It was a tragedy which made headlines around the world and marked the beginning of the end for Concorde, the world’s most famous supersonic passenger airliner.
Air France Flight 4590 crashed during take-off on this day 21 years ago, killing all 109 people onboard. A little over three years later, the global Concorde fleet was retired.
But whilst the ultra-fast plane remains a global icon, its Russian-built competitor is far less well-known.
On December 31, 1968, three months before Concorde’s first test flight, the Tupolev Tu-144 – which was dubbed the ‘Konkordski’ due to its resemblance to its Western competitor – was unveiled by the Moscow-based Voronezh Aircraft Production Association.
Named after A.N. Tupolev, the Soviet engineer who designed it, the plane was wheeled out of a secret hangar and successfully completed a 38-minute trip at record-setting speeds.
At the start of the following June, the plane became the first passenger airliner to go faster than the speed of sound, beating the British-French Concorde by four months.
In May 1970, the airliner then became the world’s first commercial transport plane to exceed Mach 2, or 1522.41 miles per hour.
But it was also dogged by disaster – the most famous being when it fell out of the sky and burst into flames at the Paris Air Show on June 3, 1973, killing six crew members and eight people on the ground, including three children.
Its myriad design flaws also meant that it was so loud that passengers reported being unable to have a conversation whilst onboard.
On December 31, 1968, three months before Concorde’s first test flight, the Tupolev Tu-144 – which was dubbed the ‘Konkordski’ due to its resemblance to its Western competitor’ – was unveiled by the Moscow-based Voronezh Aircraft Production Association. Above: The plane in Germany in 1971
Named after A.N. Tupolev, the Soviet engineer who designed it, the plane was wheeled out of a secret hangar and successfully completed a 38-minute trip at record-setting speeds
The incident at the Paris Air Show set progress on the airliner back, meaning Concorde won the race to be the first to launch a passenger service in 1975.
Two years later – on November 1, 1977 – the Tupolev Tu-144 finally welcomed customers on an Aeroflot route between Moscow and Alma-Ata (now Almaty) in Kazakhstan.
The plane carried passengers at a speed of around 1,200mph and at an average height of 52,000ft.
However, the following year, the commercial service was stopped after another test flight crash and a string of failures.
The Tupolev Tu-144 continued to fly cargo routes until it was finally grounded in 1983.
Like Concorde, it was prohibitively expensive to run the Tupolev Tu-144 and it was plagued by malfunctions.
Unlike its Western competitor, the plane was bigger, heavier and less technologically advanced. It was also loud and uncomfortable for passengers.
Concorde’s Air France Flight 4590 (pictured) crashed during take-off on this day 21 years ago, killing all 109 people onboard. A little over three years later, the global Concorde fleet was retired. But whilst the ultra-fast plane remains a global icon, its Russian-built competitor is far less well-known
Like Concorde, it was prohibitively expensive to run the Tupolev Tu-144 and it was plagued by malfunctions. Unlike its Western competitor, the plane was bigger, heavier and less technologically advanced. It was also loud and uncomfortable for passengers. Above: Its interior
Whilst the Tu-144 was larger and more powerful than Concorde, it was also 20 tonnes heavier, meaning its aerodynamic performance was not as good: Above: Air hostesses are seen smiling at a press event for the plane in 1969
Concorde had pioneered some cutting-edge technology – such as an electronic fly-by-wire control system and carbon-based brakes.
Its advanced systems meant its wings also slightly changed shape during flight to reduce drag.
By contrast, whilst the Tu-144 was larger and more powerful than Concorde, it was also 20 tonnes heavier, meaning its aerodynamic performance was not as good.
At the 1973 Paris Air Show, the Tu-144’s pilots were seeking to wow the spectators as they competed with Concorde, which was also on display.
After Concorde had taken off and put on a dazzling display, the Tu-144 took off and made an initial 360-degree turn, which was successful.
But when it levelled off and began descending towards the ground, the plane could not withstand the stress it came under and it began to break up.
The plane then crashed in a nearby village, killing everyone onboard as well as eight French civilians on the ground.
The plane was dogged by disasters – the most famous being when it fell out of the sky and burst into flames at the Paris Air Show on June 3, 1973, killing six crew members and eight people on the ground, including three children. Above: The aftermath of the crash
After Concorde had taken off and put on a dazzling display, the Tu-144 took off and made an initial 360-degree turn, which was successful. But when it levelled off and began descending towards the ground, the plane could not withstand the stress it came under and it began to break up. The plane then crashed in a nearby village, killing everyone onboard as well as eight French civilians on the ground
The Tu-144 is seen in France in 1973. On November 1, 1977 – the Tupolev Tu-144 finally welcomed customers on an Aeroflot route between Moscow and Alma-Ata (now Almaty) in Kazakhstan
From left to right: The Tupolev Tu-144’s test pilot Mikha Kozlov, the engine’s commander Edouard Elian, the chief engineer A.A. Tupolev, the academician A.N. Tupolev and engineers Vladimir Benderov and Yuri Seliverstov
Whilst some put the crash down to pilot error, some Russian observers claimed that a Mirage fighter aircraft which was also being exhibited had caused the pilot to swerve and lose control.
Regardless of the exact reason for the crash, the disaster shook the world’s faith in the Russian plane.
It was not until 1977 that passengers started to fly on the Tu-144 – a year after Concorde began doing so.
However, passengers said that they were unable to even have a conversation onboard because the noise from the aircraft was so loud.
Part of the noise stemmed from the vast air conditioning units, which were necessary to prevent passengers from overheating.
Tu-144 continued to fly cargo routes until it was finally grounded in 1983. Above: Observers look at the plane during a press event
Soviet aircraft Tupolev Tu-144 is seen, 12 December 1968, during its maiden flight. It was built under the direction of engineer Alexei Tupolev
People who travelled on the Tu-144 also complained that the seating was too cramped and that the toilets did not work.
The final straw for the plane came in 1978, when a modified variant crashed on a pre-delivery flight to operator Aeroflot.
When Aeroflot decided to pull the plug on the plane in 1982, the Tu-144 had carried out just 102 commercial flights – only 55 of which had passengers onboard.
By comparison, Concorde flew more than 50,000 flights with British Airways alone.
By the end of the 1980s, all the Tu-144s had been mothballed, after a brief period in which some where used to train crew for planned Soviet space shuttle flights.
Overall, 16 Tu-144s were built, compared to 20 Concordes.