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The massive Antonov plane from Russia has landed at Kelowna International Airport. (Photo Gary Moore)
The huge Antonov AN-124, arrived non-stop from Kazan, Russia this morning to deliver helicopters to Kelowna Flightcraft for maintenance and modification services.
Accommodating the Antonov at Kelowna airport was made possible because of the runway extension from 7,300 feet to 8,900 feet in November 2008. “The arrival of the Antonov is a great opportunity for YLW to attract other long haul flights for commercial passenger and cargo flights and for very specialized aviation maintenance work by companies such as Kelowna Flightcraft and AVM Solutions Inc.,” says Sam Samaddar, Airport Director.
The Antonov AN-124 is the largest aircraft to land at Kelowna International and may be one of the noisiest aircrafts residents within the airport’s flight path are expected to hear. The aircraft is expected to depart Saturday at 10 p.m. The Airport, Kelowna Flightcraft and AVM Solutions apologize in advance for any noise disturbance experienced.
Aviation enthusiasts hoping to watch the aircraft land and take off are reminded there is no parking or stopping along Highway 97 or the north section of the airport on Old Vernon Road. Sections of Airport Way will be cordoned off, but still accessible from the North and South entrances of Highway 97.
Recommended vantage points to view the aircraft’s arrival include the Ellison baseball field and the far east extension of the long-term parking lot (airport parking rates will apply).
Avionics Modification Solutions (AVM) Bob Monaghan, President and CEO states, “YLW may see one or two AN-124 operations a year for similar helicopter deliveries.”
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some noise it made lol and Tattoo wasn’t even there screaming ” Boss, the plane, the plane “
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I was a spectacular flawless landing, as we could see it what seemed to be over Vernon when we spotted it. The landing seem to be without anyone expecting anything other then the noise when the brakes and reversing with the engines were applied. At the Elison ballpark where I hooked up with hundreds of onlookers, with their cameras and binocolurs were impressed and the odd few people that clapped and cheered on it’s arrival probably felt like others, that this can lead to many more spin-offs that might happen now that the runway had been expanded so that larger planes can land in Kelowna.
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At least it ended it’s landing the runway this time….
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http://plane.spottingworld.com/Antonov_An-124
I remembered years ago in Windsor, Ontario that this plane had an incident at the airport there. Can’t believe it was 9 years ago though….
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