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Aeroflot ready to become first customer of civilian supersonic jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a demo flight of an upgraded supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160 in January

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Aeroflot will be happy to become the first customer of a new Russian civilian supersonic jet, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian flag carrier Vitaly Savelyev said on the air with Rossiya 24 TV Channel on Thursday.

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"It will be good for us if Aeroflot receives an authority and we become first customers. We will be pleased to receive a supersonic jet," Savelyev said.

Concorde and Tu-144 supersonic jets that turned out to be unprofitable "were born before their time," Savelyev said. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to create an economical jet now, when new technologies and composite materials are in place, the top manager added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a demo flight of an upgraded supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160 in January 2018. The head of state suggested making a civilian version of this aircraft to save flight time. Chief Executive of the United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar told the President that the corporation already has a design for such a civilian supersonic airplane.

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