The Russian-made Tu-144 was dubbed the “Concordski,” for its similarity to the Concorde.

The Flight of the “Concordski”

The espionage and secret history behind the Soviets’ attempt to build their own Concorde

By Sam Kashner

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.
—J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Christian Marty. One letter short of “Christian Martyr,” and in some way he was a martyr—to flight, to speed, to the invisible laws of nature. Jean Reno could have played him in the movies, and Serge Gainsbourg could have written his theme song. Marty was more Lord Byron than Chuck Yeager, though he was what they used to call a man of action, a lover of extreme sports such as windsurfing, hang gliding, and rally driving. He was something of a legend for becoming the first person to windsurf across the Atlantic.