The Tupolev Tu-144, often dubbed the "Concordski" by Western media, was the Soviet Union's supersonic transport (SST) aircraft. It was developed by the Tupolev design bureau and became the world's first commercial supersonic transport to fly, making its maiden flight on December 31, 1968, two months before the Anglo-French Concorde.
Here are some key characteristics of the Tu-144:
- Role: Designed for commercial passenger service at supersonic speeds, significantly reducing travel times for long-distance routes.
- Speed: Capable of sustained supersonic flight, reaching speeds of over Mach 2 (around 2,300 km/h or 1,400 mph).
- Engines: It was powered by four Kuznetsov NK-144 turbofan engines, mounted in pairs beneath the fuselage. Later variants (like the Tu-144D) used more fuel-efficient Kolesov RD-36-51 turbojet engines.
- Delta Wing Design: Like the Concorde, it featured a distinctive slender delta wing planform, optimized for efficient supersonic flight.
- Canards: A unique and visually striking feature of the Tu-144 (particularly on later production models) was its retractable canards (small, movable forewings) located behind the cockpit. These were extended during takeoff and landing to improve low-speed handling and increase lift, allowing for shorter takeoff runs and lower landing speeds.
- Droop Nose: To improve pilot visibility during takeoff, landing, and taxiing (due to the high angle of attack of the delta wing), the nose section, including the cockpit, could be lowered (drooped). This was another shared feature with the Concorde.
- Passenger Capacity: It could typically carry around 120-140 passengers, depending on the configuration.
- Operational History: The Tu-144 had a very limited and troubled commercial service life with Aeroflot, starting in late 1975 with cargo flights and then passenger service in November 1977. However, a fatal crash at the 1973 Paris Air Show, coupled with significant technical issues, high operating costs, and range limitations, led to its withdrawal from passenger service in June 1978 after only 55 passenger flights. It continued to be used for research and cargo until the early 1980s, and later, one aircraft was even used by NASA for a supersonic research program in the 1990s.
- Challenges: It faced numerous technical challenges, including problems with airframe integrity at sustained high speeds, engine reliability, high fuel consumption (leading to limited range), and excessive cabin noise.
