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01.02.2003 | |||
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Russian air service has a long and distinguished history. As early as 1919, Russia made international flights to Budapest. In 1922, the first air link between two Russian cities, Moscow and Nizhniy Novgorod, opened. The flight took two and a half hours, saving travelers the inconvenience of a 16-hour train ride between the two cities. The service quickly became popular and in just two months, there were 57 flights, carrying a total of 209 passengers and 2,600 kg of cargo. Shortly afterwards, in early February, 1923, the Soviet government formally established Aeroflot as the nation's official airline. In 1937, a Russian flight crew set off to find the best route across the polar circle. Weather conditions were extremely rough, with ice forming on the wings as the plane crossed the Arctic Ocean. After 63 hours and 6,200 miles, the plane landed safely in Vancouver — inaugurating the shortest intercontinental airway over the North Pole. The flight crew's courage captured the world's imagination, and the flight's captain was hailed as the Russian Lindbergh. |
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