Registered 03.2003. Not fitted out as a VIP aircraft.

Wears Aeroflot titling but not operated by them.

An interesting visitor from the opposite side of the Mediterranean.

This was one of many tantalising hulks at Zhukovsky, to which there was no access, visible from the public area at MAKS 2013.

This was one of many tantalising hulks at Zhukovsky, to which there was no access, visible from the public area at MAKS 2013.

Taxiing out past the Spectators Terrace to Runway 07 Left for departure at 8pm. (D60 ISO 100 1/250th @ F5.6)

The year the Russians came… There was a large Russian presence at the Australian International Airshow in 1995 including this prototype of the Tu-204 with Rolls Royce RB211 engines and western avionics.

THe SM variant is a two-pilot, ugraded version of the Tu-204 with new engines and avionics. This example was on static display at MAKS 2013.

Part of Russian President Putin's entourage. Note dorsal hump

Air Koryo's singleton 'short' Tu-204, delivered in 12.97 after a long period of storage at Ulyanovsk as RA-64012 prior to conversion to Srs 300

A week later, this was our transport back to Beijing. Never an easy type to pick up as a ride, it was interesting to make comparisons with contemporary western types. Seemed spacious, comfortable and superficially at least, not far off Airbus standards of quality. One of two in the fleet (the other is the short -300 variant), originally intended for Red Wings but delivered to Air Koryo in 3.10 after engine test-bed work

Newly completed at this time and not so often seen in these original colours as she passed to Kras Air after only a year. More recently became one of Red Wings' first aircraft (5.07)

The Tu-204-300 is a shortened variant of the Tu-204, originally known as Tu-234.