CCCP-L5400 ¦ ZRH 06.1957

Tupolev Tu.104 (c/n 5400?)

Tupolev Design Bureau (OKB-156)

Zürich-Kloten (ZRH/LSZH)

June 1957

 

The Tupolev Tu.104 was the first successful jet airliner, with its prototype, CCCP-L5400, first flying on 17 June 1955. Painted in full Aeroflot colours of that time, it made a surprise visit to Heathrow on a diplomatic mission in 1956, and was eventually displayed at the Salon du Bourget in June 1957.

 

Shortly after the Salon, the aircraft visited Zürich for the 1957 Zürich International Aviation Exhibition, and was captured parked within the show area on runway 16, attracting huge interest by the crowd.

 

Despite wearing Aeroflot colours, CCCP-L5400 was never part of Aeroflot's official fleet, but rather remained with the manufacturer as a testbed. Its further fate is widely unknown, but since prototypes were rarely preserved it may be safe to assume it has been broken-up, perhaps as early as the late fifties, when production Tu.104s entered service.

 

(from my collection - credit due to photographer)

Done