Tupolev Tu-144: The Soviet Supersonic Airliner

Developed in the 1960s/1970s, the Tu—144 was the Soviet Union’s only practical venture into supersonic commercial aviation. Though its career was all too brief, it was a major technological achievement for the Soviet aircraft industry.

The book provides in—depth coverage of the “Concordski,” including projected versions, the Tu—144’s production and service history, and a comparison with the Concorde.

First flown on the last day of 1968—ahead of the Concorde—the Tu—144 had to undergo a lon...