Antonov AN-225 Mriya & RKK Space Orbiter Set (1:400)

Antonov AN-225 Mriya & RKK Space Orbiter Set (1:400)

This Herpa 562874 / 539029 An-225 model set is a precision 1:500 scale die-cast replica, representing the Antonov An-225 Mriya in its early test flight configuration (CCCP-480182) complete with the Buran space shuttle orbiter payload.

The model accurately reproduces the six-engine heavy transport aircraft, featuring its massive high-aspect wing design, twin vertical stabilizers, and distinctive nose probe used during early flight testing. The included Buran space shuttle orbiter reflects the aircraft’s original mission as a carrier for Soviet space vehicles.

This configuration represents the An-225 during its prototype and certification testing phase in the late 1980s, before it entered broader operational and commercial use.

With a wingspan of 177 mm (1:500 scale), this is one of the largest and most visually dominant models in the Herpa Wings range, designed as a true centerpiece display item.

Unlike standard cargo aircraft models, this release captures the intersection of aerospace engineering and space exploration history, making it one of the most important display pieces in any serious 1:500 collection.

Features

• Aircraft Type: Antonov An-225 Mriya
• Operator: Antonov Design Bureau
• Registration: CCCP-480182 (test phase marking)
• Included Payload: RKK Energiya Buran Space Orbiter
• Material: Die-cast metal
• Scale Wingspan: 177 mm
• Configuration: Early test flight with nose probe instrumentation
• Role: Heavy strategic airlift / space shuttle transport
• Release: News II (March/April 2026)

Historical Background

The Antonov An-225 Mriya (meaning “dream” in Ukrainian) was developed in the 1980s by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union as the world’s largest and heaviest aircraft. It was specifically designed to transport the Buran space shuttle and components of the Soviet Energiya space launch system.

During its early development phase, the aircraft flew under the provisional registration CCCP-480182, fitted with a long nose-mounted data probe used for collecting aerodynamic test data such as air pressure and flight characteristics.

The Buran space shuttle, included in this set, was the Soviet response to the U.S. Space Shuttle program and successfully completed an unmanned orbital flight in 1988. The An-225 carried the shuttle piggyback-style on its fuselage during test and display missions, forming one of the most visually iconic aircraft-spacecraft combinations ever created.

The collapse of the Soviet space program meant the An-225 later transitioned into commercial heavy cargo operations, where it remained in service until its destruction in 2022, further cementing its status as a legendary aviation icon.