The Tupolev Tu-114 was a long-range turboprop airliner produced in the Soviet Union. First flying on 15 November 1957, it entered service with Aeroflot on 24 April 1961.
To this day it holds the record as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in the world. Four Kuznetsov NK-12MV engines driving two large contra-rotating propellers, coupled with 35 degree swept wing, meant the Tu-114 could reach speeds in excess of 800 kilometres per hour.
Tupolev Tu-114 Video
Following on from last weeks video on the Douglas DC-9, we head behind the iron curtain to find out about the Tupolev Tu-114. Running a little under 10 minutes, it is produced by Mustard who create my favourite videos on aircraft.
On Aeroflot’s international services, the aircraft typically seated 155 or 167 passengers with three classes – economy, first and deluxe. First class featured tables between facing seats like on a train, while deluxe had sleeping compartments. A lower deck galley was staffed by an on board chef to provide meals.
Services operated to various cities on the Aeroflot network, such as Copenhagen, Havana, Montreal, New Delhi, Paris and Belgrade. Flights between Moscow and Havana were non-stop, with seating reduced to 60 and additional fuel tanks added. Flights of 19 hours were not uncommon!
One interesting fact not mentioned in the video is that between 1967 and 1969, Japan Air Lines operated between Tokyo and Moscow in conjunction with Aeroflot. A two class, 105 seat layout was used for these flights.
How About A Vintage Russian Colour Promotional Film?
There is another film below which lasts just over 9 minutes, produced in 1959. Of course, it is all in Russian, but don’t let that detract from the experience.
Besides great air to air photography, there is loads happening in this film inside the aircraft. You’ll see cockpit views, then from about 3:45 we’re in the cabin, seeing the different seating, downstairs galley, meal service, sleeping berths, toilets and more. It’s a pretty cool thing to see!
Overall Thoughts
The Tupolev Tu-114 ceased regular service in 1976, replaced by more capable jet aircraft. Just 32 were built and there was only one accident, making it one of the safest Soviet airliners ever produced.
Due to its contra-rotating propellers, it was a very noisy aircraft both inside and out. I am sure the passengers would not have complained though, considering the regime of the time.
Did you ever see or fly on a Tupolev Tu-114? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Mikhail A Toporikov via Airliners.net
when flying was a real experience; maybe today we take it too much for granted. Classy interior for its day, puts 707s to shame.
Yes, it certainly has its own particular style! Would have loved to have flown on one back in the day. Would have been memorable, that’s for sure!
Here is a mystery that someone may be able to solve. Sometime in the mid 1970s (probably 1976 but can’t be sure) I thought I glimpsed a Tu114 near Newcastle. Sounds unlikely – indeed it is – but here is some context.
I was 14-15 at the time and nuts about aircraft. I read and studied everything about aircraft that I could get hold of and I used to win all the aircraft recognition competitions, so I knew my stuff. In the 1970s, the traffic in North east airspace was fairly predictable. The same few regular flights into Newcastle airport and light aircraft from Newcastle and Sunderland. Occasionally you would get military stuff, especially if there were exercises on, but that was a bit of a treat. One thing you did see (on a clear day) was the inbound trans-Atlantic stuff, which came over in a steady stream all the time, but even that was fairly predictable. However, if I heard a plane, I always looked up, just in case. I got good at identifying sound direction and could predict the flight paths and direction of most of the traffic. Mostly routine and generally rather dull.
Then – one day- I heard a very loud and heavy but high/distant sounding propeller powered aircraft. There was a lot of low cloud, but with tantalizing gaps looking into the deep blue beyond. The sound got louder and then I saw it – a glimpse of something big and silver looking with swept back wings and four engines. Just a glimpse and it was gone, but I was pretty sure the sound I could hear was coming from that direction and about that height. It wasn’t as high as the usual transatlantic stuff and it was in a different part from the sky from where I would expect to see that sort of traffic. It was lower and closer – I would guess about 25,000 feet and heading in a northerly direction. It was also unusually loud. I was in Newcastle, so I would guess that the aircraft I saw was a few miles East, putting it just over the coast perhaps.
So it could have been a 707 or some such at a funny height and something else that I didn’t see making all the noise – possibly, but my instincts told me that I had seen a Tupolev, although I could scarcely believe it. I never mentioned it to anyone as it was such a tenuous “sighting”, but in the years that have passed, I often wondered whether I was mistaken or if I did see the thing I thought I saw. From what I have read, they had pretty much stopped using them by that point for regular services. I also wondered whether it may have been a Bear, but I think it would have been in or on the very edge of UK airspace where I saw it and I’m not sure they ever came in that close anyway. The evidence is stacked against me and yet, I still believe I might have seen what I thought I saw.
Can anybody categorically disprove or alternatively validate my sighting? I have nothing the prove here, just idle curiosity to satisfy.
Now that’s an interesting story. Let’s hope someone can shed some light on it. Hopefully it was a Tu-114! 🙂
Are there any surviving today?
No, they were out of service with Aeroflot by 1977, though they were reportedly in use with the Soviet military through to about 1991. I assume some are in museums, but I don’t know.
Well Trent, no one has responded so I’ll throw in my two cents. Much like the Connie, I never got to fly on one but from the pictures I’ve seen of it it looks like it was a mighty beast. It may have been the Connie/DC-7 of the Soviet era, more than enough plane but dated from day one. Any real av-geek would love to fly on one today, if any are airworthy (?), its too bad there isn’t a non-political organization dedicated to flying these planes of yesteryear, much like Virgin Classic did with the DC-3 here in the States. Looking forward to your next “Does Anyone Remember”. A suggestion: how about defunct airlines as well as classic planes? Keep it up man….
I wouldn’t have expected anyone to reply to this one, as I don’t think the BoardingArea blogs are big in mother Russia 🙂 None of these Tu-114s are airworthy, so no chance to fly on one. I’d happily go and see one of the preserved ones though, just to check out what it’s like. Good idea on the defunct airlines, that’d keep me going for quite a long time. I think I’ll do that and see what people think. Thanks for that! Hope you’re keeping well!
it was more of a counter to the 707 and dc8 rather than to the constellations and dc7. And far safer than the Comet
Very true indeed!
Because this was the largest transport of it’s day, it would be like a Boeing 747 or an Airbus A380 if it’s era carrying 224 passengers in a high density layout. I agree that it was more inline with the 707/DC-8/Vickers VC-10.
True, it’s a lot of people for a turboprop. Pretty cool plane all round though! Thanks for the comment.