Tu-134 (NATO code “Hard”) is a Soviet passenger aircraft for medium and short-haul airlines, which was developed in the early 1960s at the Tupolev experimental design bureau and mass-produced from 1966 to 1984 at the Kharkov Aviation Production Plant association. Performed its first flight on July 29, 1963, and has been in operation since September 1967. One of the most popular passenger aircraft, which was assembled in the Soviet Union. In total, together with pre-production and prototypes, 854 aircraft of various modifications were built. Production ceased completely in 1989. Tu-134 was exported to the countries of the Socialist camp.

Tu-134 is a short-haul passenger aircraft with two D-30 bypass turbojet engines on production aircraft and D-20P-125 on experimental aircraft. The engines are mounted on pylons in the rear fuselage, which significantly reduces noise in the cabin compared to aircraft of previous generations. The horizontal tail is mounted on the top of the keel (T-tail). The fuel is stored in caisson tanks on the wing. Tu-134 was certified according to international standards. The aircraft was built in various variations: special-purpose vehicles, passenger aircraft, and flying laboratories. Also used in Air Force schools.

The Tu-134 is manufactured according to the design of a cantilever all-metal low-wing aircraft and has a swept wing (sweep angle - 35 degrees), two D-30 engines of different series located in the tail of the fuselage. Wing mechanization - spoilers and double-slit flaps produced only on the ground; no slat. The fuselage is “plagiarized” from the Tu-124 and is seven meters longer. T-shaped tail. Retractable, tricycle chassis. The front strut is retracted into a niche in the fuselage, the rear struts are retracted into nacelles on the wing specially designated for this purpose. The rear pillars have two axles.

Salon Tu-134

The design features of previous versions of the Tu-134 include a glass nose (in the navigator’s place), and a brake flap under the center section. Modern versions of the aircraft are equipped with a "Groza-134" radar system. The Tu-134 also became the first jet aircraft in the USSR that did not use cable wiring to the rudder (as was usually done on previous models - the Tu-16 bomber and Tu-104 and Tu-124 passengers), installing a hydraulic booster and replacing it with a rigid rod.

At the moment, the aircraft have a lifespan of 40 thousand flight hours, 25 thousand flights over 25 years. In the case of an individual assessment of the condition, the resource can be successively increased to 55 thousand flight hours, 32 thousand flights, 40 years.

An interesting feature of this aircraft is the arrangement of the first couple of passenger seats with their backs facing forward, as in a railway carriage, which has a table between the rows that face each other. This solution is not found on any other modern commercial aircraft.

Tu-134 interior diagram

Disasters and accidents

From unofficial sources and according to the Aviation Safety Network, it is known that at the beginning of 2012, 78 Tu-134 aircraft were lost due to aviation accidents, disasters, and terrorist attacks, ten of them as a result of hostilities, two as a result of terrorist attacks. 1,494 people died in disasters, 32 of them on the ground or in collisions with other types of aircraft.

Technical characteristics of Tu-134A

• Crew: four people;
• Passenger capacity: 76 people;
• Length: 37.1 meters;
• Wingspan: 29.0 meters;
• Height: 9.02 meters;
• Fuselage diameter: 2.9 meters;
• Interior width: 2.71 meters;
• Interior height: 1.96 meters;
• Commercial weight: 8200 kilograms;
• Fuel mass in tanks: 13200 kilograms;
• Cruising speed: 850 kilometers per hour;
• Ferry range: 2100 kilometers;
• Service ceiling: 12,100 meters;
• Take-off length: 2200 meters;
• Fuel consumption during takeoff. mode: 8296 kilograms per hour;
• Fuel consumption in cruising mode: 2300 kilograms per hour;
• Total fuel consumption: 2907 kilograms per hour;
• Fuel consumption per passenger per kilometer: 45 grams.

Technical characteristics of Tu-134B-3

• Crew: three people;
• Passenger capacity: 80 people;
• Length: 37.1 meters;
• Wingspan: 29.0 meters;
• Height: 9.02 meters;
• Fuselage diameter: 2.9 meters;
• Interior width: 2.71 meters;
• Interior height: 1.96 meters;
• Commercial weight: 9000 kilograms;
• Maximum landing weight: 43,000 kilograms;
• Take-off maximum weight: 47,600 kilograms;
• Weight of fuel in tanks: 14400 kilograms;
• Powerplant: D-30-III (two copies);
• Rated thrust: 2 x 6930 kilograms*force;
• Cruising speed: 880 kilometers per hour;
• Ferry range: 2020 kilometers;
• Service ceiling: 10,100 meters;
• Takeoff length: 2550 meters;
• Fuel consumption during takeoff. mode: 8454.6 kilograms per hour;
• Fuel consumption in cruising mode: 2062 kilograms per hour;
• Total fuel consumption: 3182 kilograms per hour;
• Fuel consumption per passenger per kilometer: 45.2 grams.

Technical characteristics of Tu-134 Sh

• Crew: three people;
• Passenger capacity: 12 people;
• Length: 37.1 meters;
• Wingspan: 29.0 meters;
• Height: 9.02 meters;
• Fuselage diameter: 2.9 meters;
• Interior width: 2.71 meters;
• Interior height: 1.96 meters;
• Maximum landing weight: 43,000 kilograms;
• Maximum take-off weight: 47,000 kilograms;
• Weight of fuel in tanks: 16500 kilograms;
• Powerplant: D-30-II (two copies);
• Rated thrust: 2 x 6800 kilograms*force;
• Cruising speed: 885 kilometers per hour;
• Ferry range: 1890 kilometers;
• Service ceiling: 11900 meters;
• Takeoff length: 2200 meters.

Tu-134. Gallery.

Aircraft development TU-134 began in the early 60s. In the spring of 1960, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev was on an official visit to France, where he was offered a ride on an airplane "Caravel". Structurally, "Caravel" had engines located at the tail of an aircraft. This scheme had a number of advantages - vibration and noise during flight was practically completely absent. These advantages were highly appreciated by N.S. Khrushchev. and on August 1, 1960, Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 826-341 was issued on the creation of a high-speed passenger aircraft, which received the initial name TU-124A with engines located in the rear fuselage. It was decided to use engines D-20P.

Photo 1 - Tu-124. Predecessor of the Tu-134

Project management was instructed Markov D.S., then he was replaced Selyakov L.L. The airplane was used as a basis Tu-124, whose engines were located at the base of the wing and which at that time was passing factory tests. The preliminary design was ready on April 1, 1961.

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The aerodynamic design of the aircraft is a low-wing aircraft with a T-shaped tail. The engines are located on pylons in the rear fuselage. The first four aircraft were equipped with engines D-20P-125, and for subsequent D-30 (D-20P-125-5), which were developed in OKB P.A. Solovyova. Starting from , the aircraft's engines were equipped with thrust reverser. The landing gear is three-wheel, with a nose strut. In the latest modifications, the number of passengers has been increased to 80-90.

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Assembly of the first copy Tu-124A began Moscow experimental plant No. 156 at the beginning of 1962. The aircraft were installed engines designed by Solovyov P.A. D-20P-125.

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The crew, led by the honored test pilot Hero of the Soviet Union A.D. Kalina first time a plane flew into the sky. This significant event took place on July 29, 1963, and on November 20, 1963 the plane was named Tu-134.

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Serial production began at the plant No. 135 named after. Lenin Komsomol in 1966 in the city of Kharkov and continued until 1984. The aircraft was tested until July 1967. As a result of which there was increased wing area. In August 1967, on the 26th Tu-134 was officially accepted into service by the Civil Air Fleet(Civil Air Fleet).

Photo 8 - Tu-134. Level flight.

First passenger flight, along the highway Moscow – Adler, on the plane was committed September 9, 1967. Enterprise employees OKB im. A.N. Tupolev, Kharkov aircraft plant, related enterprises and Civil Air Fleet who made the maximum contribution to the creation of the aircraft in 1972, were awarded the USSR State Prize.

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The total number of aircraft of all modifications produced was 852 copies was exported. The first aircraft was delivered to Bulgaria. During production, the aircraft was constantly modified. The first aircraft that passed international control and received an international airworthiness certificate was the Tu-134, which allowed it to be used on international routes. Therefore, it took on the bulk of passenger traffic on short-haul routes. Until recently, the level of noise and vibration in the passenger compartment and its modifications were the most comfortable in Aeroflot. More 500 million passengers were transported by aircraft of the Tu-134 family only until the beginning of the 90s. The operation of that aircraft continues today.

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Photo 14 - Tu-134. Overnight parking. Rest before the flight.

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Aircraft modifications

Tu-124A- the first prototype. Designed to carry 52-56 passengers. Manufactured at plant No. 156 in 1962-1963.
Tu-134 "understudy"- second prototype. The number of passengers was increased to 64. Manufactured in 1964 at plant No. 135. The first flight took place on September 9, 1964.
- the first production version. The cabin is designed for 72 passengers. In 1966-1970, 78 aircraft were manufactured (30 were exported).
- modernized. It was distinguished by D-30 engines of the second series with thrust reverser. The fuselage has been lengthened by 2.1 m. The number of seats for passengers has been increased to 76. A TA-8 APU is installed in the tail section; there is no braking parachute. Some aircraft were equipped with the Groza-134 radar. Development began in 1968. Serial production was from April 1970 until the early 80s.
- aircraft with D-30 engines of the third series. Take-off weight increased to 49 tons. Produced in 1982-1984. Some previously produced Tu-134A have been converted into the Tu-134A-3 variant.
- an aircraft with a 1st class cabin for 24 seats and a luxury cabin for 13 passengers. It was distinguished by the presence of a second door for passengers with a built-in ladder. Some aircraft were equipped with special communications equipment. Produced mainly for the Air Force.
Tu-134A "salon"- analogue of the Tu-134AK. The second door was missing. Converted from passenger Tu-134A.
- modernized. The empty weight of the aircraft has been reduced and fuel efficiency has been increased. The number of seats for passengers was increased to 80, the crew was reduced to 3 people. The Groza-134 radar is installed in the bow. Serial production began in March 1980. 30 aircraft were manufactured.
- Tu-134B version with D-30 engines of the third series.

Tu-134B "salon"- salon based on Tu-134B. It was distinguished by the presence of a second door for passengers. 7 aircraft were manufactured. Several more aircraft were converted from passenger Tu-134B (with the second door missing).
- deep modernization of the base aircraft (project). It was distinguished by D-30A engines with a thrust of 8600 kgf. Developed in the early 1970s.
Tu-134DOL- ophthalmological laboratory (project).
- salon based on Tu-134.
- a flying laboratory for testing space programs.
- modernized (project). Differs in D-436T1-134 engines and equipment composition. Developed in 1993.
- cargo based on Tu-134A (project).
- agricultural. In 1984, 2 Tu-134A-3 aircraft were re-equipped. After state tests, 10 more aircraft were manufactured. It is distinguished by the presence of a side-view radar "Thread S1-CX" and special equipment that allows assessing the development of agricultural crops, the condition of pastures, and the consequences of natural disasters.
Tu-134UB-K- an aircraft for training navigator-operators Tu-22M naval aviation. Made in one copy.
Tu-134UB-L- an aircraft for training flight crews to fly using instruments in simple and adverse weather conditions. The nose part was different from the Tu-22M-3 with the ROZ-1 radar. In 1981-1983, 90 aircraft were manufactured.
Tu-134Sh (Tu-134Uch)- an aircraft for training navigators of long-range and front-line bomber aviation. The passenger compartment is equipped with 12 workplaces. The “Rubin-1” or “Initiative” radar is installed in the bow. It was produced in the Tu-134Sh-1 variants (for group training in aircraft navigation and bombing in relation to Tu-22 and Tu-22M aircraft) and Tu-134Sh-2 (for training navigators of front-line aviation).
Tu-134SH-SL- a flying laboratory for testing radio-electronic equipment.

Flight performance

Production of the Tu-134 passenger aircraft began in 1966 and continued until 1984. During this time, 852 aircraft were built. It was supplied to the only airline of the USSR, Aeroflot, and to the countries of Eastern Europe.

The liner was intended to transport passengers on short-haul lines. It was planned that it would be able to accommodate only 56 people, or 50 with a two-class cabin. Then, since it was a question of internal lines, two classes were abandoned. As a result of the work carried out, the number of seats in the cabin was increased to 72.

Commercial flights of the Tu-134 began in 1967. The aircraft was used both on domestic routes and on international flights. At the same time, the designers continued to work on improving the machine.

The Tu-134A modification appeared in 1970. It had more advanced engines and a longer fuselage. The number of seats in the cabin increased to 76. However, this modification had a shorter flight range. The reduction was large; instead of 3,100 kilometers, the liner could fly only 2,770. If the load was maximum (passengers and luggage), then the flight range was only 2,100 kilometers.

This model managed to reduce the number of crew. Due to the installation of a radar, the need for a navigator was eliminated. But at first this version of the aircraft was only for export.

In 1972, the airliner made mainly international flights. There were few scheduled flights within the country. Then, in May of the same year, due to a plane crash near Kharkov (An-10), when the death toll was 122 people, an urgent re-equipment of airports in the cities of the USSR began so that they could receive the Tu-134. An-10 flights were stopped. As it turned out, there were errors in its design.

Most of the Tu-134s were transferred to regional lines. Long-haul Il-62s began operating on international routes.

The Tu-134B modification went into production in 1980. This plane had 89 seats in the cabin. At the same time, they began to develop the Tu-134D, but this work was soon stopped.

Currently, there are almost no Tu-134s left in Russian airlines. The youngest cars are over a quarter of a century old.

In March 2007, a disaster occurred with a Tu-134 at Kurumoch airport. This was followed by a ban on the operation of the liner in 2015. Since January 2008, the aircraft has ceased to be operated by Aeroflot airline.

Airplane cabin and best seats

The number of passenger seats in the Tu-134 cabin depends on its model and cabin layout. The most seats are installed in the Tu-134B-3 modification, capable of carrying 80 passengers.

A special feature of the liner is that some of the first seats are located in the same way as in a railway carriage, with their backs facing forward. That is, it turns out that passengers in two rows of seats sit facing each other. There is a table between them.

The main part of the airliners has a two-class cabin layout. At the same time, business class has softer seats. Their pitch (distance between them) varies from a meter to 1.3 meters. In addition, the seats in this class recline more thoroughly. This provides more convenience during the flight.

The best places here are those located near the portholes. After all, having the opportunity for a good overview is much better than just looking at the passengers sitting in front.

The seats in the second row are less good. They are located near the utility rooms. There is also a toilet nearby.

Economy class in the Tu-134 starts from the 5th row and ends with the 19th. The seat layout is the same as in business class, “2-2”. There is a fairly wide passage between the seats.

The best seats are those located in the 5th and 13th rows. A plus is the ample legroom.

Inconvenient seats are located in the 18th (19th, depending on the interior layout) row. The reason is that this row is located in close proximity to the toilet.

The remaining places can be called standard. They are practically no different from each other. Passengers sitting at the windows, having a good view, are forced, if they need to get out, to ask their neighbor sitting near the aisle to stand up and let them through. Those sitting on the aisle can get up whenever they want without having to ask anyone to do so. However, passengers and flight attendants moving along the aisle may sometimes disturb such passengers.

An inconvenience for those sitting near the aisles, if the chairs are located closer to the toilet, is the appearance of a queue of passengers. At the same time, the closer the row is to the toilet, the more likely it is that a queue will occur, the more disadvantages there are.

Not the easy way of an airliner

The Tu-134 aircraft, which first took to the skies in the second half of the 1960s, turned out to be a fairly reliable aircraft, superior to its foreign counterparts in a number of parameters. The basic model turned out to be so successful that later, when such a need arose, within a fairly short period of time, 12 modifications of this aircraft were developed. Moreover, some of them were performed in several versions.

However, due to objective and subjective reasons, modifications that meet modern requirements have not been developed. The aircraft, good for its time, began to be inferior in most respects to its foreign counterparts.

In 2013, 128 Tu-134 aircraft were in operation. One by one they were taken out of service. There are two reasons for this: physical and moral old age.

Some of the decommissioned airliners are being disposed of. Some cars become monuments. They are usually installed at airports. There are such monuments in Minsk, Ulyanovsk, Voronezh... There are monuments to Tu-134 aircraft in cities too. There was a monument to one of them in Moscow at VDNH. However, in April 2013 it was demolished and cut up for scrap.

Aircraft characteristics

Length: 37.1 m.
Height: 9 m.
Wingspan: 29 m.
Wing area: 127.3 sq.m.
Fuselage width: 2.6 m.
Cruising speed: 850 km/h.
Maximum speed: 885 km/h.
Flight range: 2100 km.
Number of passenger seats: 76 – 80.
Crew: 3 – 4.

Conclusion

The Tu-134 airliner, developed more than half a century ago, is still recognized as one of the most reliable aircraft. Even today, passenger aircraft do not have the aerodynamic capabilities that he had. However, the gap in such indicators is quite large. For this reason, some machines manufactured more than a quarter of a century ago are in service.

Being in serial production for more than two decades, the airliner influenced the further development of the aviation industry. Many design solutions implemented in this aircraft were later used to create new aircraft.

Although the Tu-134 currently does not appear on busy air routes, a number of small airlines continue to use it on medium-haul domestic flights. The aircraft is also purchased by flight schools, becoming a “training desk” for those who decide to become a pilot.

Taxi cost calculation to the airport

The Tu-134 is a supersonic jet airliner that was developed for short- to medium-range passenger transport in the 1960s. The project belongs to Tupolev Design Bureau. The airliner first took off on its test flight in 1963. The aircraft was produced serially from 1966 to 1984. for the domestic enterprise Aeroflot and foreign airlines. During this time, 852 airliners of various modifications were produced.

Specifications

The Tu-134 aircraft (devil of the skies) is capable of covering distances of up to 2 thousand km without refueling, and gaining an altitude of 12 km. The passenger capacity of the car varies from 60 to 80 people (depending on the model). In aircraft operating on international routes, the cabin is divided into classes, and accordingly accommodates fewer passengers than domestic carriers.

Aircraft weight

Depending on the modification, the weight of the TU-134 changed. Thus, the mass of the empty basic design model with a glass nose was only 29,000 kg. At the same time, its take-off and landing weight corresponded to 43,000 kg, and the maximum take-off weight was 45 tons. But already the first production modification of the Tu-134A had a take-off weight of 47,000 kg, which allowed the machine to lift almost 20 tons of cargo into the air. For the modernized Tu-134B, the designers further reduced the weight of the empty aircraft, and thereby increased the vehicle's carrying capacity.

Airplane speed

The speed of the first Tu-134 models did not exceed 780 km/h, but soon the cruising speed parameters of modification A were increased to 850 km/h.

The modern Tu-134B-3 could reach speeds of up to 880 km/h, with the maximum capability of the vehicle being 1000 km/h.

For comparison, the cruising speed of the Boeing 737-500, produced in the late 80s, is 807 km/h.

Airplane drawing

Overhaul life

In 2002, Roscosmos and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation approved the service life of Russian airliners. Thus, for the Tu-134 and its modifications A and B, which are operated by domestic enterprises, a time between overhauls was established in the amount of 8 thousand flight hours for 5 thousand flights for a period of 9 years (decision no. 24.9-113GA).

Aerodynamics of Tu-134A (Bekhtir)

In 1977, a manual for aviation universities was published by V.P. Bekhtir "Practical aerodynamics of the Tu-134A aircraft." The textbook describes in detail and clearly the geometric and layout calculations of the aircraft. The author analyzes the flight capabilities of the aircraft, both for standard situations and for emergency ones (in cases of engine failure or icing of the aircraft).

He emphasizes that it was the engineering decision to place the engines in the rear of the fuselage, on special pylons, that made it possible to improve the aerodynamic data of the airliner through the use of a “clean wing.” And also to minimize noise interference in the cockpit and in the passenger compartment, and to reduce the load exerted by gas jets of operating engines on the fuselage.

Airplane takeoff time

The take-off time of an airliner is affected by the weight of the aircraft and aerodynamic features:

• Wind;
• Atmosphere pressure;
• air humidity and other factors.

The average figure for the TU-134 is 56 seconds at a take-off speed of 170 km/h.

Hijacked in 1983

An attempt to hijack a Tu-134 occurred in 1983 in mid-November. Criminals hijacked a plane with the aim of escaping from the USSR. However, thanks to the professional actions of the crew, who resisted the terrorists, they managed to gain time and land the plane at the Tbilisi airport. Pilot Gabaraev, who was sitting at the controls, began to maneuver sharply to deprive the criminals of their balance. As a result, the load on the main supporting structures of the airliner was 3 times higher than the technically permissible one. During the maneuvers, the overloads reached critical levels of +3.15 and −0.6G. But the plane passed this test of strength with honor. The passengers and pilots were freed as a result of an assault carried out skillfully by special forces.

Passenger plane

The Tu-134 is a narrow-body passenger airliner, the commercial operation of which began in 1967. The very first flights showed how reliable, stable and easy to maintain this machine is. Thanks to the combination of such desirable qualities, the Tu-134 was purchased by German and Polish companies a year after entering mass production.

Cockpit

There are two main modifications of the Tu-134 - A and B. It is believed that model A has a glass nose, which provides the crew with enormous visual visibility, and type B aircraft have only a “wooden” nose, that is, a closed nose. In fact, the Tu-134A may also have an unglazed nose. The cockpit on such models is a bit cramped, and the navigator's seat is located almost in the aisle. This compromise decision was made by the designers in order to expand the luggage compartment, which is located directly behind the navigator. The famous “black box” is also located there.

The Tu-134B cabin is designed for a crew of 3 people, unlike the “A” model, which has 4 work seats.

The cabin of any modification of the Tu-134 also consists of several partitions, control panels, lightweight wall and ceiling decoration, plywood or foam luggage racks.

Takeoff of Tu 134. View from the navigation cabin.

Landing Tu 134. View from the navigator's cabin.

Salon

The two-class passenger cabin is the most widely used modification.

The business class cabin of the Tu-134 has softer seats. The distance between the seats is from 1 meter to 1.3, which allows them to be folded almost to a horizontal position without disturbing the comfort of the passenger sitting behind. Business class seats are located in the first 2 rows of the passenger cabin. The most attractive seats are those located near the windows, which provide excellent visibility to passengers. And the least convenient seats here are the 2nd row seats, bordering the aisle, as they are located in close proximity to the utility rooms and toilet.

In the economy class cabin, the seats are arranged, as in business, in the “2-2” type, and therefore there is a wide passage between them, which is not typical for the “economy” category. There are usually 14 rows in the cabin, but the count starts from 5. So the first row of economy is located at number 5, and the last row is at number 19.

Best Economy Class Seats Tu-134s are located in rows 5 and 13, as they have a larger leg gap compared to other seats.

And the worst seats were considered to be in rows 18-19 due to the proximity of the toilet facilities.

Is it possible to buy?

Currently, purchasing a Tu-134 is not difficult. If the aircraft is in flight shape and still suitable for operation, its commercial value is from 1 million euros or more. Thus, an A-3 modification aircraft in good condition can be purchased for €1,005,870 or, respectively, $1,200,000, 70,260,000 rubles.

But often a car is purchased to equip a restaurant or entertainment center. Then its cost is noticeably reduced, because the buyer buys practically scrap. Decommissioned cars are great for this.

However, these aircraft will soon become a rarity. Now only 120 machines are in operation and 100 of them are in the Russian Federation. Prudently themed museums and historical parks are already taking care of acquiring the legendary “carcass” for their arsenal.

Over its half-century history, the Tu-134 has demonstrated reliability and efficiency, meeting the requirements of the time. And small companies operating domestic medium-haul flights continue to use it. Tu-134s are purchased by flight schools for training flights. The airliner has found application not only in civil aviation; some of its modifications are used in military aviation. The Tu-134 is also used for private passenger transport. Domestic businessmen who value their time find the optimal balance of price, reliability and comfort in this aircraft.

There are many legends about the Tu-134, but, as always, the truth is often much more interesting. Several true historical facts related to this car, which have already become a legend:

1. The first secretary of the USSR, Nikita Khrushchev, traveled to France. There he was shown the latest achievement of Parisian designers, the Caravelle aircraft. And they didn’t just show it, they also gave it a ride. Khrushchev liked it, and, returning to Moscow, he ordered a similar model, but even better, from the Tupolev design bureau. So, with the light hand of Nikita Sergeevich, the first flight of the Tu-134 took place in 1963.
2. Once, during a test flight, a Tu-134 was struck by ball lightning, so powerful that its discharge almost capsized the plane. The lightning “floated” into the cockpit of the pilots and flew over the head of one of them, then flashed brightly, played with all the colors of the rainbow and went into the cabin, where it disappeared without a trace. The pilots escaped with serious fear, but the plane landed as normal. After examining the plane, it turned out that some parts had melted a little, and the skin of the plane was riddled with barely noticeable holes, as if someone had pierced it with an awl.
3. Tu-134 is the first Soviet passenger aircraft to receive an official international certificate.
4. The Tu-134 airliner is truly legendary: it was the one that regularly replenished the elite aviation squad of the Soviet government. It’s hard to imagine anything more prestigious than such recognition. All aircraft were made to individual orders. Their equipment was carefully thought out and agreed upon at the highest level. So, on L.I.’s personal plane. Brezhnev, an ultra-modern (for those times) Tatra communications complex was installed, which allowed during the flight to communicate with a subscriber located anywhere on the earth. But the Minister of Defense, Marshal Grechko, surpassed Leonid Ilyich in terms of technology. His personal plane was equipped with the Karpaty satellite communications complex, for which there were no dark spots in the world at all.
5. The first seats in the passenger cabin of an airplane are set with their backs forward, so that the person occupying such a seat sat facing the rest of the passengers, as if on a train.
6. Tu-134 aircraft, which have flown their due dates and have earned an honorable rest, are installed in a number of Russian cities as monuments of Russian aviation and engineering. The liners can be seen at the airports of Murom, Ulyanovsk, Chisinau, Voronezh, Minsk, Riga, Poltava, Mogilev and other cities.

The Tu-134, designed more than half a century ago, is still recognized today as one of the most reliable and budget-friendly aircraft, and its aerodynamic capabilities are much higher than a number of more modern aircraft. Therefore, the living legend Tu-134 is still in the service of domestic aviation and is in no hurry to give up its position.

Tu-134 is a narrow-body short-haul passenger aircraft. It was developed by the development bureau of A. N. Tupolev and was mass-produced from 1966 to 1989.

Overview of the interior and layout of the best seats

The passenger capacity of the Tu-134 depends on the aircraft model, as well as on the layout of its passenger cabin and varies from 12 seats (Tu-134Sh) to 80 (Tu-134B-3).

Currently, the most common aircraft are those with a two-class passenger cabin layout (as indicated in the diagram).

The business class of the Tu-134 aircraft is represented by softer seats, the distance between which is from 1 meter to 1 meter 30 centimeters. Also, the seats can be reclined to a greater angle, which ensures comfort and better rest during the flight. Business class seats are located in rows numbered 2 and 3 (according to the passenger compartment layout). For this class, the best seats will definitely be those located near the windows, since everyone knows that a good overview and view overboard are the key to a pleasant trip.

The seats in row number 2 in business class are not very good, largely due to their location: in close proximity to them there are utility and toilet facilities, whose proximity can bring a lot of trouble and inconvenience.

The economy class cabin on the Tu-134 aircraft is represented by seats located in rows designated by numbers from 5 to 19. As for business class, here the seats are arranged in a “2-2” pattern and have a wide central aisle. Definitely the best seats for economy class would be in rows 5 and 13 due to the slightly greater legroom here. A bad choice would be to sit in row 18 or 19 (according to the diagram) due to the close proximity of the toilet facilities.

History of development and operation

In the early 60s of the 20th century, a rather interesting situation developed in the USSR. Passenger air travel began to gain popularity, but the new Tu-104 jet aircraft were not enough to meet all the needs. Thus, these aircraft were used mainly for international flights, including between countries of the socialist camp, as well as on the busiest air routes. The bulk of the country's domestic aircraft fleet consisted of outdated aircraft that were no longer reliable, convenient, or economical to operate.

It was for short-haul passenger flights that the development of a new aircraft began. Initially, the airliner was conceived as a modernization of the Tu-124, so its designation was Tu-124A. Already in 1963, the first aircraft was built and began flight tests. However, a number of changes were soon made to the design of the aircraft, thanks to which it was decided to recognize the airliner as a new, independent model and give it the name Tu-134.

In 1965, the Tu-134 aircraft was certified, and a year later its mass production began. Aeroflot began commercial operation of the Tu-134 in 1967. From its first flights, the aircraft proved to be reliable, stable in the air and easy to maintain, thanks to which over the next year Tu-134s were purchased by East German and Polish airlines.

In 1970, taking into account the design features of the aircraft, as well as its operating conditions, the Tupolev Design Bureau developed the first modification of the Tu-134 - Tu-134A, which had an elongated body and more economical engines. This modification replaced the base model in mass production.

In the first half of the 70s of the 20th century, Tu-134s were used on almost all domestic airlines in the Soviet Union, but closer to the 80s they began to be more actively replaced by new Tu-154s. However, in 1980, a new modification of the Tu-134, the Tu-134B, was developed and went into mass production.

In 1989, the operation of the Tu-134 sharply decreased, as a result of which its serial production was discontinued. As of 2013, there were just under 130 aircraft in service, most of which were cargo aircraft.

Tu-134 modifications

In the period from 1996 to 1984, 12 modifications of the Tu-134 aircraft were developed and produced, some of which had several versions.

• Tu-134 is a basic modification of the aircraft with a passenger capacity of up to 64 people (later - up to 72). It has a glazed nose, as well as a braking parachute to reduce the landing distance. Produced from 1966 to 1970.
• Tu-134A is a modification of the airliner, equipped with more advanced engines, which made it possible to abandon the use of braking parachutes to reduce the speed of the aircraft during landing. The operating efficiency of the aircraft has also been significantly improved. Thanks to the fuselage extended by 2 meters, the passenger capacity of the Tu-134 was also increased. The model was produced from 1970 to 1980.
• Tu-134B is an improved version of Tu-134A. It has less weight and a new layout of the passenger compartment. The aircraft crew was reduced (from 4 to 3 people). New emergency exits have been added. Some aircraft of this modification have additional fuel tanks, which allows them to increase their flight range. Serial production continued from 1980 to 1984.
• Tu-134LK is a modification that is a flying laboratory used mainly for space needs.
• Tu-134M is a modernized version of the Tu-134B, equipped with new engines.
• Tu-134S is a cargo modification of the aircraft.
• Tu-134СХ is a modification of the Tu-134 for agricultural use.
• Tu-134UBL (also called Tu-134A-4) is an aircraft used to train naval and strategic bomber pilots.
• Tu-134UBL-Sh is a specialized modification of the Tu-134UBL, designed to train navigators for naval and strategic aviation aircraft.
• Tu-134Sh (also referred to as Tu-134Uch) is an aircraft designed to train navigators for long-range and front-line bomber aviation.
• Tu-134Sh-SL is a modification used as a flying laboratory for testing radio-electronic equipment.
• Tu-134A-3M – VIP modification of the Tu-134. A total of 6 aircraft of this model were built.

Review and characteristics of Tu-134

Aerodynamically, the Tu-134 is an all-metal cantilever low-wing aircraft with a normal design. The tail is T-shaped. The power plant of the airliner is represented by two engines installed in the tail section.

Flight characteristics of the Tu-134:

Conclusion

Tu-134 is an important milestone in the domestic civil aircraft industry. This aircraft was in mass production for almost a quarter of a century, thus influencing the further development of the Soviet aviation industry. It will not be an exaggeration that this aircraft, to a certain extent, became part of the culture of the Soviet Union, and, consequently, of the countries that were once part of it. A striking example of this “role” of the aircraft in the life of the country was its appearance in many Soviet films (for example, “The Adventures of Italians in Russia” or “Mimino”).