Obituary: Petro Balabuyev

Petro Balabuyev, a lead designer of the world's largest aircraft, the An-225, has died, the Antonov aviation design bureau said. He was 75.

Balabuyev headed the Kiev-based 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, can carry 250 tonnes of cargo for a distance of 4500km.