CSA Czechoslovak Airlines Tupolev TU-154M – OK-TCC "Teplice"

The popular Soviet-designed workhorse entered service with then Czechoslovakian CSA in 1988. The TU-154’s high performance and rugged design made it popular with its crews, and made it suitable for operations from shorter or less-equipped airfields. A total of seven of these trijets were mainly used on European and some Middle Eastern services from Prague, replacing older turboprop types such as the Ilyushin IL-18. OK-TCC is named for the city of Teplice, a popular spa town in the northwestern corner of today’s Czech Republic, with the oldest records of its thermal mineral springs being put to use dating back to the year 1154. As noise, emissions and efficiency standards tightened and Western twinjets became more available, CSA phased out their TU-154s in favor of Western types by 1999. Several of these aircraft were sold on and used by other airlines or governments. OK-TCC was initially sold to China United Airlines which at the time was set up as a commercial airline by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, and was later transferred to the 102nd Air Regiment at Beijing, where she remained active until the early 2020’s. A display stand is included.