Tupolev Tu-114
| Tu-114 Rossiya | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Aeroflot Tu-114 jointly operated with Japan Airlines, at Haneda Airport | |
| Role | Airliner and strategic airlifter |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev OKB |
| First flight | November 15, 1957 |
| Introduction | 24 April 1961 |
| Retired | 1991 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users |
Aeroflot Japan Airlines (in association with Aeroflot) Soviet Air Force |
| Produced | 1958–1963 |
| Number built | 32 |
| Developed from | Tupolev Tu-95 |
| Variants | Tupolev Tu-126 |
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 and built in the USSR from May 1955. The aircraft was the largest and fastest passenger plane at that time and also had the longest range (10,900 km (6,800 mi)). It has held the official title of fastest propeller-driven aircraft since 1960.
Due to its swept wing and powerplant design, the Tu-114 was able to travel at speeds typical of modern jetliners (880 km/h (550 mph)). Although it was able to accommodate 224 passengers, when operated by Aeroflot, it was more common to provide 170 sleeping berths and a dining lounge.
In 14 years of civilian service, the Tu-114 was reported to have a high level of safety and reliability. The Tu-114 carried over six million passengers before being replaced by the jet-powered Ilyushin Il-62. 32 aircraft were built at the Kuibyshev aviation plant (№18) in the early 1960s.
In response to a directive No.1561-868 from the Council of Ministers and Ministry of Aircraft Production order No.571, issued in August 1955, the Tupolev Design Bureau was to create an airliner that had a range of 8,000 km (4,971 mi), based on the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber, powered by 4 powerful Kuznetsov NK-12 engines driving massive contra-rotating propellers.
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 the increased weight, 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 landing gear remained unchanged.
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