The giant Antonov An-225 freighter recently carried a 139 tonne heat exchanger.

The unique Antonov AN-225 – the world's largest aircraft – has once again proven its vital role in air transportation, with the carriage of a huge heat exchanger weighing 139 tonnes from Germany to Canada.

The equipment which, with its specially-constructed load cradle and associated handling equipment weighed a total of 147 tonnes, was much too heavy for any other aircraft.

The load was flown from Leipzig to Edmonton via Keflavik (Iceland) and GooseBay: a total distance of 8,400 km. The charterer was the Karpeles Flight Services GmbH, a ?charter arm of DB Schenker. The flight was arranged, managed and operated by Antonov Airlines.

Antonov Airlines' commercial executive Andriy Blagovisniy said:? "When a really large load such as this needs urgent transportation, the unique AN-225 Mirya really comes into its own – providing an alternative to long and time-consuming ocean voyages and long, highly complex road haulage operations."