Tu-154

The Tu-154 is a foundational Soviet-era trijet airliner, manufactured by the Tupolev Design Bureau. Tupolev, one of Russia’s most venerable aircraft design bureaus, has a history tracing back to 1922, founded by Andrei Tupolev. The bureau is responsible for designing some of the most enduring military and civil aircraft in Russian aviation history.

The Tu-154 was conceived to replace older turboprop airliners like the Tu-104 and Ilyushin Il-18, serving as the backbone of Aeroflot and the primary large passenger jet in the communist world. Production saw a total of 1,026 units built, making it the most popular large passenger jet from that era.

The aircraft was actively supplied to many countries across Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It remained the main passenger carrier in post-Soviet states until the early 2000s, when newer, more efficient single-aisle airliners began to replace it. Production officially ceased in 2013, though some units continue to fly today in military and special government structures.