Victor Yushchenko has offered sympathy to Rayisa Balabuyeva over the demise of her husband, Petro Balabuyev, internationally famous aircraft designer.
The President described his death as an “irreparable loss for his relatives, friends, colleagues, our nation and the international aviation community” and said Balabuyev “will forever be remembered in our hearts.”
Balabuyev headed the Kiev-based Antonov bureau for almost 20 years, and was the top designer for many aircraft, including the An-225 and the An-124-100.
The six-engine An-225, which first flew in 1988, is capable of carrying 275 tons of cargo for a distance of 2,790 miles. The An-124-100 has a capacity of 165 tons. Both planes are also noted for their ability to land smoothly at poorly equipped airports.
