https://cast.pudmed.ir/videos/watch/b7aa5bc8-0095-475c-a29c-d73744f8d5ff The Soviet Union was the largest country on earth. Roads were few. Railways were slow. The only way to bind 15 republics into one nation was the sky. Aeroflot was not just an airline – it was a state monopoly, a propaganda tool, and a lifeline. By the 1970s, it carried more passengers than any other airline in the world. This episode explores the air carriers of the USSR: the jetliners, the turboprops, the supersonic experiment, and the everyday workhorses that moved a superpower. In this full-length episode: ✈️ The First Soviet Jetliner – Tu-104 (1956) – Based on the Tu-16 bomber. The world’s second operational jet airliner (after the Comet). We examine its rushed development, its terrifying rudder reversal problem, and its glamorous debut – carrying Khrushchev on diplomatic tours. Rare footage of the Tu-104 landing with a drogue parachute (brakes were weak). 🐻 The Turboprop Workhorse – Il-18 (1959) – The Soviet DC-6. Four turboprops, 100 passengers, and unmatched reliability. Over 700 built, still flying in North Korea today. Why the Il-18 became the backbone of Aeroflot's domestic network – from Moscow to Siberia to Africa. 🌍 The Long‑Hauler – Il-62 (1967) – The Soviet VC10. Four rear‑mounted engines, a sleek fuselage, and the ability to fly Moscow to Havana non‑stop (with a fuel stop in between). We break down its unique tail‑support landing gear (to prevent tipping while boarding) and its legendary service record – the preferred jet of Soviet leaders and still flying in North Korea. 🚀 The Supersonic Dream – Tu-144 (1968) – The Soviet Concorde. Rushed into passenger service in 1975, withdrawn after a 1978 crash. We cover its beauty, its flaws, and the 1973 Paris Air Show disaster. Was the Tu-144 a genuine achievement or a political vanity project? We let the facts decide. 🏢 The Wide‑Body Era – Il-86 & Il-96 (1980s) – The Soviet answer to the DC-10 and A300. The Il-86 (four engines, 350 passengers, overhead luggage bins finally!) and the Il-96 (modernized, fuel‑efficient, still flying as a presidential transport). Why the Il-86 never sold abroad – and how the Il-96 keeps flying for Cuba and Russia. 🛫 The Regional Fleet – Yak-40, Yak-42, An-24 – The short‑range jets and turboprops that connected every Soviet backwater. The Yak-40 (three engines, could land on grass) became the world’s first regional jet. The An-24 (turboprop) is still crashing – er, flying – in remote corners of the world. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:58:41 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://cast.pudmed.ir https://cast.pudmed.ir/lazy-static/avatars/eed1cb33-d04c-4158-b000-2f2fb9545c13.png https://cast.pudmed.ir/videos/watch/b7aa5bc8-0095-475c-a29c-d73744f8d5ff All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://cast.pudmed.ir/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.