USSR and Russia Passenger Airplane Production in 20th Century

For the first time, data are presented on the production of passenger airplanes in the 20th century in the USSR and Russia, divided by years, and also about their passenger capacity. The ups and downs of output are analyzed, the connection with the processes in the global aircraft industry is shown. It is noted that the growth in the production of passenger airplanes continued until 1980. During next five years it decreased by more than three times, this is the pre-perestroika period. During the time of perestroika, from 1986 to 1992, production grew again. A crushing decline in the passenger aircraft industry in Russia occurred in 1994–1996. The article lists its possible causes. It is shown that the developers responded to this decline with an increase in activity, which cannot be considered effective behaviour in a time of sales reduction and a shortage of working capital.