Antonov Antheus (UR09307)

Great shot!
A rare photo of the real Antheus.

Anyone know what the big hole in the main gear fairing is for?

At the front of the fairing.

My best guess is that it is for the APU. Here is a closeup showing the intake and two exhaust ports:

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/670300/ur-09307-antonov-airlines-design-bureau-antonov-an-22/

Cool thanx Torsten.

Is there only one of these, like the An225. Would love to hear the sound this thing makes!

Torsten ; Thanks for the close up shot. I'm astounded at the number of rivets holding this together. It looks like a patchwork quilt.

The new Stealth Caterpillar Drive with Captain Ramius commanding.

Most Russian aircraft are simply ugly. This one does not escape it. Nice photo, though.

This Ukrainian plane!Ukrainian !!!

Cooling air for the brakes? Fully loaded that gear configuration would trap a lot of heat in the fairings. Flipped up door might be APU inlet.

What an excellent shot Pavel..love the contra-rotating props...not many of these AN22's left..still holds a multitude of records including world's largest prop driven aircraft

No Mark there is more than 1..at last count I think 23 are left...here is an excellent video showing its size with that if an Il-76

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69ATnys2gRk

@ Pavel. It is not so easy too explaine. The birthplace of this plane is the sovjet union. Sure, now is the ukraina the home land. I think, you knows this history ;-) The political background is another story.....in anny case, the plane looks like beautiful. Great Sound. Do you was in Leipzig last week?
http://www.svenvt.de/galerie/flugzeuge/antonov-22/

The aircraft was, I unfortunately - no ... (((

Sven! I watched your photos! Beautiful photo!

Thanks Pavel. This day in Leipzig was stressful but verry fine. 7 houres delay and short timeslot for photos. We waiting for departure und some more photos ;-)