Tupolev Tu-144

60-70 SEATS ■ 2,500km/h (l,500mph)

Kuznetzov NK-144 (4 x 20,000kg, 44,0001b) ■ MTOW 180,000kg (397,0001b) ■ Normal Range 3,500km (2,200mi)

Given a specific set of performance and operational parameters, designers are usually faced with few options. Thus, at first glance, western observers tended to conclude the Tu-144 was a direct copy of the Concorde. Closer scrutiny reveals that the Tu-144 was the result of independent thinking by Andrei Tupolev’s design bureau, the most noticeable external differences to Concorde being the wing planform as shown here, and the grouping of the engines underneath the fuselage. An impressive machine by any standard, despite a lengthy gestation in three con­siderably diverse versions, the Tu-144 was unable to achieve sustained commercial service. However, two Tu-144s are currently in use for ozone research flights from Zhukovskiy, home of the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI), near Moscow.

THE TUPOLEV TU-144 AND CONCORDE COMPARED

First Flight Date	First Service Date	Aircraft Type	Dimensions-m(ft)	Speed km/h (mph)	Seats	MTOW kg (lb)	Normal Range km (mi)	First Airline	No. Built
Length	Span
31 Dec	26 Dec 19752	Tupolev	65.7	28.8	2,500	60-70	180,000	3,500	Aeroflot	174
19681	1 Nov 19773	Tu-144	(216)	(95)	(1,500)		(397,000)	(2,200)
2 Mar	21 Jan 1976	ВАС-Aero-	61.6	25.6	2,150	100	185,000	6,400	British	205
1969		spatiale							Airways
		Concorde	(202)	(84)	(1,350)		(408,000)	(4,000)	Air France

THE FIRST ANTONOV FREIGHTERS

First Flight Date	First Service Date	Aircraft Type	Dimensions-m(ft)	Speed km/h (mph)	Cargo Capacity kg (lb)	MTOW kg (lb)	Normal Range km (mi)	No. Built
Length	Span
1958	18 Feb	Antonov	33	38	580	20.000	61,000	3,600	300?
	1965*	An-12B	(109)	(125)	(360)	(44,090)	(134,480)	(1,940)
27 Feb	1968	Antonov	58	64	600	88,000	250,000	5,000	551
1965		An-22	(190)	(211)	(380)	(194,00)	(550,000)	(3,125)

Notes: * Earlier service with WS/VTA (Soviet Air Force/Transport Command) 1 Not including prototypes

Kuznetzov NK-12MA (4 x 15,000shp) ■ MTOW 250,000kg (551,1601b) ■ Normal Range 5,000km (3,100ml)

The World’s Largest

The four-engined Antonov An-22, complete with contra-rotating propellers, made it first flight on 27 February 1965, and four months later, on 15 June 1965, it made its international debut at the Paris Air Show, to the wonderment of the world. Habitually critical, sometimes dis­dainful, of the products of the Soviet aircraft industry, western observers were forced to take notice. Quite simply, this was a huge airplane.

It weighed 250 tons and had a payload of 100 tons. It could carry large battle tanks such as the T-62, the T-72, or the T-80, which did not complain against the customary lack of pressur­ization in the main cargo hold. The rear-end loading door was a neat device that not only pro­vided the ramp, but could also form an extension to the rails along the sides of the hold, carry­ing the ten-ton load gantry crane. The floor was of reinforced titanium.

Following time-honored tradition, even this mammoth machine could be used on rough strips. Such extraordinary performance was made possible by an extraordinary landing gear. In each of the two fuselage fairings were three tandem wheels, for a total of twelve, to spread the load; and the tire pressure could be controlled during flight.

An Antonov An-22 prototype (SSSR-56391) on take-off. (Boris Vdovienko)

Antonov An-22 SSSR-09344 offloading relief supplies at Moscow-Sheremetyevo in April 1992. (Malcolm Nason)

ARCTIC ICE STATION SUPPLY LINES

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