Tupolev Tu-154
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Image:Tu154-overhead.jpg Template:Aero-table The Tupolev Tu-154 (NATO reporting name Careless) is a Russian medium-range trijet airliner. It remains the standard airliner for domestic routes in Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union and to a lesser extent in eastern Europe and Iran.
The Tu-154 was developed to replace the jet-powered Tupolev Tu-104, plus the Antonov An-10 and Ilyushin Il-18 turboprops. It is designed to operate from austere gravel airfields, to be able to fly at high altitudes above most Soviet Union air traffic, and for takeoff performance.
The Tu-154 first flew on October 4 1968. Regular commercial service began in February 1972.
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Design features
Image:KMV Avia Tu-154.jpg Its construction is sturdy, with 14 big low-pressure tyres enabling it to land on snow-covered unpaved runways without sustaining serious damage. Initially it had three rear-mounted Kuznetsov NK-8-2 jet engines, arranged like the engines on the Boeing 727, giving it a relatively good thrust-to-weight ratio. It has triple bogie main undercarriage units which retract into wing pods, and a T-tail empennage. These features make Tu-154 a reliable and economical workhorse. Close to 1000 have been built with requests even today for resumption of production.
As far as safety statistics are concerned, the Tu-154 has a rather poor record, but the accidents are mostly attributed to human error than technical failures.
The comparable western analogue of Tu-154 is Boeing 727. The Boeing has a better fuel efficiency while the Tupolev has better soil load characteristic (Tu-154: 17-19 tonnes, Boeing 727: 31-33 tonnes). For individuals used to Boeing or Airbus airliners, the cabin of the Tu-154 can seem cramped. The impression is of an oval interior, with a lower ceiling than is common on western airliners. The passenger doors are also smaller than on the Tu-154's western counterparts. Furthermore, luggage space in the overhead compartments is very limited.
Variants
Many variants of this versatile airliner have been built. Apart from the normal differences between weights and powerplants, the Tu-154 even has a couple of completely esoterically fuelled versions! Like its western counterpart, the Boeing 727, many of the Tu-154s in service have been hush-kitted, and some converted to freighters.
Tu-154 / Tu-154A / Tu-154B / Tu-154S
The Tu-154 entered service with Aeroflot in 1972. Three variants, all powered by Kuznetsov, have been built. The initial Tu-154, the heavier Tu-154A with more powerful engines, and the Tu-154B with a further increase in maximum takeoff weight. Tu-154S is a freighter version of the Tu-154B.
Tu-154B-1
This version had uprated engines, and advanced operating equipment.
Tu-154B-2
This version has Western flight control and navigation systems.
Tu-154C
The Tu-154C is an all-cargo or freighter version.
Tu-155 / Tu-156
Two prototypes based on this aircraft are the hydrogen- or natural gas-powered Tu-155 and Tu-156. The Tu-155 prototype uses natural gas, or methane, fuel for its central engine, and made its maiden flight in the late 1980s. In the Tu-156 all three engines are adapted to burn either hydrogen or natural gas. Cryogenics technology is used in the development of both Tu-155 and Tu-156.
Tu-154M
Currently, the Tu-154M is the production standard which first flew in 1982. It uses more efficient Aviadvigatel D-30KU turbofans. It is far more economical, quiet, and reliable than previous versions. Aeroflot consistently achieves dispatch reliability above 99% with the Tu-154M, which compares favorably with current western airliners. The original designation was Tu-164.
Tu-154M-LK-1
VIP transport version.
Tu-154M2
- Proposed twin engined version, to be powered by two PS-90A turbofan engines.
Specifications (Tu-154M)
Template:Aero-specs {{airtemp
|plane or copter?=plane |jet or prop?=jet
|crew=3-4 |capacity=180 passengers |length main=48.0 m |length alt=157 ft |span main=37.55 m |span alt=123 ft 3 in |height main=11.40 m |height alt=37 ft 5 in |area main=201.5 m² |area alt=2,168 ft² |empty weight main=53,000 kg |empty weight alt=117,000 lb |loaded weight main= kg |loaded weight alt= lb |max takeoff weight main=102,000 kg |max takeoff weight alt=224,870 lb
|number of jets=3 |engine (jet)=Solovyev D-30KU-154 |type of jet=turbofans |thrust main=104 kN |thrust alt=22,400 lbf |thrust original=<ref>Originally measured as 10,600 kgf.</ref>
|max speed main=950 km/h
|max speed alt=510 kt, 590 mph
|range main=
- With maximum payload: 3,900 km
|range alt=2,100 nm, 2,400 mi)
- With maximum fuel: 6,600 km (3,600 nm, 4,100 mi
|ceiling main=12,100 m |ceiling alt=39,700 ft |climb rate main= m/s |climb rate alt= ft/min |loading main= kg/m² |loading alt= lb/ft² |thrust/weight=
}}
Civil Operators (Past And Present)
- Abakan Air Enterprise, Abakan Avia, Aerocom, Aeroflot, Aeroflot-Don, Aeroflot-Nord, Aerokuznetsk, Aeroservice Kazakhstan, Aerotrans, Aerovolga, Air Georgia, Air Great Wall, Air Koryo, Airlines 400, Air Moldova, Air Savari, Air Transport Europe, Air Ukraine, Air Via, Air Volga, AJT, Albanian Airlines, Alak, Amur Avia, Aria Air, Ariana, Armenian Airlines, Asian Star, Atlant, Atlant-Soyuz, Atyrau Airways, Aviaenergo, Aviaprima, Avial, Avioimpex, AVL Arkhangel, Azerbaijan Airlines, Baikal Airlines, Balkan Bulgarian, Baltic Express, Barnaul Air, Bashkirian Airlines, Belavia, BH Air, Bratsk Air, CAAC, Caspian Airlines, Chelal, Chernomoravia, China Glory, China Northwest, China Southwest, China United, China Xingjiang, Chita Avia, Continental Airways, CSA, Cubana, Daallo, Diamond Sakha, Donavia, East Line, Elk Estonian, Enkor, Georgia Air Prague, Gomel UAD, Hemus Air, Imair, Iran Air Tours, Iron Dragonfly, Kaliningradavia, Khabarovsk Aero, Kish Air, Krasair, KMV, Kolavia, Kyrgyzstan Airlines, Latpass, Libyan Arab Airlines, LOT, Macedonia Airservice, Mahan Air, Malev, Mavial Magadan, Moscow Airways, Murmansk Air, Nizhny Novgorod Air, Odessa Airlines, Omskavia, Orbi Georgian, Orenburg Airlines, Perm Airlines, Polet, Pulkovo, Rossija, Russian Sky, Sakha Avia, Samara Airlines, Samarkand, Shaheen Air, Sibaviatrans, Sibir, Sichuan Airlines, Spair, Surgut Avia, Syrian Air, Tajikistan Airlines, Tarom, Tatarstan Airlines, Tavria, Tesis, Tomsk Air, Transair Georgia, Transeuropean, Turanair, Turkmenistan, Tyumen airlines, Ulyanovsk Airlines, Ural Airlines, UTair, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Vitair, Vladivostok Airlines, Vnukovo, Yakutia Airlines, Yamal Airlines, Yuzhnaya
Military Operators
- Azerbaijan, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Poland, Russia, Ukraine
Notes
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External links
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