It was supposed to be a Soviet triumph. Instead, it became the most public crash in the history of Cold War aviation. A ...

The Tupolev Tu-144 first flew on December 31st, 1968, two months before the Anglo-French jet. Both were supposed to be able to travel long distances at speeds similar to military aircrafts.

Something that certainly did not help the Tu-144 was the 1973 accident during that year's Paris Air Show. While conducting a display, the Tu-144, CCCP-77102, entered a sharp dive.

Second Crash. The Tu-144 was only introduced into passenger service in November 1977. It may have resembled its Anglo-French counterpart, but it lacked the luxuries of the Concorde.

When the first Tupolev Tu-144 thundered its way into aeronautical history 50 years ago, lifting off from Zhukovksy airfield on the last day of 1968, much of the supersonic programme remained ...

The Tu-144 first flew in 1968, two months before the Concorde. Top speed was an impressive Mach 2.15, slightly faster than the Concorde, and it could carry over 40 more passengers.

The Tu-144 reportedly flew a paltry 102 flights, only 55 of which actually carried any passengers. Compared to its arch-rival Concorde, the Tu-144 was a fiasco, draining precious time and rubles ...

The tragedy took place in front of more than 250,000 spectators who had gathered to watch flights by both the Tu-144 and Concorde, the world’s only other supersonic passenger jet.