Pending the re-opening of the world airlines routes following the conclusion of World War II by new companies, and the placement into production of aircraft types such as the Handley Page Hermes and the Avro Tudor, the need for a stopgap airliner was seen as an urgent requirement and to

In 1955 the famous Soviet Design Bureau, Antonov, commenced designed of a four-engine turboprop passenger transport, which became known as the An-10 Ukraina, and which flew for the first time in March 1957.

On 26 September 1967 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the British, French and German Governments to cover the development of an Airbus-type aircraft with Rolls Royce RB207 engines. However, because of the absence of firm airline orders, the British Government withdrew in 1969, although Hawker Siddeley remained as