View Full Version : Conkordski
angels
1st Jul 2003, 20:46
A mate of mine claims that the so-called Conkordski (Konkordski?) is currently flying twixt Moscow and Vladivostok.
I'm sure this is bollix.
Can someone confirm this is nonsense?
Don't know about it but I think NASA bought one for research. Perhaps it's them who's out flyin' intra Russia ;)
spekesoftly
2nd Jul 2003, 00:15
AFAIK - The NASA/Tu144 joint research programme finished some years ago.
Details here. (http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Research/TU-144/)
PaperTiger
2nd Jul 2003, 00:46
Aeroflot's TU-144 service was between Moscow and Alma Ata. It began in 1977 and didn't last very long. Various dates for the cessation of service are given - some as early as 1978, others have it lasting until 1983 (the Soviets weren't exactly forthcoming about its retirement). But certainly it's been over a long time and claims of current service are, as you say, bollux.
The NASA involvement lasted about a year and the airplane is rumoured to have been sold via Ebay !
eBay? Wouldn't that have caused enough attention for us all remember?
PaperTiger
2nd Jul 2003, 02:46
A bit of googling suggests the TU-144 was on Ebay (asking $10M) for a week. Ebay removed it before the end of the auction.
http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/aeronews/conv/article_May_2001_30_100.htm