Aviation enthusiasts gathered patiently at Perth Airport on Sunday to watch the world's largest plane finally touch down on the runway after being delayed by almost two hours.
The Antonov An-255 Mariya left Prague for Australia on Wednesday, carrying with it a 117-tonne generator that has been purchased by a WA resources company.
While making the journey to Australia, the plane stopped for refuelling in the Middle East and Asia before making the final leg of its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, a mere 4,067 kilometres.
The plane was built in the 1980s to carry the Russian Buran space shuttle above the fuselage. When empty, it weighs just 175 tonnes, but when fully loaded it can hold up to 600 tonnes and is now used to transport massive cargo around the world.