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Tupolev Tu-144, first supersonic airliner
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Tupolev Tu-144, first supersonic airliner
First supersonic airliner. A Tupolev Tu-144 airliner in flight. The Tu-144, known to NATO as Charger, first flew on 31 December 1968, two months before the Anglo-French Concorde. However, the Tu-144 entered passenger service later than Concorde, on 1 November 1977. Progress was severely affected by the crash of one of the prototypes at the Paris Air Show in 1973. A total of 16 aircraft were built, but between them they only managed 55 passenger flights and a further 47 cargo flights before being withdrawn due to continued safety concerns
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Media ID 6332907
© RIA NOVOSTI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Aeroplane Air Craft Air Liner Blue Cargo Charger Cloud Cruise Failure Flight Flying Horizontal Passenger Skies Super Sonic Tupolev Cruising Streamlined White Elephant
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the iconic Tupolev Tu-144, the first supersonic airliner to take flight. With its sleek and streamlined design, this magnificent aircraft soars through the blue skies with effortless grace. Known as "Charger" by NATO, it made its maiden voyage on 31 December 1968, preceding the Anglo-French Concorde by two months. However, despite its groundbreaking achievements, progress for the Tu-144 was marred by a tragic incident at the Paris Air Show in 1973 when one of its prototypes crashed. This setback greatly impacted its development and subsequent passenger service debut on 1 November 1977 – several years after Concorde had already taken to the skies. Despite being built in limited numbers (only sixteen were produced), these remarkable planes managed just 55 passenger flights and an additional 47 cargo flights before safety concerns led to their eventual withdrawal from service. The Tupolev Tu-144 became known as a white elephant due to these challenges. In this image captured by Science Photo Library against a backdrop of fluffy clouds, we witness this engineering marvel cruising at supersonic speeds. It serves as a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries in aviation technology.
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