On November 15, 1957, the first flight of the Tu-114 Russia.
The world's largest passenger plane was equipped with four NK-12MV turboprop engines with coaxial propellers with a total power of 60,000 horsepower. Two decks, three spacious saloons, four cabins (twelve beds) and a personal chef as part of the crew. On the upper deck were passenger lounges (including sleeping compartments), while on the lower deck were cargo compartments, a rest room for the crew and a kitchen with an elevator for serving prepared meals.
The passenger plane carried between 170 and 220 passengers and had a practical flight range of up to 9,720 kilometers. During their flight, Tu-114s were only part of the fleet of Aeroflot and Japan Airlines. In addition, the Tu-114 was also used for long-distance flights of senior officials of the Soviet Union and of various government delegations, for long-distance demonstration and commercial flights within the Soviet Union, to the USA, Canada, India and African countries.
During its operation, the Russian Tu-114 set 32 world aviation records for speed and payload for propeller-driven vehicles. In 1958, at the World Exhibition in Brussels, the ship was awarded the highest prize, the Grand Prix. The cessation of activity in civil airlines of the Tu-114 occurred ten years after the end of serial production, in December 1976.
@ "Post-Soviet secular" comes from childhood!