October 8 - Ruslan International has flown a spectacular, gigantic mechanical dragon from France to China on an AN-124.
'Long Ma Jing Shen' or 'The Spirit of the Horse Dragon' will participate in a Chinese parade to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China, which will take place in Beijing in October.
The unique 12 m high, 46-tonne mechanical model was built in France by La Machine.
The model, which requires at least eight human operators riding aboard to control the puppet's movements, comprises a wooden chassis over a steel body. The dragon has articulations that enable intricate movements, including the ability to rear its hind legs, spew fire, snort jets of smoke and uncoil its tongue. The model sits on a support vehicle enabling it to move at speed.
Andriy Blagovisniy, commercial executive from Ruslan International said: "This ranks among the most unusual and fascinating assignments with which Ruslan International has yet dealt. Specialists from Ruslan International's Load Planning Department developed a custom solution for loading and safely securing this unique cargo, and preparations for the flight took three months. We are delighted to have been involved in the safe transportation of this amazing machine, and look forward to seeing its performance in China."
