Originally Posted by
YVR Cockroach
Was it a one-of? It certainly was useful for its (very) heavy lift (and wide size) capacity which may not be replaceable. If any airlines need a GE-90-110/115 (or even bigger) engine flown into a remote airport to replace a blown engine, the alternatives may be slow and painful.
Yes, the An-225 was a one-off. Only one was built and as you note, carried unique cargo not transportable by other aircraft types and alternate methods could be very slow.
I saw this aircraft just a few weeks ago at Billund, Denmark. I could see it across the ramp while in the terminal. Hundreds if not thousands of people came out to line the airport perimeter fence watch the An-225 depart. We taxied out and then had to hold while the An-225 crossed the runway.