Eduard Vaganovich Elyan (Russian: Эдуард Ваганович Елян; 20 August 1926 – 6 April 2009) was a test pilot who worked for major test flight centers including the Gromov Flight Research Institute and the Tupolev Design Bureau.

For his work, he received many high honors including the titles Hero of the Soviet Union and Honoured Test Pilot of the USSR.

Before the maiden flight he and Kozlov practiced in a simulator; the test aircraft had ejection seats in the cockpit.

[7][8][9][10] However, it was not until 5 June 1969 that a Tu-144 flight reached supersonic speed[11][12] Yelyan continued to fly the Tu-144, and in 1971, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his test pilot work.

[4] On 23 May 1978, he was forced to make an emergency belly landing of a Tu-144 test flight after a fuel line ruptured, resulting in a fire.