Hahn, Germany - A 190-ton generator bound for a gas-powered electricity plant in the Armenian capital Yerevan will be the heaviest item ever delivered by air freight, staff at a German airport said Monday.

A Ukrainian-built Antonov 225 plane is to lift off Sunday from Hahn Airport, west of Frankfurt.

While larger loads have been carried by air, they have always comprised several items. "This is the largest single item ever delivered by air," the airport said.

It will take several hours to carefully load the machine into the plane. Armenia is landlocked, and otherwise can only be reached by road and rail. (dpa)