Tupolev TU-144 first commercial flightIn 1975, theTupolev-144, the first passenger supersonic jet (SST) carried only mail and freight on its first commercial flightfrom Moscow to Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. Although built to carry up to 140 passengers, it was at first limited to service carrying mail instead, because it was so loud.The expensive twice weekly flights were cut to weekly in Jun 1976. Passenger service did begin on 1 Nov 1977 on the same Moscow to Alma-Ata route. Plagued with chronic mechanical problems, the service ended 1 Jun 1978 after 102 flights. Officials mothballed the inefficient and dangerous aircraft. The first disastrous crash had occurred at the prestigious Paris air show on 3 Jun 1973 killing all six crew on board, and eight persons on the ground. Aeroflot ceased flying the Tupolev-144 SST airplanes on 6 June 1978. |
