An-225 flies south

AN An-225, the world’s largest fixed-wing aircraft, has transported four giant pieces of oil and gas equipment, almost 150 tons, from Houston to Sao Paulo. This is the first time the An-225 had been used for an operation in South America.

The equipment will form part of a Petrobras refinery project in Paulínia, in the state of Sao Paulo.

The Brazilian office of Chapman Freeborn, which chartered the giant aircraft, was involved in the preparations and loading of four valves each weighing 37 tonnes. They were assisted by the company’s US team, experts in Houston and Sao Paulo who oversaw the loading using 100-ton cranes to manoeuvre the pieces onto the aircraft.

Andre Rodrigues, country manager of Chapman Freeborn Brazil, said: “We’re proud to be the first company to bring the An-225 to South America and will use the experience and lessons learned in this successful charter in future projects.”

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