Air Koryo, Ilyushin Il-62M

One of 7 Russian aircraft I will fly in during my visit to North Korea later this year. When I come back from the trip, I will have my own photos to post.

As successor to the popular turbo-prop Il-18 and with capacity for almost 200 passengers, the Il-62 was the largest jet airliner when it first flew in 1963. It entered Aeroflot service on 15 September 1967 with an inaugural passenger flight from Moscow to Montreal. One of four pioneering designs (the others being Boeing 707, DC-8, and VC10), the Il-62 was the first such type to be operated by the Soviet Union and a number of other nations, becoming the standard long-range airliner for several decades. It was the first Russian pressurised aircraft with non-circular cross-section fuselage and ergonomic passenger doors, and the first Russian jet with six-abreast seating (the turbo-prop Tu-114 shared this arrangement) and international-standard navigation lights.

The Il-62M became the longest-lasting model in its class with some being in civilian service for three decades. Expensive to operate compared to new generation airliners, the number in use was reduced after the 2008 recession. The Il-62's successors include the wide-bodied Il-86 and Il-96, both of which were made in smaller numbers and not widely exported.

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Photo Source: Yaoleilei