Tu-144 Supersonic civilian aircraft

Celebrate the pioneering era of supersonic travel with the Zvesda Tu-144 Supersonic civilian aircraft kit (HC-Z7045). This 1:144 scale model represents the Soviet Tupolev Tu-144, the world’s first supersonic passenger aeroplane, which first flew on 31 December 1968, ahead of the British-French “Concord”. It entered service on the Moscow–Alma-Ata route in 1975 and later served as a flying laboratory, with NASA using the Tu-144 as a supersonic training aircraft until 1998.

On board, up to 150 passengers could be accommodated, with flight speeds around 2,300 km/h (Mach 2) and cruising altitudes of 16,000–17,000 m. Airframe USSR-77110 carried out regular passenger operations in 1977–78 and appeared at the XXXII International Air Show in Le Bourget in 1977 as exhibition number 345, before moving to the Ulyanovsk Museum of Civil Aviation in 1984.

Features

• Scale is 1:144
• Kit consists of 214 parts
• Model length is 45.7 cm
• Decal sheet included

Aircraft Highlights

• First flight on 31 December 1968, months ahead of the British-French “Concord”
• Entered passenger service in 1975 on the Moscow–Alma-Ata route
• Passenger operations ended in 1978; subsequently used as flying laboratories
• NASA operated the Tu-144 as a supersonic training aircraft until 1998
• Capacity up to 150 passengers; Mach 2 (2,300 km/h) at 16,000–17,000 m cruise
• USSR-77110 flew in 1977–78, displayed at Le Bourget 1977 (No. 345), now at Ulyanovsk Museum