Tupolev Tu-124

Supplanting the Viscount in the VVIP transportation role, three Tupolev Tu-124s were obtained in October 1966, marking the first pure-jet transport flight of the IAF’s Headquarters Communication Squadron at Palam. The Tu-124s, painted with bright dayglo wing and tail tips, were fitted out with both deluxe cabins and ancillary equipment and extensively utilized by the country’s highest dignitaries on their visits abroad and within the country.

The Tu-124 possesses the distinction of being the first turbo fan-powered airliner in commercial service and its relatively high thrust-weight ratio, combined with a high lift wing system and double slotted flaps, is especially useful in I.A.F. service as it permits operations from airstrips previously served only by airscrew-driven aircraft. A special flap located beneath the fuselage can be deflected to increase the angle of approach for airfields at a difficult attitude.

The President Mr. V.V. Giri flew in a Tu-124 on his state visit to Kabul in 1972, the aircraft landing safely in extremely gusty-wind conditions. General Maneckshaw, on his visits to Lahore in December 1972 in connection with the frontier delineation issue, was flown in a Tu-124 to Walton airfield.

Notes :
Essentially a scaled-down version of the Tu-104, the first Tu-124 prototype flew in June 1960 and initial commercial services in Czechoslovakia and Russia began late in 1962. The normal flight crew consists of three members and versions can accommodate, variously, 56, 44, 36 or 22 passengers as determined by the configuration, the last mentioned being the deluxe “salon” version. The medium range Tu-124 is powered by two Soloviev D-20P turbofans each rated at 11,905 lb.s.t. (5,403 kg.)