Er. Neha Godbole: The Tupolev Tu-334

Type

Short to medium range airliner

History

The advanced technology Tu-334 100 seat jet was developed as a replacement for the aging Tu-134.

Development of a replacement for the Tu-134 began in the late 1980s, but it was not until August 1995 at the Moscow Airshow that the first prototype was displayed publicly. The aircraft made its first flight on December 8, 1999.

The Tu-334 was based on the much larger Tu-204 twinjet with Tupolev using as many Tu-204 features in the new design as practical to reduce development time and costs. Examples of this include an identical flightdeck and a shortened Tu-204 fuselage. In addition the Tu-334's wing is based on the Tu-204's, although the latter's is a significantly larger unit.

Apart from commonality with the Tu-204, other notable Tu-334 design features were the rear fuselage mounted Progress D-436 turbofans, T-tail and fly-by-wire flight controls.

It was planned that the Tu-334 would be developed in a number of versions. The first was the basic Tu-334-100, while the Tu-334-120 was planned to be powered by the BMW Rolls-Royce BR710-48. The Tu-354 (previously Tu-334-200) would have been a stretched, 35m (115ft) long 110 to 126 seater (in a single class). Apart from the fuselage stretch, planned changes included more powerful D436T2 or BR715-55 turbofans, an increased span wing and four wheel main undercarriage units.

The Tu-334-100D would have been a longer range Tu-334-100 featuring the 100's standard length fuselage but with more powerful engines, increased fuel capacity, a higher max takeoff weight and the increased span wings of the Tu-334-200. Tupolev also studied the Tu-334C, which would have been a freighter.

Development of the Tu-334 remained slow due to protracted budget problems and there were numerous delays. Eventually, in 2009, after the rationalization of the Russian aviation industry, the TU-334 program was cancelled in favor of the Antonov An-148 and the Sukhoi Superjet 100.

Powerplants

Tu-334-100 - Two 73.6kN (16,535lb) ZMKB Progress D436T1 turbofans. Tu-334-100D - Two 80.5kN (18,100lb) D436T2s.

Performance

Tu-334-100 - Typical cruising speeds at 35,000ft 800 to 820km/h (430 to 442kt). Range with 102 passengers 2000km (1080nm). Tu-334-100D - Range with 102 passengers 4100km (2213nm). Tu-354 - Range with 126 passengers 2200km (1187nm).

Weights

Tu-334-100 - Empty 30,050kg (66,250lb), max takeoff 46,100kg (101,630lb). Tu-334-100D - Empty 34,375kg (75,785lb), max takeoff 54,420kg (119,975lb).

Dimensions

Tu-334-100 - Wing span 29.77m (97ft 8in), length 31.26m (102ft 7in), height 9.38m (30ft 9in). Wing area 83.2m2 (895.8sq ft). Tu-334-100D - Same except for wing span 32.61m (107ft 0in). Wing area 100.0m2 (1076.4sq ft).

Capacity

Tu-334 - Flightcrew of two or three. Seats 102 in a single class arrangement at 78cm (31in) pitch six abreast, or alternatively 72 in a two class arrangement with 12 first class passengers at four abreast and 102cm (40in) pitch and 60 economy class passengers at 78cm (31in) pitch at six abreast.