Pyongyang airport
Ilyushin IL-14P '535' of Air Koryo looks to be in superb condition.
Your author was photographed at Pyongyang airport in May 2012, against a background of a stunning Air Koryo IL-14.
IL-14 '535' ended her active life with Air Koryo years ago.
'535' was a gift from Josef Stalin to Kim Jong Il. Presently she is part of the 'International Friendship Exhibition' at Myohyangsan.
'535' poses for your photographer.
'535' is powered by two Shvetsov ASh-82T-7 radial piston engines.
Pictured in the twilight of its career. Air Koryo IL-14 '535' stands idle on the ramp at Pyoungyang in May 2012, with its engines covered.
The bright colors of Air Koryo IL-14, caught by the camera, on a sun-drenched day at Pyongyang.
Russian stars from yesteryear seen here resting under a gorgeous spring sun.
IL-14 '535' looks to be in superb condition.
The starboard engine of this An-24B (P-537) comes under scrutiny during a check.
P-537 with sibling P-533.
Those aircraft from Soviet times will soon be just a distant memory.
P-537 at Pyongyang getting some TLC.
P-533 with her cockpit wrapped-up at Pyongyang, North-Korea.
P-835 between missions.
Russian hardware on a sunny Pyongyang tarmac in May 2012.
P-912 with P-914 enjoying the sunhine at the Pyongyang airport ramp, North Korea.
P-914 bundled-up at Pyongyang, North Korea.
P-914, a great looking brute.
Tail '194' was delivered to Air Koryo in December 1990.
The legendary IL-76!
A close up of the glazed nose of the beast!
P-912 glinting in the sun.
Doing a little jet engine maintenance and inspection.
MIL Mi-8 '108' is seen here wrapped-up at Pyongyang Sunan airport.
Tupolev Tu-154A P-551 has been delivered to Air Koryo's fore-runner, Chosonminghang, in 1970. In the backgound is IL-18 P-836.
Stored P-551, a classic Tu-154A, looking worn, but complete.
Far away shot of the Air Koryo hangar, with IL-76M P-913, IL-62M P882 and another aircraft just visible.
It was a warm and beautiful day in May 2012 when I photographed this Air Koryo Tupolev Tu-204-100B.
P-633 having some APU work done at Air Koryo’s Pyongyang base.
P-633 was looked after by a working party from Air Koryo at Pyongyang.
P-633 with her Aviadvigatel PS90 turbofans covered.
P-633 under repair at Pyongyang airport.
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Friday routine maintenance at Pyongyang.
P-885 and P-881 are both Ilyushin IL-62M The IL-62M is an improved version of the IL-62. She is powered by four 24,250-lb (107.9 kN) Soloviev D-30KU turbofan engines, accommodation for a crew of five and 174 passengers, equipped with containerised baggage and freight system, modified wing spoilers and a revised flight deck, plus increased fuel capacity.
Sadly, a murky day for this interesting line-up.
The weather at Pyongyang was gray, wet and dark.
P-632 is already a 30-years old airframe.
P-632 Aviadvigat engines getting some attention.
P-632 gets some engine maintenance on the Air Koryo ramp at Pyongyang, Sunan airport.
P-881 still manages to look majestic despite her age.
P-881 being worked on at Air Koryo staff, atPyongyang, Sunan airport, North-Korea.
P-881 with interesting ramp companions.
The result was a graceful design with a high cantilever T-tail and a large swept wing.
The Tu-154 is powered by three rear-mounted low-bypass turbofan engines arranged similarly to those of the Boeing 727, but it is slightly larger than its American counterpart. Both the 727 and the Tu-154 use an S-duct for the middle (Number 2) engine. The original model was equipped with Kuznetsov NK-8-2 engines, which were replaced with Soloviev D-30KU-154 in the Tu-154M. All Tu-154 aircraft models have a relatively high thrust-to-weight-ratio which give excellent performance, at the expense of lower fuel efficiency. This became an important factor in later decades as fuel costs grew.
Those aircraft from Soviet times will soon be just a distant memory.
P-881, foreground, is the grand old lady of what must have been the world’s most immaculate IL-62 fleet in 2012.
B-5035, a classic Boeing 737-300, was delivered from the Renton production line in January 1984 and served with Air France until 2002, when it was bought by Air China.
Air Koryo's catering truck comes into action.
Another very efficient turn-round for this Air China classic 737.