POSTCARD N.70 - Russia

Postcrossing postcard sent  the 4th March; received on the 29th March
Postcard image: Tupolev 154-M
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Cover 86 contained this lovely postcard of a Tupolev 154-M. Thank you so much Julia.

Arguably the most used transport jet aircraft for medium haul produced in the former Soviet Union, the Tupolev 154 first flew in 1972, following the lines of the no less famous tri-jets of the time, Boeing 727 and Hawker Siddley Trident.

Having been subject to several modifications over the years of its operational history, the TU 154 which initially was powered by three Kuznetsov NK-8-2U turbofan engines, each delivering 20,950 lbf of thrust, would be reengined in its TU 154 M version, produced from 1982 on, with  3 Soloviev D-30KU-154 turbofans, each delivering 23,000 lbf .

The success of the design can be grasped from the number of civil operators that in 39 countries relied on its services, with the air forces of no less than 14 countries also using the type in its military guise.

The last commercial flight of the type, performed by  RA-85757 from   Alrosa airlines, a Russian operator, took place on 28 October 2020, between Mirny and Novosibirsk.