GAC Logistics UK recently welcomed an Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest aircraft, to the UK at Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
'It is really exciting to see the Antonov at East Midlands,' said Bronwyn Mead, Manager of GAC Logistics' East Midlands branch. 'The aircraft was originally designed to carry the Russian Space Shuttle. However, with the scaling down of the Russian space program, the Antonov is now used commercially for out of gauge and special movements.'
The 84-meter long Antonov An-225 Mryia was chartered to return sound and stage equipment from the first annual 'This Day' festival staged in Lagos to mark the 46th anniversary of Nigerian independence.
Event organiser Ola Joshua said the two day extravaganza was the biggest event to be hosted in Africa and easily the number one music event anywhere in the world this year. Stars of the show included internationally-acclaimed artists like Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg, who appeared on stage alongside a host of top Nigerian acts.
'We needed to charter an aircraft of such dimensions because of the sheer volume of equipment and the critical timescales we were working to,' says Martin Corr from Sound Moves, who partnered GAC in this transportation operation.
'The 'This Day' festival was a massive event held in the glare of the world's publicity spotlight - there was absolutely no margin for error. We chose GAC Logistics to clear the return of the equipment to the UK because our two companies always work well together to meet the needs of the music industry.'
