Yak-42's, I flew on a Dniproavia one once, aren't as half as 'interesting' as the AN-24's. Those things don't land, they perform controlled crashes, I've never known such relatively high speed touchdowns.
I used to work with AN-124's and the, one and only, AN-225. One day a panel had fallen off the side of the aircraft, to make any repair to an aircraft has to be, or should be, performed in accordance with laid down procedures with even items such as nuts & bolts being aviation approved. Not this AN-124 crew though, the nipped off to the local hardware store for some rivets and a rivet gun, job done :)
Flew from Kiev to Mariupol this time last year... Aerosvit, twin high wing turbo prop with the flower petal props...got some video and pics too...the guy on the tarmac in Mariupol told me to put my camera away.... like I was going to take pictures of some secret something or other!
Jez..I can tell you are not familiar with Ukraine. Do you have any idea how far odessa is to Mariupol? Maybe around 560 km, maybe take at least 7 hours. Is that what you thought??? What can't you just take flight from Kiev to Donsesk and 1 hour taxi ride.
I don't know...maybe you want to see girls from both cities......I hope they will be worth it!!!