The crew forgot to lower the landing gear as they were occupied with a cabin pressure problem and had turned off the aural warning system. This happened on 18 August 1970. The Tu-124 was a write-off. Photo from: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich

This Tu-124 was delivered around August 1963 and retired as life-time expired in April 1981 and then preserved in the Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino. Unfortunately, the cabin was badly damaged by fire in 2002 and at the time of this picture temporary protective sheeting had been used to cover the damaged fuselage.

Renovated and looking super! This was the first time for me to see and photograph a Tu124 and at this magnificent museum there are two side by side. I spent a long time taking many detail shots of this beautiful, old airliner.

Renovated and looking super! This was the first time for me to see and photograph a Tu124 and at this magnificent museum there are two side by side. I spent a long time taking many detail shots of this beautiful, old airliner.

Where else could you find not one but two Tu-124s on show? Looking fine after recent repainting alongside sister-ship 50257, this rare machine was originally displayed back in the 1990s in a strange pink colour scheme

Above all in India this was the target I most wanted to shoot. Nicely preserved and looking like it's ready for another VIP mission, this was one of three delivered to India in Oct 1966. V642 was recently rediscovered in Lucknow (that is what I call Luck Now!) preserved sat the zoo and V643 crashed on landing at Jorhat in Assam on 5.11.77

Tupolev Tu-124V 'Cookpot' in Aeroflot markings exhibited at the 1965 Paris Air Show.