Russian (??) cargo jet at IAH
 

There is a huge Russian-looking cargo jet surrounded by spotlights parked on the tarmac at IAH. It's been there forever and a day, it seems.

Does anyone know the story behind this plane?

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Someday we'll reach an understanding - meet me halfway that's where I'm going to be.

[This message has been edited by Intercity Aviation (edited 08-19-2000).]

I know that Boeing are using those planes to deliver the 777 engines to Seattle. The russian jet(the one with the 6 engines) is the only jet that can hold these huge engines inside(Not even the Galaxy!).
I think these engines are manufactured in Ohio. Maybe in Houston too.

I also spotted a Russian-made jet an BWI two weeks back in the cargo area. I think it was an Il-76; it had four engines and high-mounted wings. I didn't have a good enough angle to see the markings.

I see the Russian cargo planes at Boeing Field (King County Airport) on a regular basis.

A funny story about the 777 engines: I was at a Boeing plant and saw them installing some poles and a crossbar just inside the gate. This was used to make sure that the truck would fit under an overpass down the street. A few days earlier the county had finished repaving the street. The folks who loaded a shiny new 777 engine on a truck didn't think about the fact that the pavement was now a couple of inches thicker. I really feel sorry for that truckdriver who heard the crunch as he drove under the overpass. This was one of the first 777 engines when they were getting the first couple of planes out for testing.

Those aircraft (AN-124) come and go...they seem to be there all the time because they sit around and load cargo for a few days (I guess) before going back to Russia. Sometimes you'll see more than one there at a time. I've seen these aircraft at other airports as well - esp at SDF, probably because of the large UPS presence there.

mcrt .. what a neat story! Imagine the PAPERWORK that guy was in for!

And THANK YOU for that heads up you emailed me about Boeing Factory tour on my trip to Seattle .. JUST what I needed. I now gotta find what Hotels downtown they pick up from, so I can book one of those, but the timing looks perfect.

Thanks again. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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~ Glen ~

apirchik, I don't think aircraft engines are manufactured in Houston but given the size of this plane I bet it is used for moving oil field equipment and the like.

This plane always seems to draw conversation on every flight that I'm on that passes it. It's a sight at night because of the floodlights. It can also be seen from the road that leads to the international terminal building.

mcrt, this puts the saying 'giving a few inches and taking a mile' into perspective. In this case some aircraft engines. Yikes, an expensive lesson in planning and communication.

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Someday we'll reach an understanding - meet me halfway that's where I'm going to be.

I have heard this as well. I have a family member who works for Exxon and, while dropping me off at IAH one time, told me the same.

We've noticed the same Russian cargo jet several times (very large aircraft, with high wingset, and four engines), at YYZ - Toronto.

bj-21.

These large Rusian transports are also regularly seen at the former Moffett Field Naval Air Station, now Moffett Federal Airfield, in Sunnyvale, California. It is usually "met" by a Air Force C5 transport.
Maybe transferring cargo ???

-RKG

Great topic, Flew thru IAH just 4 hours ago. I asked my seatmate "do you know the story behind the russian plane?" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

On the way back to work from BKK this morning
(from SFO), I saw another of these transports at Moffett Airfield.

I have seen it too. I fly out of IAH all the time. And the plane seemed never moved. When I was flying back from MEM some guy said that this is the plane where they send cargo to Russia once a week. I think he doesn't know what he is talking about after I saw you guys.

I've also seen it this summer at ICT. Since there is a Boeing plant there, a connection? Word is they buy a ton of cigarettes to take back.

Some of the 777 engines are made in CT too by Pratt & Whitney. I saw one of these large planes at a US military base once too and I heard the story about cigs as well as the plane was headed back to Russia.