Giant of skies on cargo flight from Robin Hood Airport

The Antonov AN 225, which left Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport at 8am yesterday, is unique. It has a wing span of 88.4m (290ft), and can carry loads weighing up to 250 tonnes.

Its cargo compartment is 43m (142ft) long, 6.4m (21ft) wide and 4.4m (14ft) high and it took specialists several hours to load the generator, made by a firm in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Bosses at Robin Hood, which was built on the site of the former RAF Finningley airbase, said the airport's massive 3,000m (1.9 mile) runway had made the operation possible.

Cargo director Paul Rodwell said: "The arrival of this magnificent aircraft reflects growing confidence in the airport as one of the UK's leading freighter terminals.

"The AN225 is the largest cargo freighter in the world and we are absolutely thrilled that it was able to land here in Yorkshire, which is a first for the region.

"The aircraft, which operates with a crew of 20 was the only available large freighter with the payload capacity to lift this size and weight of cargo in time for an urgent deadline in Pakistan."

Heavy haulage experts transported the 70-tonne generator from Rugby to South Yorkshire by road and the AN 225 arrived at Robin Hood Airport on Tuesday evening.

Airport bosses said the AN 225's arrival followed a busy few days, which saw airline Jet2 bring in a pride of 13 rescued lions from a Romanian zoo last Friday.

A Boeing 747-400 also flew into the airport last week loaded with the stage equipment for a tour by triple-Brit award-winning singer Lady Gaga who is due to start her UK tour.