Tupolev Tu-244
| Tu-244 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mockup of the Tupolev Tu-244 | |
| Role | Supersonic transport |
| Manufacturer | Tupolev |
| Designer | Tupolev |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Developed from | Tupolev Tu-144 |
The Tupolev Tu-244 was a proposed supersonic transport (SST) aircraft developed from the Tu-144. It implemented novel features such as cryogenic fuel to enable flight distances of up to 10,000 km (6,214 mi) and would have carried up to 300 passengers. The project was cancelled in 1993.
History
The draft work began in 1979, and when the project ended in 1993 substantial progress had already been made during the interpretation. Specifically the air resistance in the range of Mach 2 was only 50% higher than a conventional passenger airliner traveling at a speed of Mach 0.9.
The nearly circular fuselage (3.9 m width, 4.1 m height) and the wing unit would have consisted to a large extent of titanium composite materials. The engines were to be higher performance hydrogen fuelled versions of the Kuznetsov NK-321-Turbofan, used also with the Tu-160. Adjustable air intake ramps from the Tu-160 might have been included. Projected passenger capacity was 311.
Fly-by-wire was intended for flight control. Rather than using a tilting nose, video cameras were to provide the crew the necessary views for landings.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Capacity: 250/320 passengers
- Length: 88.7 m (291 ft)
- Wingspan: 54.77 m (179 ft)
- Height: Unknown (Unknown)
- Wing area: 1,200 m² (12,916 ft²)
- Empty weight: 172,000 kg (379,000 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 350,000 kg (771,600 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × Kuznetsov NK-321 turbofans, 33,000 kg () each
- Height from ground (to the top of the tail fin): 16.9 m (55 ft)
- Height from lowest point (engine): 12.45 m (41 ft)
- Fuselage external width: 3.9 m (12 ft)
- Fuselage external height: 4.1 m (13 ft)
- Wing length (Root Chord): 54.7 m (179 ft)
- Main gear track: 8 m (26 ft)
- Max weight of fuel: 178,000 kg (392,425 lb)
Performance
- Cruise speed: Mach 2.20 (2,340 km/h, 1,455 mph)
- Range: 9,200 km (5,730 mi (4,970 nm))
- Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,000 ft)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tupolev Tu-244. |
- "Specs", TU‐244, ES: TU‐144 SST.
- Gordon, Yefim; Rigamant, Vladimir (2005), OKB Tupolev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft, Hinckley, UK: Midland, ISBN 1-85780-214-4.
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