| Aircraft Number 03-1 | |
| Current Registration | CCCP-77105 |
| Production Model | Tu-144S “004” (converted to Tu-144D to test new engines). |
| Maiden Flight | 30th November 1974 : Voronezh, USSR. |
| Registration History | Registered CCCP-77105 to Aeroflot - Soviet Airlines. |
| Total Flights | 212 flights. |
| Total Flight Hours | 314 hours. |
| Current Usage | Scrapped in 1995 at Zhukovsky. |
| Notes |
This aircraft became the first Tu-144D model after she was re-engined on the first half of 1976 with Kolesov RD-36-51A engines. On 5th June 1976, 03-1 performed the longest flight of a Tu-144 with a distance of 6,200 km and a payload of 5 tons. This flight confirmed the possibility of a route Moscow - Khabarovsk and assured the continuation of works on Tu-144D. First flight on that route was performed on 22nd February 1977 with a flight time of 3 hours and 23 minutes and 13 tons of remaining fuel. Next day the aircraft returned to Moscow in 3 hours and 26 minutes. As result of these flights, cabin was reconditioned with 60 seats, calculated for a maximum loading of 6,000 kg. In 1981 CCCP-77105 was retired of test flights, stored at Zhukovsky airbase and used as a ground stand for avionics. Was seen for the last time during the MAKS-1993 Airshow dumped on a scrap yard near the runway. |
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CCCP-77105 landing in Khabarovsk on February 1977 after a test flight with RD-36-51A engines. |  |
Black smoke behind shows that aircraft 03-1 is taking off for a new test flight. |
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The first Tu-144D parked in the apron of the Khabarovsk Airport. Copyright Ulyanovsk Museum of History of Civil Aviation-1977. |
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An aerial view of the scrap yard near Zhukovsky where she was dumped. Copyright Brian Elliott-1993. |
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This was the final resting place of the first Tu-144D. Copyright Mark Wagner/aviation-images.com-1993. |
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CCCP-77105 was abandoned, but its sleek lines still stood out among the trees. Copyright Mark Wagner/aviation-images.com-1993. |
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