Ex East German AF 177. Served Interflug from December 1975 until 1986, latterly as DDR-SCZ.

These were infrequent visitors to Heathrow at the time

Apparently the c/n plate on this bomber navigation trainer reads ' 6350705' suggesting that a digit may have been omitted as this does not fit the factory sequence

Memories of the great viewing deck on the Queen's building at Heathrow.

Of all my trips to Russia & the CIS, this has to be one of the very best, with superb photo opportunities of great subjects - as a huge fan of Russian types, it was perfection. Although I'd already shot this colourful 134 in Moscow, it was good to catch it with this interesting backdrop, with parts of the old and new terminals visible. Built 7.77, from Aeroflot to Komiavia 4.95 and Atyrau 12.98; seen at Atyrau airport in 2013 with registration painted out

On a rare visit to London, this was the personal aircraft of Mozambique's president Samora Machel. He was killed aboard the same aircraft when it crashed in the Lebombo mountains at Mbuzini in eastern Transvaal on 19 Oct 86 after navigational problems and a 32-sec GPWS warning

Here in the later colours, this 1971-vintage 134 was wfu in late 1994 after an incident in which the crew had to cut a hole with the fire axe in order to force the landing gear to lower. B/u at BUD early 1997

Note the navigator's access to the glazed nose.

A Government/military aircraft

One of the highlights of my first visit to SHJ. Delivered to the Angolan Government back in 1978 and active till at least 2003, although reported wfu at Luanda since 2006

Delivered in July 1968, this was one of the first Interflug Tu-134s and is not a Tu-134A. Preserved at Magdeburg with one of its Soloviev D-30 engines.

This aircraft is the largest aircraft on display at the Polish Aviation museum. It is displayed untitled but is ex LOT. Unfortunately it has fallen victim to graffitti artists.

Interflug bird preserved at Merseburg, near Halle. Il-62 DM-SEC is also here.

Mozambique's presidential aircraft was not a common sight in Europe, so its visit to Rotterdam Airport was very welcome. This aircraft crashed near Nelspruit, South Africa three years later, on 19 October 1986. The aircraft broke up and caught fire, killing 26 of the 36 passengers, including President Machel.