I think it was more a propaganda thing by the Soviets at that time to try to convince airlines in the west that they could produce a jet airliner that was better than western airliners,I think the price tag being offered ,was about 60 % less than an equivilent western airliner,I remember that shambles of an operation out of MAN with the YAK-42, was it flown on behalf of Air Scandic by any chance.