The Tupolev Tu-124 was designed to fill an Aeroflot need for a turbine- powered, short/medium-range airliner to replace the piston-engined Ilyushin Il-14 in service on important routes. A capability for a new aircraft to operate from shorter length or unpaved runways was an essential part of the requirement. Engine designers discovered that improved combustion chambers and increased compression ratios offered lower fuel consumption, but it was the development of turbofan engines that changed the economics of pure jet engines, and, at the same time, considerably reduced noise pollution
at airport environments.

The Tu-124s entered service with Aeroflot on November 10, 1962 on the Moscow to Ul’yanovsk route. There was passenger capacity for 44, however the Tu-124V (introduced at a later date) seated 56. It is believed about 100 of the Tu-124s were built: of these, three were operated by Ceskoslovenske

Aerlinie, two to East Germany’s Interflug, and others to air forces of East Germany, India and Iraq. By the mid 1980's, about 80 remained in service with Aeroflot.

General characteristics
Crew: 3
Capacity: 56
Length: 30.58 m (100 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 25.55 m (83 ft 10 in)
Height: 8.08 m (26 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 119 m² (1,280 ft²)
Empty: 22,500 kg (49,500 lb)
Loaded: 30,000 kg (67,000 lb)
Maximum takeoff: 38,000 kg (84,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Solniev D-20P turbofans; 106 kN (23,800 lbf) thrust
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Performance
Maximum speed: 907 km/h (490 kt; 564 mph
Range: 2,100 km (1,100 nm; 1,300 sm)
Service ceiling: 11,600 m (38,100 ft)
Rate of climb: 1,000 m/min (3,300 ft/min)
Wing loading: 250 kg/m² (52 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight ratio: 0.71:1 (7.1 N/kg, 0.71 lbf/lb)