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It's been a minute, but my latest build is the Zvezda Il-62. The Ilyushin Il-62 was originally developed in the Soviet Union. It was the first passenger aircraft in the Soviet Union designed for long-distance flights. The prototype of the Il-62 made its maiden flight on January 3, 1963. However, the Il-62 was only put into service with the Soviet airline Aeroflot in 1967. At that time, it was one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, boasting a large range and the capability to perform transatlantic flights. The aircraft had four jet engines and could carry approximately 200 passengers. The unique feature of the four jet engines positioned at the rear of the fuselage was shared with only a few other aircraft types, namely the Vickers VC-10 and the Lockheed Jetstar. This design similarity led to accusations of espionage between the UK and the USSR, but no evidence was ever provided by either side. It is more likely that the requirements for a new aircraft from British Airways on one hand and Aeroflot on the other hand were somewhat similar, leading engineers to arrive at comparable solutions. During the Cold War, the Il-62 was frequently used by the Soviet government for diplomatic travels and official state visits. The aircraft was also utilized by other airlines in countries friendly to the Soviet Union, such as Interflug and LOT. Over the years, various variants and improved models of the Il-62 were developed. The Il-62M, introduced in 1978, featured an extended range and several aerodynamic improvements. In total, over 280 Il-62 aircraft were built. With the fall of the Soviet Union and subsequent economic challenges in Russia, the usage of the Il-62 declined. Modern aircraft with better fuel efficiency and advanced technology became more popular. Nevertheless, some airlines and charter companies, including Air Koryo, still operate the Il-62 for cargo and passenger flights. It holds a place in aviation history as an iconic aircraft from the Soviet era. Now, about the title "Aeroflot/KLM." Did KLM operate the Il-62? Indeed! Or at least, partially. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union closed its airspace to Western airlines (unfortunately, history repeats itself in this regard). As a result, flights between Europe and the Far East had to detour and make interim stops for refueling. Most airlines opted for a layover in Anchorage, Alaska. To offer passengers a faster route to the Far East, KLM provided the option to fly with Aeroflot. Aeroflot operated flights from Amsterdam to Moscow and then to Tokyo, using the Il-62. Although the pilots were supplied by Aeroflot, the crew consisted of a mix of Aeroflot and KLM personnel. In the 1970s, it was unusual for two airlines to have such a partnership, let alone the national carrier of the Netherlands and the national airline of the Soviet Union. To celebrate this collaboration, the KLM logo was added to some Il-62 aircraft alongside the Aeroflot logo (https://www.airliners.net/photo/Aeroflot-KLM-Royal-Dutch-Airlines/Ilyushin-Il-62/2413817/L). Despite this joint effort, the partnership was not successful and was terminated after a few months. But it does beautifully demonstrates the strong trading spirit of KLM: West meets East - conducting business without paying any attention to geo-political tensions! The kit is the Il-62M from Zvezda. To make it an Il-62 sans suffix I used the NK-8 engines by Druz. The decals are from Ravero (which where incorrect in some places, so I had to make some modifications by using spares, especially near the nose). Details from the Zvezda decal set and windows by Authentic Airliners. Anyway, the pictures: Display bases made by me, by using purchased Shutterstock photo's, modifying them in Photoshop and have them printed on Canvas. Next up will be a an easier build (as a palate cleanser) with the 1:144 Boeing 717 from PAS with Spanair decals. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

Ilyushin IL-62 NATO reporting name Classic. Pics taken at The Ukraine State Aviation Museum Zhulyany, Kiev. Pics thanks to Dave Haskell.

It is released two days ago Inbox review with pics in Russian: http://scalemodels.ru/articles/7821-obzor-novinki-zvezda-1-144-iljushin-il-62m.html I'm a happy panda!

High Resolution and Detailed Artworks of • Ilyushin IL-18B/V/D/E • Ilyushin IL-62/62M Click for more artworks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79923060@N04/sets/