The Antonov 124 paid a visit to Brisbane enroute to Adelaide as ADB2529, carrying heavy mining equipment. The huge aircraft is a rare visitor to most airports around the world and Brisbane was no exception having hosted only a handful of visits in the past.
The Antonov 124 was designed in the 1980s by the Ukrainian SSR, then part of the Soviet Union. It is the largest military transport aircraft in service, and is operated by both commercial cargo companies and governments. Most commonly seen in Australia are the Volga-Dnepr and Antonov Airlines (pictured above) examples of the aircraft. The aircraft has an interesting design feature in that it can ‘kneel’ on its front landing gears to allow easier front loading. It also carries its own towbar.
