Jetliners of the Red Star

This is a story that has never been told before, pulling back the Iron Curtain to reveal the lives of the jet airliners of the Soviet Union, full of previously unseen stories and previously unpublished information.

The Tupolevs, Ilyushins and Yakovlevs, including the supersonic Tu-144, get a chapter each, lavishly illustrated with rare photos from the past and present. An introductory essay details the history of Aeroflot and the Soviet aerospace establishment. Tragedy and triumph, crushing defeats and stratospheric successes in the parallel world of the airline scene during the Cold War.
This book tells the story of every jetliner produced by the Soviet Union, including the Tupolev Tu-104 (the world’s first successful passenger jet), the Ilyushin Il-62 (Aeroflot’s flagship) and the supersonic rival to Concorde, the Tu-144. Other chapters cover the Tu-154 workhorse, the Il-86/-96 jumbo jet and the world’s first regional jet, the Yak-40 (and -42). The meltdown of political certainties coincided with the Tu-204, which was able to form a bridge out of the old Soviet era into the current age. The story of commercial aviation and aero engineering behind the Iron Curtain is told in fascinating detail accompanied by beautiful illustrations taken from Russian archives by Charles Kennedy, one of aviation’s best-known writers. Not only for aviation fans but also a fascinating look Soviet history, European socialism and the evolution of technology.
Additional info
Chapter each on the Tu-104/-124, -134, -144, -154 & -204; Il-62 & -86/-96; Yak-40/-42; and an essay on the history of Aeroflot. Bonus feature: SU’s epic winter 1985/86 timetable reproduced in full. 158 pages and over 250 classic pics.

Author Biography

Charles Kennedy is one of civil aviation s best-known writers, whose books include DC-8 & The Flying Tiger Line, Story of the MD11, Tiger 747, Jetliners of the Red Star and Air3 (with Sam Chui). He is a regular features writer for Airliner World, Aviation News and Airways magazines. The interest in aviation started in his 70s Sydney childhood, and bloomed in the 80s after his family moved to England, necessitating a trip to Australia every other year, flying every exotic combination of airline and hardware along the Kangaroo Route plus the inaugural non-stop Qantas London to Perth scheduled flight. Charles piloting experience includes the Piper PA-28, North American TF-51 Mustang, time logged on the MiG-15 and training on the 707 simulator at the Pan Am International Flight Academy in Miami.