The Tu-144 Makes Its First Flight
The Tupolev Tu-144 made its first flight on December 31, 1968.
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The Event
The Tupolev Tu-144 made its first flight on December 31, 1968. It became the first supersonic transport design to fly.
The Wider Story
The prototype's takeoff preceded Concorde's first flight. Subsequent testing and major design changes lay ahead.
Putting the Event in Perspective
The first flight was not a supersonic passenger service or proof of commercial success.
Reading the Historical Record
A reconstruction must distinguish the original prototype from later Tu-144 versions.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: the early Tu-144 prototype taking off from a Soviet airfield in winter 1968. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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