Civilian Airplanes

I've always like airplanes, both military and civilian.  Many years ago, I took an interest in rare airplanes models, and that took me into Soviet civilian airplanes. I just simply wanted to be different in the model shows. That doesn't mean I didn't care for "domestics".

The first successful domestic jet airliner, the Boeing 707
Scale: 1/144
Company: I think this is an Airfix kit but I'm not sure
 

Antonov An-24
Scale: 1/100
Company: VEB Plasticart
The An-24 entered service in 1962, and about 1150 were built. It was exported to over 20 countries. This model wears Interflug markings, the East German carrier that operated from 1958 until 1990.  In 1991, it was liquidated and the 32 aircrafts in its fleet were sold.

Yakovlev Yak-40
Scale: 1/100
Company: VEB Plasticart
This short range small jet is capable of operating on grass fields in remote locations.  Aeroflot had over 600 in service at one point. 

Tupolev Tu-134
Scale: 1/100
Company: VEB Plasticart
The Tu-134 flew for the first time in 1964, and entered service in 1966.  As you can see decals are beginning to show its age.

Tupolev Tu-154
Scale: 1/100
Company: VEB Plasticart
The Tu-154 medium range tri-jet flew for the first time in 1968. It entered service in 1972.  It is still used as the standard airliner for domestic routes in Russia.

Ilyushin IL-62
Scale: 1/100
Company: VEB Plasticart
The long range  IL-62 first flew in January 1963, and entered service in 1967.  It was produced until 1994, but many still remain in service.

Tupolev Tu-144
Scale: 1/100
Company: VEB Plasticart
This is the fabled Tu-144 also referred as the Concordskii.  It first flew on Dec 31st, 1968, a few months before the Concorde.  It has always been speculated that Soviet agents did espionage on the Concorde early designs. In 1973, the first production Tu-144 crashed at the Paris Air Show, and the cause of the crash is still a controversy today. Only 16 were ever built, and it saw  very limited  service.  In the late 90's NASA used a Tu-144 as a test platform for research.  That program was cancelled in 1999. 

Convair 880
Scale: 1/126
Company: Glencoe (ex- Hawk molds)
This is one of my earliest airliner models, built in the early 90's.  The scale is odd: 1/126.  It was painted Testors white but it has yellowed over time.

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