Originally Posted by
OUAQUKGF Ops
I was a passenger on an Il86 flying from Alma-Ata to Moscow in 1986. After a very bumpy approach the pilot pulled off an absolute greaser of a landing at Moscow and the whole cabin erupted with cheers and clapping.
All of that was standard stuff on old Soviet aircraft. Not just the embarrassing applause on every touchdown, but the universal greaser as well. It carried on with Tu154s to recent times. I don't quite know how they do it, but Russians have commented (and my experience is likewise) on the Western-style thumper percentages now that Boeing/Airbus are pretty universal in Russian fleets.
Some other countries do the clapping as well. The Air France A340 destroyed by fire in the Toronto overrun accident apparently had the pax do applause on touchdown, immediately followed by the flight deck command to Brace ...