Big bird Published March 6, 2003 ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFPN) -- A Russian AN-124 is refueled here Feb. 27. The aircraft and crew are under contract to help ship equipment. The aircraft, which has the NATO reporting name Condor, is the world's largest and highest-flying cargo capacity aircraft in production. It is designed for long-range delivery and air dropping of heavy and large-sized cargo, including machines, equipment and troops. The Russian army operates 28 AN-124 aircraft. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Michael Keller)