The Antonov AN-124 is one of the world’s largest cargo planes – second only to the AN-225. Yesterday morning the biggest military transport aircraft in the world did a loop over Kemptville on it’s way to the Ottawa International Airport. CBC was on site recording the plane landing around 11:00am in Ottawa. It was travelling from Dakar, Senegal. North Grenville Fire Prevention Officer Shannon Armitage was outside when the plane flew overhead.
The North Grenville Fire Service was at Kemptville Public School doing a ladder truck demonstration with a group of grade one students. Armitage posted the trajectory of the plane on the Eastern Ontario And Ottawa Valley Road Conditions Real Time Facebook page and one person commented it flew so low it shook their house. Armitage says the sight of the plane was awe-inspiring.
The plane is manufactured in Kiev and Russia. It is designed for long-range delivery and air dropping of heavy cargo including machines, equipment and troops. There have only been about 50 AN-124 planes built since the ‘80s.