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- After the Antonov An-225 “Muriya” was destroyed, the team behind Microsoft Flight Simulator We tried to recreate it in-game and start the process of helping rebuild it in the real world.
- We asked Jorg Neumann, Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, how this ambitious project took off.
- The Antonov An-225 “Muriya”, which can be purchased in the in-game store, Microsoft Flight Simulator Both on console and PC.
I’m a big fan of airplanes. Big planes, small planes, medium planes… each one is extraordinary in its own way when you take a step back and consider how awesome it is that these man-made machines can conquer the skies. There have been thousands of unique aircraft designs that have flown. His SR-71 “Blackbird” with its otherworldly appearance, his P-38 “Lightning” with his unique H-shaped design, his iconic B that literally lives up to its name as a sky fortress. -17 “Flying Fortress”. , are some personal favorites. But none are as impressive as the Antonov An-225, affectionately known as “Muriya”.
Designated as An-225, Mriya (meaning “dream” in Ukrainian) was the largest and heaviest aircraft in the world because it could carry a huge cargo of up to 225 tons. Created in the 1980s to carry Bran-class orbiters, then modified to carry oversized payloads. Across its enormous wingspan he housed six turbofan engines, two large vertical stabilizers, and 32-wheel landing gear assemblies. .
Needless to say, in early 2022, I was shaken when news broke that the only surviving Mriya was destroyed in the Battle of Antonov Airport, which kicked off the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
So when I first heard the news, the team behind Microsoft Flight Simulator I needed to learn more as I was pushing towards the ambitious goal of bringing the real Mriya back to life as well as recreating the aircraft for everyone to enjoy in a world class flight simulator. caught up with the director Microsoft Flight Simulator Jörg Neumann said shortly after the launch of the aircraft was announced Microsoft Flight Simulatorfind out more about this amazing project.
“There was an outcry in the flight sim community that day [February 27, 2022] And we were all really touched by the news,” Jorg said when he first heard about Mulya’s breakup. “Our team meeting was filled with grief and shock. said very emotionally that the memory of must be preserved in our Sims.”
“Personally, I was very impressed with Mriya because it was also a symbol of human ingenuity.”
After the meeting, Jorg contacted Antonov Airlines chief pilot Dmytro Antonov via LinkedIn and contacted Microsoft’s office in Ukraine. At the time, no one in Ukraine could talk about digitally preserving his An-225, but one of his main contacts, Alexander His Matsuko, embraced the idea of digitally preserving Mriya. rice field. Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Viktor Avdiev, Deputy General Manager of Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines, said after hearing the news that Microsoft was trying to revive the An-225. in a flight simulator. “This aircraft has taken a special place in the history of world aviation. There is no other plane like it… Thanks to this product, many people have become acquainted with this mighty bird and are just like us.” You will love me like
“We kept in touch during the turbulent months,” Jorg explained. “[Matsko] He later introduced us to The Antonoff Company and really helped make this happen. For our part, our close partner who has just completed an amazing rendition of the Airbus A310-300, he is the head of iniBuilds, he reached out to Ubaid. He and his team of experts were equally enthusiastic and work began shortly thereafter. “
It was the 17-person team at iniBuilds that brought the An-225 to life. Microsoft Flight SimulatorThe Antonov An-225 has been recreated in such great detail that you can really feel the passion they put into the finished product, allowing players to experience it on both the Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. became.
“This aircraft has a special place in the history of world aviation. No other plane like it exists.”
“they [iniBuilds] At first, I did a lot of research online, collecting a detailed list of open questions and then sending them to Antonov,” Jörg told me. “Antonov filled in all the blanks, which is why we were able to reach such high levels of reliability.”
“The specialist had the opportunity to visit Mr. Antonov and other Antonov engineers in Leipzig, where they flew the digital plane together.” Avdiev explains“The Antonov Company provided the original recording of the An-225, and the An-124’s engine was recorded to make the digital Mriya sound realistic.”
iniBuilds was fully supported by Antonov and An-225 chief pilot Dmitry Antonov. Mr. Antonov also created a number of incredibly detailed video series that helped Jörg and his team begin their digital re-creation in the first place. Other details were filled in when the team met him and the other Antonov pilots for a test session in Leipzig.
“Speaking with the pilot who flew the Antonov An-225 was a really enlightening experience,” Jorg said. “The most unique point we learned was understanding the handling characteristics of such a unique large aircraft! Their feedback allowed us to fly the aircraft in near-realistic conditions. Microsoft Flight Simulator“
Antonov’s pilot gave the team real insight into the different areas of the plane and their uses. For example, Antonov advised that his An-225 is such a unique aircraft that it has its own towbar that allows it to be safely maneuvered from any airport in the world. One was modeled specifically for the simulator and can be seen in the version of the cargo bay at Microsoft Flight Simulator.
“What if I could bring Muriya back to life?”
But the team Microsoft Flight Simulator We weren’t satisfied with just digitally recreating the aircraft. What if they could bring Mriya back to life? At that time, discussions with Antonov went further into finding ways to contribute to the rebuilding of this aircraft.
“We have decided to donate 100% of the total revenue from sales of the digital An-225 in the first year after its launch directly to Antonov, so that the funds can be used to rebuild the An-225,” said Jörg. . “If Antonov decides that reconstruction is not possible, the funds can be used to build a memorial to the plane instead.”
Proceeds from in-game DLC will be used to rebuild An-225. Currently, this is the only way Sims and the game community can contribute to this effort. Still, that’s a lofty goal, and if that doesn’t happen, there are plans to find other ways to honor the aircraft’s heritage.
“We did not set a minimum donation amount, but instead decided to donate all the money we received to Antonov. I feel strongly about emphasizing that, so far, I’ve been thrilled with the response from the Shimmer community.”
“We have a strong desire to restore the national treasure to its former glory and underscore the resilience of Ukraine.”
We asked Jorg what Shimmer hopes to take away from the experience of flying this incredibly unique aircraft. Microsoft Flight SimulatorJorg was insightful in his reaction.
“Muriya is not only the heaviest airplane in the world, which has broken and still holds many aviation records. [the aviation community], to me, it stands as a monument to what we can achieve as human beings. . Mriya was an important milestone in the history of aviation and human ingenuity. We hope the Shimmers appreciate the engineering wonders of this craft and hope that Mriya will one day dream of flying in our skies again. “