Airliner Aviation Art Print of an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-144 Charger by Aviation Artist Roger Murray AGAvA
Not to be left behind by developments in the west, the USSR also undertook a supersonic airliner project that resulted in the Tupolev Tu-144, codenamed “Charger” by NATO. First flying two months before Concorde the programme was beset by problems with the aircraft entering service with Aeroflot in 1977 . Known by the term “Concordski” in the west, the aircraft bears a striking similarity to the Anglo-French aircraft. Following another crash in 1978 the remaining aircraft were taken off of passenger duties and retained as Cargo aircraft and trainers. The last commercial flight was in 1984.
