[Dashing Dasher]

Them Russians sure build ugly airplanes!

[kenth]

LOL. That's just what I was thinking. Typical utilitarian Russian design. Where's the sexy?

[beaver fever]

Practical but buttttttttttt ugly.

The only reason this aircraft flies is to avoid the embarrassment of everyone on the ground.

[null and void]

Awwww, they just didn't get its' good side...

[Habibi]

--Them Russians sure build ugly airplanes!--

I dunno', it looks pretty functional. Intakes are way up, so they don't ingest dirt or grunts. The engines are set in so far on the wings that they overlap the fuselage. They also appear to be high bypass. Beauty, to some folk, is based on the functionality of the machine.

Now, how well the aircraft holds together, that's another question. Things like the current state of their metallurgy (engine & airframe), would be nice to know. Stuff that's beneath the paint or cowling beats the aesthetic consideration once you're looking out of the cockpit window.

Good observation though, the Rusky naval architects, seem to have it over their aeronautical brethren.

[Squint]

Them Russians sure build ugly airplanes!

Ugly, but functional. Still, what does it say about the state of the U.S. aircraft industry when Boeing, the 800 lb. gorilla of the transport aircraft business, has to offer a Soviet-era aircraft to meet a government requirement?

[1rudeboy]

Them Russians sure build ugly airplanes!

You forgot to add, "after copying our technology." [chuckle]

[dljordan]

"Them Russians sure build ugly airplanes! "

Yes, but they're very practical and take LOTS of abuse.