m3 of cargo (46,000 cu ft).
Due to its increased size, the aircraft can’t visit all airports, and pilots have to keep an eye out for the wings when taxiing. With the engines being from the 1980s, do not expect to enjoy modern procedures like you do nowadays.