The Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya (Russian:Tyполев Тy-114 Poccия) (NATO reporting name Cleat) is a turboprop powered long-range airliner designed by the Tupolev design bureau.

The Tupolev design bureau was instructed by the government of the Soviet Union to develop an airliner with intercontinental range based on the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber. The result was a large airliner powered by 4 powerful Kuznetsov NK-12 engines driving massive contra-rotating propellers which was similar to the later Antonov An-22. It came as a surprise to Western observers that a propeller-driven aircraft could operate at jet-like speeds. It was huge by 1950s standards, the largest landbased airliner of its time, with accommodation for 120 to 220 passengers.

History

Development

In response to a demand from the Soviet Civil Aviation Authority for a long range passenger aircraft, the Tupolev Design Bureau was ordered in 1955 to create an aircraft that had a range of 8,000 kilometers. Given the technology available at that time, the best starting point was the existing Tu-95 bomber. An interim design, originally designated Tu-95P (p for Passenger), later known as the Tu-116, was a simple adaptation of the existing Tu-95 bomber. Two Tu-116s were built, and were used to pioneer some of the routes and operational procedures for the dedicated passenger version, to be known as the Tu-114.

The Tu-114 used the basic wing, empennage, landing gear, and powerplants of the Tu-95 bomber, mated to a totally new pressurized fuselage of much larger diameter. To cope with its higher weights, increased landing flap surface area was required, and the flap chord was increased compared to the bomber's flaps. The wing was mounted low on the fuselage, giving the Tu-114 a much higher stance on its landing gear than the bomber. As a result a new nose landing gear strut was required, although the main gear remained unchanged. Part of the Tu-114's bomber heritage remained in the navigator's glass nose.

In service

The Tu-114 had a fairly short commercial service life, being operated from 1962 to 1976. While in service the plane was known for its reliability, speed and fuel economy (it used less fuel than the Il-62 that replaced it). In regular service with Aeroflot, the plane was first used for flights to international destinations like Copenhagen, Havana, Montréal, New Delhi, Paris, Belgrade and Tokyo (in co-operation with JAL). When it was replaced by the Ilyushin Il-62 on these routes, it was frequently used on long range domestic flights. The end of the commercial use was set at around 14 thousand flying hours. After the end of commercial service, it was used by the Soviet Army and Air Force until the early 1980s.

Incidents

During its service only two planes were lost. One crashed at takeoff in bad weather, the only fatal accident of the Tu-114, and the second one suffered a nosegear collapse while being serviced.

Operators

Civil

•  Japan
  • Japan Airlines - In association with Aeroflot.
•  Soviet Union
  • Aeroflot

Military

•  Soviet Union
  • Soviet Air Force (Tu-114, Tu-116, Tu-126)

Specifications (Tu-114)

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Capacity: 120-220 passengers
• Payload: :*Normal: 15,000 kg (30,070 lb)

• Maximum: 30,000 kg (66,140 lb)

• Length: 54.10 m (177 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 51.1 m (167 ft 7.75 in)
• Height: 15.44 m (50 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 311.1 m² (3,349 ft²)
• Empty weight: 91,000 - 93,000 kg (200,621 - 205,030 lb)
• Loaded weight: 131,000 kg (289,000 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 175,000 kg (385,809 lb)
• Powerplant: 4× Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprops driving contra-rotating props, 11,000 kW (14,800 hp)15,000 PS each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 870 km/h (470 kt, 541 mph)
• Cruise speed: 770 km/h (415 kt, 478 mph)
• Range: 6,200 km (3,300 nm, 3,900 mi)
• Service ceiling 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: 421 kg/m² (86.2 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 168 W/kg (0.102 hp/lb)