Indeed. On my first ever trip to Russia in 2003, on arrival at St Petersburg on BA there was a Kras Air Il-62 (an old "standard" one, not the later reworked IL-62M) lined up ready to go as we taxied in; it made a lazy and smoky departure which was a very impressive welcome from a new country.

It always used to be a highlight of a drive down the M4 to Bristol, even up to a couple of years ago, if there was an RAF VC-10 in the training circuit at Lyneham. They would come round downwind to the north of the motorway beyond Swindon at circuit height, and looked as elegant as ever in the air. If I eased up on my speed I could catch a second circuit. Although the RAF still run a few you don't really see them there any more. Too bad.