55 years since the first flight of Ilyushin Il-62 in the USSR

The IL-62 first prototype with 4xAL-7PB turbojet engine performed its maiden flight on January 2, 1963 and was the world's largest jet airliner when first flown. Crew CO's: V.K.Kokkinaki and E.I.Kuznetsov.

The production Il-62 was powered by the originally intended rear-mounted Kuznetsov NK-8-4 engines.

It also known as the first Soviet long-range jet airliner of intercontinental range. The aircraft entered service with Aeroflot in 1967 with a transatlantic flight on Moscow-Montreal route. 

In 1967 the aircraft was presented at the Paris Air Show, it had more powerful engines and increased weight

It entered scheduled passenger services on 10 March 1967 from Moscow to Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk.

The IL-62 was certified to fly in accordance with Standards for Airworthiness of the ICAO for civil aircraft

IL-62 had been used as an Air Force One by USSR and later by Russian Federation.

The aircraft was taken in lease by such companies as IAL (Japan) and Air France.

Photo: Sputnik Images media library