Apparently, an acronym ‘NG’, that was first used in the world of aviation for purposes of indicating a new, renovated line of an old but proven design, the Boeing-737, turned to be catchy. At least, for me. Now, as they talk about resuming construction of large Antonov transport planes at Ulyanovsk aircraft manufacturing plant, I decided to tentatively dub the project by the same two-lettered suffix - ‘NG’.
It is said in Russian aviation and business media that the ‘Volga-Dnepr‘, a Russian outsized cargo specialist has placed an order for a number of ‘new generation’ Antonov-124 freighters. Reportedly, the order is for as much as 40 units, and ‘Volga-Dnepr‘ wants to have a first bunch of 20 built in the period between the years of 2011 and 2020. The next twenty are expected to be ready within the next 6 years, to the end of 2027.
OK, I’m not sure if they’ll ever use that ‘NG’ acronym at all. But it has been stated clearly, the design of newer Antonovs is going to incorporate a lot of modern technology, and planes will definitely get the new, much better engines. The ‘NG’s are called so far ‘Antonov-124-100 M-150′. Or, ‘Antonov-124M-150′. Anyway, we can’t be sure of the exact model’s designator until we see it on board of the real bird 
Hopefully, it’s going to happen in an outlined period of time.
As for now, aviation ‘aficionados’ all around the globe still have a chance to spot the current ‘124-100′ airframes, and the Canadian soil in not an exception. I’ve just seen one, RA-82074, at Calgary, parked on the cargo ramp of the airport.
I drove to work on the 19th of November, and as I took the McCall Way heading to the WJ hangar, a sight of a large aircraft tail sticking out above the ‘roof line’ of buildings that runs along the 78 Ave NE, caught my attention. Almost instantly I recognized the sigh, for it was not the first time when I’m seeing the similar picture.
This one was taken in the last year’s May.
I checked the clock, it looked as I still had some sufficient time before reporting, so I made a little ‘detour’ in an attempt to get better look at the ‘behemoth’.
Later, on the evening of the same day, when we got back to Calgary after a trip to Comox, trundling down the taxiway ‘H’ toward the terminal I took a quick shot of the same ‘Ruslan’ parked for overnight..
I’m thinking, next time the Ruslan is in Calgary, I’ll try to find a place where the crew stays for overnight. And then, we’ll find out in more detail, ‘what the NG-deal is’..
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