The most successful jet airliner produced by the Soviet Union is the Tupolev Tu-154. Powered initially by three Kuznetsov NK-8-2U Turbofans, it first flew on 4 October 1968. Aeroflot put the aircraft into service on 7 February 1972.
With the engines at the rear, it resembles both the Hawker Siddeley Trident and the Boeing 727. Seating as many as 180 passengers in a six abreast arrangement, the aircraft can fly up to 5,280 kilometres.
Tupolev Tu-154 Video
Following on from the video last week about the Douglas DC-3, this time we have a look at the Tupolev Tu-154. Running for around 17 minutes, it is put together by Skyships, who have produced many airliner profile videos.
Featuring film showing the testing of the aircraft, plus air to air, interior and ground based shots, it provides a pretty decent look at this popular jet. Initial versions suffered from wing cracks in service, so a stronger wing was introduced from 1975.
Real improvements came with the Tupolev Tu-154M, first flying in 1982 and entering service in 1984. With aerodynamic improvements and far more efficient Soloviev D-30KU-154 engines, this became the most produced version of the aircraft.
With 1,026 aircraft built, it is the most successful Soviet passenger jet. Today you can still fly on board one – if you head over to North Korea and fly with Air Koryo!
Overall Thoughts
During its service history, the Tupolev Tu-154 has operated for many airlines, not just those in Eastern Europe, but also the Middle East, Africa, Central America and Asia. It was a familiar sight at airports around the world well into the 21st century, being retired by Russia’s Aeroflot at the end of 2009.
Have you ever flown on board the Tupolev Tu-154? What was it like? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by YK – Aviation Images via Facebook.
All the Military and Civil aviation of the Soviet Union is EXACT today 2021 are still flying and I believe ? even MORE than when Aeroflot 70-a 2005 the TY-154-b-2 or M are the fastest trijet as well as wider inside and 2 meters longer than 727-200 and more powerful 154b-2= 10,500 push x 3 Kuzhnetzov turbojets, series M 3 Pavel Solovyev =11,000 KG PUSH X 3 in Russya never lengthened any model nor shrunk were Exact designs 1963-1998 still in 2012 the last ty-154M was built.
Yes, they were very long lasting in a lot of cases. In fact, you can do a North Korea Aviation Tour with Juche Travel and you can fly in the Air Koryo TU-154, as well as the IL-62 and more old planes which still fly today. It’s expensive, but I’d love to do it so I can experience proper Soviet turbojets. Thanks for the comment!
Flew it into BUD on MA and got to sit in the cockpit for the landing. Very strange to see a 3 man front end as most western types were at 2 by then. The CRM would still be the envy of any airline though. One of the few flights I experienced a landing without a seat belt fastened (dont think the jump seat had any).
Wow, that would have been an awesome experience, flying up front on the Tu-154! That can’t have been all that long ago if most Western types were two pilots by then. I’m very curious about that jump seat with no seat belt. All round excellent experience though! You’re very lucky! 🙂
I was able to fly the TU-154 FRA-BUD-FRA on Malev back in the late 80s. Remarkable aircraft, but I think the aircraft itself was only part of it. I recall the flight itself involved a dramatically faster climb out, on both ends, than is typical amongst western carriers flying western types.
I also recall the thinness of the seats, literally padded fabric stretched over a metal frame, and the window shades, which were sepia tinted film, farther than fully opaque.
I was reading something somewhere else which agreed with what you said – they were commenting that take-off was “like a rocket”. So that certainly sounds like fun! Those seats and window shades don’t sound great though. I’ve flown Malev myself, but it was Boeing 737s by that stage! Thanks for the comment!
Back in November 1992 I took my one and only flight with a TU154 with OK on PRG-LHR. Interior odd by Western standards. But the thing I noticed most was the weird (by Western standards) engine sounds throughout the flight. At that time OK was using a mixture of B737s and TU154s on the PRG-LHR route. Did I sample the TU154 again ? Well for starters, at that time, the E European carriers were removing Soviet aircraft from their services which operated to the West. Remember how LO had a line of grounded yet fairly young TU154s at WAW ? They had been replaced, even though they have years of life yet, by brand new B737s. But it would be the safety aspects of Soviet aircraft which would dissuade me.
Great that you got to experience it once! I’ve heard from others that the experience is different with regards to the sound of the aircraft and different styling. I’m interested to see if the Russian aircraft manufacturing industry will ever be in a position to compete with Europe and the USA in any meaningful way. Thanks for the comment!
the USSR or CCCP Soviet Union = never need to compete with anyone they are very INNOCENT Airbus and Boeing for a lot of luxury and comfort on board but UGLY planes look at today 2021 the Glorious ex Soviet aviation Flying today in 2021 just like yesterday in the 70’s no jet il62 to FALL in any SEA of the World the TY- 154b b2 or M is faster from the 70’s to today 2021 than any western aircraft 970 -1050km ph also their landings are more energetic and they are the only aircraft that activate the reverses before touching runway they never lengthened or shrunk they were always precise.
Yes, this is very true, those older aircraft like the IL-62 and the TU-154M were very fast indeed. You just don’t see that kind of speed any longer. They did some good aircraft back then in the Soviet Union, that’s for sure!