Unknown photographer

Wearing show code "361". Not often you see a Tu-144 and a Carvair (G-ASKN) in the same shot!

Sadly this first series-production aircraft was in a fatal crash at Le Bourget a few days later on 3rd June 1973 on a demonstration flight. YAK-40 CCCP-87659 is in the foreground.

Photographer: Svatopluk Hrncirik. K25 slide scan. Built 1977 for LII Zhukovski in Aeroflot colours, displayed at Le Bourget June 1977 with exhibition number 345. Used on trial schedules Moscow-Alma Ata, withdrawn 1981. Flown to Ulyanovsk-Baratayevka 1 June 1984 for display at Civil Aviation Museum.

CCCP-77102 was the first series-production aircraft and made its first flight 29-Mar-1972. It was displayed at the Paris Air Show 1973 where it crashed 03-Jun-1973 on a demonstration flight. It is seen here retracting its wheels on its last take-off with the foreplanes fully extended. A few minutes later the aircraft came down in Goussainville after taking evasive action for a Mirage chase plane that was unknown to the pilots. The aircraft broke up in mid-air because of overstressing the foreplanes and the airframe during the recovery from the dive.

Displaying energetically to the Paris Air Show crowd on the day before it crashed. This view shows the aircraft's planform and canard control surfaces.

Statically displayed before performing for the Paris Air Show crowds.