Tupolev Tu-154

Tupolev Tu-154
Tu-154M of KMV Avia at Moscow airport. For another Tu-154M picture see Aeroflot
Description
Role	Airliner
Crew	3
First Flight	October 4 1968
Entered Service	February 9 1972
Manufacturer	Tupolev
Dimensions
Length	47.9 m	157' 2"
Wingspan	37.55m	123' 3"
Height	11.40m	37' 5"
Wing area	201.5m²	2,168.4 ft²
Weights
Empty	kg	lbs
Loaded	kg	lbs
Maximum takeoff	90,000kg	198,415 lbs
Capacity	158-164 passengers
Powerplant
Engines	3x Kuznetsov NK-82 turbofans
Thrust	279.6kN	62,850 lbs
Performance
Maximum speed	975km/h	609 mph
Range	5,280km	3,300 miles
Service ceiling	m	ft
Rate of climb	m/min	ft/min
Wing loading	kg/m²	lb/ft²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics

The Tupolev Tu-154 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.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Design features 3 Variants 3.1 Tu-154 / Tu-154A / Tu-154B 3.2 Tu-155 / Tu-156 3.3 Tu-154M

Introduction

The Tu-154 was developed fom the twin-engined Tupolev Tu-134 to replace the jet-powered Tupolev Tu-104, plus the Antonov An-10 and Ilyushin Il-18 turboprops. It is sometimes called the "Tu-134 with everything thrice." 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.

Design features

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. The Tu-154 has the distinction of being the fastest airliner in service. 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.

Statistically, the Tu-154 has one of the poorest safety records. However, Tupolev 154's chequered safety record owes more to errors than technical problems.

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 it 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

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-155 / Tu-156

One of the more radical projects based on this aircraft is the methane-powered Tu-155 and Tu-156. The Tu-155 prototype uses methane fuel for its central engine, while in the Tu-156 all three engines are adapted for methane burning.

Tu-154M

Currently, the Tu-154M is the production standard which first flew in 1982. It uses more efficient Aviadvigatel 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.

Russian Civil Transport Aircraft
Design Bureau	Antonov - Beriev - Ilyushin - Kamov - MiG- Mil - Lavochkin - Sukhoi - Tupolev - Yakovlev
Type Designation	Tupolev Tu-154
NATO Codename	Careless
Related Variants (civil)	Tu-155 - Tu-156
Primary Designation Series	Tu-104 - Tu-114 - Tu-124 - Tu-134 - Tu-144 - Tu-154 - Tu204 - Tu-214 - Tu-334
Comparable/Similar Aircraft	Boeing 727 - BAC Trident - Hawker-Siddeley Trident

Related content
Related Development	Tu-134
Designation Series	Tu-143 - Tu-144 - Tu-148 - Tu-154 - Tu-155 - Tu-156 - Tu-160
Related Lists	List of airliners - List of civil aircraft

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