Is it true that you can charter an Antonov 124?
Posted by NewAd8721@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 186 comments
I saw a video about a person inquiring about transporting 100 tonnes of equipment from China to France, and they needed it all transported in one flight. A charter company was helping this person and advised her that the only aircraft that can handle 100 tonnes in a single transport flight is the Antonov An-124. I was dumbfounded by this because I thought these types of aircraft only operate under contracted agreements and scheduled cargo flights, and I also thought they were under fixed schedules, not charter operations. Correct me if I’m wrong, and also educate me on how the process works.
Here's the video that I was talking about:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXujqduCEEQ/?igsh=MXQ1dGF5cjQ3M2kyZA==
RogerRabbit1234@reddit
How exactly do you think the atonov gets scheduled and paid to move a giant generator or manufacturing part from place a to place b?
Probably through an agreement, which involves a contract.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
I just realized it after reading these comments.
ApolloIII@reddit
Seriously, what did u think? I think we all want to know.
Former_Farm_3618@reddit
You can charter any plane. ANY PLANE. The price and political power is the sticking point.
BrewCityChaserV2@reddit
Sweet, I always wanted to take an F-35 for a spin.
LounBiker@reddit
If you can make someone believe you're on the market for 50 of them, it will happen.
As a previous poster says, if you have the enough capital (financial and/or political) it's all possible.
ConsciousPatroller@reddit
I don't think private entities can purchase military jets like that though? Aren't they subject to sales restrictions?
Outrageous-Stop4366@reddit
*leverage
DestoryDerEchte@reddit
There are price lists for military air craft
itsPolarisRadio@reddit
Richard Roper will hook you up ☎️
JonnydieZwiebel@reddit
Nice, how much will it cost to charter a Concorde, let's say the end of next week?
SexySmexxy@reddit
tbf theres one a couple miles from me you can go have dinner in it if you want lol
https://aerospacebristol.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=2009443108&gbraid=0AAAAADPOR73bmizqav7m-EE77GdE_QK2k&gclid=CjwKCAjwqubPBhBOEiwAzgZX2r4CnOdHK9jWhRICwVwgpQD6bXIwlSUUpp3Sy3bRR8esLH6z8aFBoRoCXb8QAvD_BwE
TurboThibaut@reddit
A few millions.
JonnydieZwiebel@reddit
Even a few billion wouldn’t make that happen by next week. There’s no airworthy Concorde ready to charter, and getting one back into service would take restoration, certification, and a ton of legal/operational work first. This is impossible in a week, isn't it?
TurboThibaut@reddit
It might be really complicated for the end of the week, yeah.
But given enough time and money, I could totally see a Concorde flying again
Flowech@reddit
Richard Brunson tried and failed. The last time I checked he did seem to have enough money.
TurboThibaut@reddit
IIRC, he just proposes to buy the five Concorde from BA for 1£.
Not that 1£ is nothing, I just don't consider it to be unlimited money
Flowech@reddit
He then made an offer above 5 million pounds but was also rejected. I remember reading something like later he wanted to restore only one for airshows but that didn’t happen as well.
A_storia@reddit
The BA ones were deliberately ‘altered’ to make that VERY unfeasible, when they were stood down
A_storia@reddit
BA had a nice sideline in the off-season for Caribbean charters in the ‘90s
Dotcaprachiappa@reddit
That's true for any material good. There are incredibly few things that can't be achieved with enough power and money
foxhelp@reddit
Does the spaceshuttle count as a plane?
A_storia@reddit
More of a glider on the way down
Jumpy-Locksmith6812@reddit
What about a teradactyl
foxhelp@reddit
I think that counts as a mount, as you need a saddle for it.
usersub1@reddit
Nice. When can I charter my Air Force One?
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m00ph@reddit
Well, do you mean a VC25, or any Air Force bird with the President on board? Because unless he is, it's not AF1. Famously, when Nixon was flying back to California after submitting his resignation on AF1, when it took effect at noon Eastern time, the pilot notified air traffic control that he was changing his call sign from AF1.
usersub1@reddit
TIL
Phrecki@reddit
With the current admin it probably just matters how money and influence you got.
OGbigfoot@reddit
Or how much mushroom dick you're with suck.
bender3600@reddit
A sizeable donation to the ballroom fund should do it.
DebtUpToMyEyeballs@reddit
Easier to charter the president and have him "invite" you on board as a result.
imav8n@reddit
See the different? I can’t see any difference
Jumpy-Locksmith6812@reddit
Concorde?
notsurwhybutimhere@reddit
The Ukrainians that operate these are wonderful to work with. Decided we had a need on Friday and mission completed on Wednesday.
Cargo bay smelled like a Vegas casino though.
MisterZAMIRZ@reddit
Same. We needed a production line flown to the midwest from mainland Europe and they got it done safely and on time, not quite as short notice as yours, but similar. I had no contact with the plane, but did approve the purchase order. I looked up the purchase price of the plane and approximate operating expenses and they were making a pretty good margin, but it wasn't outrageous for the kind of service they offer.
Sadly, the plane that was used for our specific charter sustained damage during the war while on the ground, I don't think it's gonna fly again.
avgas3@reddit
When there was a 125 in philly that's all the people at the fbo could talk about, was how bad the crew smelled.
B-rad-israd@reddit
They essentially live on board, load and unload the aircraft themselves and are basically always flying all over the place.
Last time I saw an Antonov crew (I think it was Volga-Dnepr) they didn’t even leave Air side the 14 hours they were on the ground.
Violent_whimsy@reddit
I read that as if Reddington said it loll
DenseMud128@reddit
Such a good show
DebtUpToMyEyeballs@reddit
I liked the first few seasons, after that it was just a soap opera with seemingly no clear direction from the writers on what all the Big Secrets were supposed to mean.
DenseMud128@reddit
Don’t forget the annoyingly invincible plot armor Reddington has that is right there in your face
DebtUpToMyEyeballs@reddit
This may be the quickest someone has ever responded to one of my comments. But yes, you right.
DenseMud128@reddit
Push notifications help alot :)
Big_OOOO@reddit
Cigarettes and Gold Bond?
27803@reddit
You have the money you can charter the plane
stephen1547@reddit
My old company chartered a 124 to bring a bunch of helicopters and equipment to the other side of the planet. It was about a million dollars at the time for the trip.
Upbeat_Antelope_4380@reddit
Btw these reels/shorts are staged.
But yes, you can.
_litz@reddit
If you can write the check to pay for it, absolutely.
They're the only airplane that can move outsized loads like that since the only OTHER airplane capable of doing so, the C-5M, operates exclusively for the US Government (e.g. the US Air Force).
Tomato_Head120@reddit
I thought the 747-8F could do it now
_litz@reddit
747 can move a lot of volume, but it has to fit inside a 747 fuselage.
Ruslan is a military air lifter at heart. You can drive entire trucks, tanks, trains, etc right into it.
I think they once moved a giant power transformer.
flea-ish@reddit
I’ve heard of multiple projects where they moved switchgear
Demdumdem@reddit
Beluga but it needs a big structure to load
Federal-Property-395@reddit
The Belgua XL has a max cargo payload of 50,500kg. An124 does 150,000kg
Beluga is meant to carry big, but light, aircraft bodies. An124 is meant to carry not as big but much heavier cargo
C-5M carries only slightly less than the An124 at ~127,000kg
Shadow87x@reddit
This is basic business. You have money they have plane.
Jjzeng@reddit
Khajit has plane if you has coin
OG365247@reddit
Why did I read this in a Russian accent 😂
BlueCrystals_@reddit
Thinking of the big Russian bloke from 2012 who owns the Mriya.
“Is Rosshan.”
AdultContemporaneous@reddit
Because you bring money, get plane. That is business.
El_mochilero@reddit
Interestingly enough… This same logic also works for passenger aircraft, boats, yachts, cargo ships, cruise ships, Polar research ships, dive boats, construction vehicles and more.
Comprehensive_Cow_13@reddit
Yup. I built a website for a super yacht sale and rental business back in the 90s. Every single famous mega rich person's boat was available for a price. They all looked identical on the inside, much like their owners I suspect...
stewieatb@reddit
Any surgeon will tell you that people all look the same on the inside.
Great_Specialist_267@reddit
Except the ones who are back to front…
ND8D@reddit
Yep! A bunch of ham radio operators recently made an expedition to Bouvet Island to set up radios and operate from there. That island has no civilization or infrastructure so they chartered a vessel with a helicopter to get them there, loiter for a couple weeks, then get them home. It cost roughly a million and a half.
Echo017@reddit
I once rented a sailboat and crew in the Mediterranean to take me to the next leg of my journey during a transit strike as I needed to be to that island on that date as I still had 10 days of pre-booked and paid itinerary to make.
Amazing what a stack of euros or dollars and a little creativity can accomplish
cat_prophecy@reddit
Is it though? If their literal job is sailing people places, why wouldn't they jump for cash? If someone offers me stacks of money to write code for them, I'll fucking do it
greygrayman@reddit
Had a wise old man give me this advice once: if it flys, floats or fucks.. rent it.
willfoxwillfox@reddit
Even taxis?
Lopoetve@reddit
Basically, if you have money, someone will rent you the asset and operators for the right price, if it’s not already booked.
If already booked, it just takes more money.
mechabeast@reddit
2 million dollars.
TheGoodspeed15@reddit
Me and my pilot will have to take it out for a test flight.
Yummy_Crayons91@reddit
Of course, you just have to leave a deposit.
TheGoodspeed15@reddit
How much is the deposit?
Yummy_Crayons91@reddit
Two Million Dollars
Napalminthemorning10@reddit
Do you take company check?
Bitter-Researcher389@reddit
[Sees business card: Jack P. Ryan, Deputy Director Intelligence]: “Yes”
sephirothFFVII@reddit
I never understood why that card got him that ride. Was that a CIA contact he knew about or what? It never sat right with me
sillyaviator@reddit
The CIA isnt going to bounce a check
TheGoodspeed15@reddit
Right but what asshole in Columbia is just going to take some dudes card that says he's the deputy director of the CIA
It's not like he could just Google his name to see if it is really him or not.
That scene never made sense to me either
CharacterUse@reddit
Firstly the scene is that way because rule of funny, but also he was brought to the guy with the helicopter by Clark. It's pretty strongly implied that Clark vouched for him and the guy already knows Ryan is some kind of government big-shot, he just doesn't necessarily know how big.
TheGoodspeed15@reddit
Yeah man I'm sorry but ain't no Colombian dude taking a $2 million check based off some dude's business card 😂
domesystem@reddit
"No no, MY Chopper..."
TheGoodspeed15@reddit
I like how he's holding all of the paperwork and manuals when he says that lol
Napalminthemorning10@reddit
Fine, I’ll watch Clear and Present Danger again
darkmatter343@reddit
This comment reminds of the movie scene from Clear and Present Danger with Harrison Ford where he's trying to buy a helicopter on South America...
Jack Ryan: I'm here to rent the Huey. Helicopter owner: We don't rent it anymore, but it is for sale. Jack Ryan: How much? Helicopter owner: Two million dollars. Jack Ryan: Uh, my pilot and I will have to take it for a test drive. Helicopter owner: Of course, you just have to leave a deposit. Jack Ryan: How much is that? Helicopter owner: Two million dollars. Jack Ryan: Umm... [Shows a CIA business card] Jack Ryan: Would you take a company check?
Gramerdim@reddit
source?
and why are you proud?
PC-12@reddit
Sad airplane noises.
Gramerdim@reddit
aaronw22@reddit
https://clip.cafe/clear-present-danger-1994/im-here-rent-the-huey/?srsltid=AfmBOoqzKSePIs7xesnswWKcT0oHFFeGVwDeAHuPXtEg-w1-pTE2X1rT
PC-12@reddit
SO GOOD.
Only one guy didn’t get the reference.
big_dart@reddit
We used them a lot to ship large expensive aerospace hardware, although it's a lot harder and more expensive to get one nowadays. The Russian ones are a no no and the Ukrainian ones are obviously used first to support the war effort.
highdiver_2000@reddit
Yes. Transport tanks from SG to Aus and back
Puzzled_Elephant_190@reddit
Nope, I’m comfortable for sure but I don’t have charter money lying around
kingkevv123@reddit
you could even charter the An-225
AprexBT@reddit
Theres one stuck in Toronto for the last 4? Years since the Ukraine war started. Pretty sure it won’t fly anymore and no one knows how to service it.
Chuckolator@reddit
Last time I was in Toronto you get a beautiful view of it on the drive into the terminal. Beautiful bird
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
I heard about this in tiktok.
Snobben90@reddit
Yes. Antonov Airlines who owned and operated the 225 only flew charter...
NickNac113@reddit
Short answer, yes.
Taptrick@reddit
You can charter anything if you have the money.
a_scientific_force@reddit
That's how they make money, so yeah. You're really gonna be shocked when I tell you that you can charter a Falcon Heavy.
wiggum55555@reddit
"If you have a problem, If no one else can help and if you can find them, Maybe you can hire, ~~The A-Team~~ the Antonov An-124"
hercdriver4665@reddit
It’s true that you can charter any airplane from any airline.
Want an American Airlines 777-300ER all to yourself? Just cut a check.
sneijder@reddit
The video is utter nonsense .. in case not obvious.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
How so?
sneijder@reddit
It’d be by email … no one’s giving a verbal price … no one’s agreeing to it being public … it’d go by ship regardless … much more effective to split it over two aircraft
There’s brokers in the middle east who send out pricing requests constantly to airports, never both parties dealing direct
MidnightSurveillance@reddit
Yeah, the cookie cutter "charter scenario" that seems to be permeating now thanks to the likes of Titan, Amalfi, FlyBlack, and that one jet broker LOL
Digital_1337@reddit
you could*
Bill-T-O-Double-P@reddit
You can charter Air Force One if you’re willing to pay. Granted that would probably be on paying off the national debt level of money… But money can buy anything.
The_Moustache@reddit
I work at an East Coast international airport. But smaller than most, but our runway can handle anything.
Some rich middle eastern guy had most of a sailboat shipped in a 124. It was insane, especially at my airport but yeah as long as you have the money you can charter them.
minerman30@reddit
Hampelmann77@reddit
Do you know it?
Exotic-Sale-3003@reddit
Starts with a C I think.
El_mochilero@reddit
Chartracted Agreement?
NorCalAthlete@reddit
No, you’re thinking of burnt steak. Charcuterie agreement is what you’re looking for.
ThirdSunRising@reddit
No, that’s still meat. Charmin agreement is what you’re looking for
theamericaninfrance@reddit
I sharted in a plane once, wasn’t great
ThirdSunRising@reddit
We do not say the C word in polite company.
Gramerdim@reddit
why not?
Head_of_Based_Dept@reddit
yeah volga Dnieper has a few
EnvironmentMost@reddit
We use to import RD-180 rocket engines from SVO to Huntsville on these.
Raid-Z3r0@reddit
Yeah, pretty much. I found this service online that does the mediation with the company that operates the flights https://aeroaffaires.com/private-jet-hire/cargo-freight-aircrafts/antonov-an-124/
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
I'll read this.
International-Ing@reddit
We chartered one to move rapidly needed equipment from the manufacturer to the airport nearest a job site in central Africa. It was expensive but not crazy in terms of charter costs. I got to be there for the arrival, which was neat. Then offloading, dealing with the local officials to clear the goods, and then a six hour convoy drive to the job site.
AverellCZ@reddit
They might want to update their website, they are still offering the AN225 for charter
LegitCheetah@reddit
https://www.antonov-airlines.aero/enquire
TheRoblock@reddit
We charter them few times a year
timster@reddit
So your mom can visit?
MtRainierWolfcastle@reddit
My former company chartered them several times. After I left I’d still see them flying in and know someone screwed something up.
fellipec@reddit
No, I can't charter an airplane. Saving some money I can barely rent an U-Haul
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
Can't even afford gas.
Pretty_Aside_7674@reddit
Remember when Micheal Jackson did it?
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
OH CHARTER IT! HE DID IN 1992, I LOOKED IT UP.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
I believe it was to transport stage equipment for a tour.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
Did what?
InitialWorldliness91@reddit
I worked for Antonov Design Bureau (More accurately Air Foyle who managed the fleet). This is all we did. Max cargo was 120T
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
If 120T was the max cargo payload, what was the MTOW?
InitialWorldliness91@reddit
398T ish. Each plane differed by a few tons.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
Similar numbers to the 747 freighters
InitialWorldliness91@reddit
Yes.
FlowBorn5279@reddit
Yes their entire business model is people paying for the plane to move things from A to B
Reader-87@reddit
Yes, indeed you can.
I work in the oilfield and we do charter cargo plans to move equipment, in one occasion we considered charting an An-124. While the weight of the cargo we had to move in that case did not really require an An-124 we were really in urgent need to move the cargo. The advantage of the An-124 in that case was that it has an overhead crane to load it, and therefore the equipment didn’t have to be in crates but could be flown packed in offshore baskets. This would have saved the time to have the crates built and packed are origine and the time to unpack the crates and move the equipment to offshore baskets at destination. But at the end the final decision was to go with a smaller (and cheaper) option, at the cost of couple of more days needed to create everything.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
What aircraft ended up being used to transport the equipment?
HamNEgger_2@reddit
It is. This was an emergency stabilizer replacement flown from Germany to Spain during a cruise ship drydock in 2019. To this day I don't know what the line paid for this air freight and I don't ever want to know. I just organized it.
Jealous-Pea-2141@reddit
The aircraft in your image is an Ilyushin Il-76.
HamNEgger_2@reddit
Nice. Thanks for the clarification. I'm a ship guy, not so much a plane guy but still fascinated with them.
MattheiusFrink@reddit
I used to be a ship guy (USN EM3 DDG-56) but now I'm a plane guy (FAA A&P/IA)
HamNEgger_2@reddit
While we're here, my first time working with Volga, this bird flew us a shaft to a drydock in Freeport, Bahamas in 2018. Is this also an Ilyushin? I'll never forget the short interaction with the pilot when we went to pick up the shaft. "Don't touch my plane."
buckelfipps@reddit
Yes, this is an IL-76. God damn I love that soviet tractor-like design.
DebtUpToMyEyeballs@reddit
Ya, big, wide wheels to spread the weight for landing on gravel or shitty pavement.
sofixa11@reddit
Yes, this is an Il-76, the mainstay of the Soviet and subsequently Russian strategic airlift capabilities. A bunch of dodgy airlines would gladly charter you one if you need to transport ~~~weapons~~~ cargo.
An-124 was the higher capacity but rarer one that Russia has had to mostly retire, and An-225 was the unique beast that was used only for very special cases.
obi2kanobi@reddit
As a dude that did 2 tours in Labor&Delivery, that looks painful AF.......
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
This must be so cool to witness.
devoduder@reddit
Yes. In 2009, the US government contracted with Volga Dniper for AN-124 charters to fly Army Stryker vehicles from Diego Garcia to Afghanistan.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
Don't they have the C5 Galaxy that does that kind of stuff, also practically the same size as the 124.
sofixa11@reddit
Sometimes it's cheaper to outsource, but also the An-124 can lift more.
devoduder@reddit
They do, but for some reason the USAF was using C-17s in conjunction with the AN-124s, plus I think they could only get two strykers in a -17. I got to drive a Stryker along the ramp, nothing like solo driving a $3mil vehicle after five minutes of instruction.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
Must be nerve-racking manuevering this inside the aircraft.
devoduder@reddit
Very slow and methodical process.
Gunpowderwigg@reddit
No of course not, they do everything for free ffs
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
I know you're just being sarcastic, at the moment I didn't know about it, but after reading these comments I learned about it.
unbalancedcheckbook@reddit
I don't often fly Antonov. But when I do, it's in an AN-225.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
I believe that can't fly anymore. But if you do fly again what aircraft would it be if not the 225?
unbalancedcheckbook@reddit
I suppose I'll have to settle for the Hughes H-4 then.
Every-Progress-1117@reddit
Yes. There are charter companies...a quick search reveals:
https://www.aircharterservice.com/aircraft-guide/cargo/antonov-ukraine/antonovan-124
https://aeroaffaires.com/private-jet-hire/cargo-freight-aircrafts/antonov-an-124/#devis
https://jetvip.com/chastnie-samoleti/an-124-ruslan/
The latter gives some suggested costs: New York (USA) to Luton (UK) costs about 107,000eur. If that's too much you can charter the aircraft for a quick hop from Munich (DE) to Milan (IT) for only 22,000eur.
You can charter an A319 Corporate Jet, Helsinki to Heathrow for as cheap as 37,000eur (though most prices seem to be in the 70-80kEur mark). A Learjet is much cheaper at around 16,000eur.
Baynyn@reddit
I worked for a company that had a very large, very expensive piece of capital equipment that was operations critical and we chartered one of these for it.
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
What kind of cargo was transported?
Gand@reddit
In Soviet Russia, the AN-124 contracts you!
CaydeTheCat@reddit
tfm992@reddit
They can be chartered, probably with a quick refuelling stop.
Antonov Airlines will do this for you, while supporting Ukraine's reconstruction. They'll probably be your cheapest quote too.
ThirdSunRising@reddit
A 747 Freighter can carry 100+ tonnes. The Antonov is bigger and can handle bulkier stuff, but if it’s just 100 tonnes of randomness on a single airplane you have choices.
AverellCZ@reddit
It says 150 t on their website
https://aeroaffaires.com/private-jet-hire/cargo-freight-aircrafts/antonov-an-124/
NewAd8721@reddit (OP)
Maybe an Atlas Air 747 freighter that you can rent.
anonduplo@reddit
Of course. I work in the oilfield and it happens regularly.
Loa_Sandal@reddit
Money can be exchanged for goods and services.
XL426@reddit
You pay you get plane. Simple
Gabe_lima@reddit
With the correct amount of money you can do anything you want.
Clemdauphin@reddit
yeah. they do charter. during covid, they were used a lot. France also used them charter for deploying the Serval operation in Mali in 2013, and to transport aid to its oversea region Mayotte that had been destroyed by a cyclone.
Fatal_Explorer@reddit
https://www.antonov-airlines.aero
DazzzASTER@reddit
Half of the BA Concorde fleet just did charters, too. One can exist with the other.
discreetjoe2@reddit
If you have enough money you can do anything.
olddoglearnsnewtrick@reddit
Provided you change all tires.
Zapatos-Grande@reddit
Charter. They did a bunch of charter flights during COVID flying medical supplies around the world.
MidnightSurveillance@reddit
You're wrong, it's possible to charter the aircraft.