SP-LHC Tupolev Tu-134A seen in the later livery of LOT (Polskie Linie Lotnicze) at London Heathrow

Soviet aviation memories from a collection of some 80 slides of Soviet-built aircraft that I've had scanned from my archives. Hope they will provide some enjoyment and nostalgia from a bygone age.

The view from Car Park 2 - well before Terminal 4 turned up 😎 Seen from my favourite spot at Heathrow, after the Roof Terraces of the Queen's Building - LOT Poland Tupolev Tu-134A SP-LHC taxies by sporting the stylish 1980s livery that had just been adopted by the airline. Note the glazed nose that a lot of Soviet aircraft carried - as many of the aircraft were deemed to have a potential military use as well - especially the Ilyushin Il-76s which sometimes sported blanked off rear gun turrets!

SP-LHC c/n 3351810 'Janusz Kusocinski' Tupolev Tu-134A was delivered new to LOT in April 1973, and flew with the airline into the post-Eastern Bloc era, only being retired in 1993 after 20 years of service. The aircraft registration was cancelled 09Dec1996, removed to Warsaw 10Oct1997 and to Warsaw Police force, Szczesliwici housing estate near Mszczonowska street, in Warsaw - last noted 20Feb2021 in a derelict state.

LOT Polskie Linie Lotnicze Tu-134(A)s - the airline operated quite a large fleet of 13 Tupolev Tu-134s and the larger Tu-134As in Europe, between 1971 and 1997. Here is a list of the fleet:

Tu-134
SP-LGA 1968-1982 - sold to Aeroflot May 1983 as CCCP-65933 used for flights to Baikonur in support of the "Buran" programme - wfu and scrapped around 1993.
SP-LGB 1969-1980 - w/o Warsaw 23Jan1980
SP-LGC 1969-1982 - sold to Aeroflot May 1983 as CCCP-65923 used by MAP Arsenyev APO - wfu around 1993 - stored at the factory airfield at Arsenyev awaiting the opening of the Far Eastern Aviation Museum.
SP-LGD 1969-1982 - sold to Aeroflot May 1983 as CCCP-65922 used by MAP Omsk Motors - wfu around 1993 - preserved in Aeroflot c/s at Omsk.
SP-LGE 1969-1982 - sold to Aeroflot May 1983 as CCCP-65924 used by MAP Kom-na-Amu APO - wfu and scrapped around 1996.

Tu-134A
SP-LHA 1973-1986 became 104 with Polish Air Force - wfu 1993
SP-LHB 1973-1986 became 103 with Polish Air Force - wfu 1992
SP-LHC 1973-1993
SP-LHD 1976-1994 - wfu 31Jul94, reg canx 09Dec96, removed from Warsaw 13Dec97 to Wroclaw LZN technical School, scrapped Sep02
SP-LHE 1976-1993 - wfu 05Nov93, reg canx 09Dec96, removed from Warsaw 15Mar98 to Lodz- Lublinek museum and preserved there. Seen Jun16 dismantled, for sale Mar17 by AeroBayArt at Nowa Sarzyna. Reported as sold to the museum at Zruc in 2018 and noted there 18Dec18. Seen 06Sep20 fuselage resting on pallets, other parts alongside.
SP-LHF 1978-1994 ex 101 Polish Air Force - wfu 29Jun94, reg canx 09Dec96, left Warsaw 25Mar98 to Szymaki, north of Warsaw on road E77, converted into a restaurant between Apr98 and Sep99 in basic LOT c/s, no titles. restaurant closed Aug12, a/c gone by May13. Moved to Kaszubski Park Gigantow at Strysza Buda, seen 03Aug13 in a dismantled state, re-assembled by 19Jul14, still in basic ex LOT c/s, without titles or registration.
SP-LHG 1978-1994 ex 102 Polish Air Force - wfu 31Mar94, reg canx 09Dec96, left Warsaw for Wladyslawowo 11Oct99 to serve as restaurant Odlotowa, opened 27Apr02, titles and reg painted out. Seen Oct09 with large 'RESTAURACJA' titles. After the restaurant closed, date not known, the titles were removed and it became an attraction in a children's cornfield maze at Gniezdzewo some time after Jun18. Seen 14Sep20 with Polish Airlines titles.
SP-LHI 1988-1991 ex 102 Polish Air Force. returned to Polish Air Force as 96102. Sold to Air Ukraine in 1992 as CCCP-65623, later UR-65623. Converted to Tu-134AK and returned to Aeroflot in 1993. wfu Sep 2009, and broken up.

Taken with a Soviet made Zenith E camera and 300mm lens. Scanned from the original slide with minimal digital restoration

You can see a random selection of my aviation memories here: www.flickriver.com/photos/heathrowjunkie/random/

Taken in: UK / England / Hillingdon / Heathrow (show map)

Taken on: March 16, 1980

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