Aviation Photo #1154473 Antonov An-70 - Antonov Design Bureau

Really rare photo and actually the first one in the A.net database: An-70 first prototype at the phase of ground testing approximately one month before its maiden flight (took place 16-Dec-1994). Unfortunately this unique aircraft was tragically lost with its crew on 10 February 1995 during 4th test flight in a midair collision with An-72 chase-plane. This shot is my own tribute to the test pilots and flight engineers I personally met with and who were lost at that fatal accident in February 1995...