The Tupolev Tu-144 was the first Super Sonic Transport aircraft (SST) in the world. Competing against the "Concorde" for the launch of the first Supersonic Airliner, the Russians were a nose ahead: On 31 December 1968 the prototype Tupolev TU-144 flew for the first time. A total of 16 of these aircraft were built from 1969 until the termination of the program in 1984. The Tu-144 was a very interesting design with many practical solutions such as the front canard leading edge slats to improve slow flight characteristics, for what was at that period of time a very advanced supersonic transport aircraft. It was later to be shown however that the Tu-144 was not a fully developed design. Many changes had to be made before production began. In November 1977 the TU-144 commenced public service on the route between Moscow and Alma Ata. These flights were discontinued after a further accident and due to lack of profitability. The last regular flight of a Tupolev TU-144 was in 1978. The Tupolev experienced a short renaissance between 1995 and 1998 when a modified version was used as a test platform for a series of tests into supersonic flight.