Specifications Tu 204. Medium-haul passenger aircraft

The Tu-204 is a Soviet/Russian medium-haul narrow-body passenger aircraft designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau. The aircraft was originally designed to replace its predecessor, the Tu-154, on the airlines. The production of the aircraft was launched in 1990 at the Aviastar-SP plant in Ulyanovsk, starting from 1996, the modification of the Tu-214 was also carried out at the KAPO named after S.P. Gorbunov in Kazan. Based on the basic version of the Tu-204, about 20 different modifications of the aircraft were created in our country, which differ from each other in flight performance, purpose, equipment composition and engine type. The Tu-204/214 family of aircraft today includes passenger, cargo, specialized and VIP modifications.

The plane, which was supposed to be no less massive than the old Tu-154, could not repeat its fate. In total, 1026 Tu-154 aircraft of various modifications were produced in our country. The Tu-204, which was supposed to replace it on the same airlines, produced only 77 units (since the start of mass production in 1990). At the same time, as of January 1, 2015, only 42 aircraft of this family were in operation, which is even less than the number of Tu-154s still in operation (60 units), most of which belong to the Russian Air Force - 19 aircraft. Such a sad state of affairs is largely due to the moment the aircraft appeared, which coincided with the collapse of the USSR. Together with the disappeared country, the civil aviation industry also fell into decline. Incomes of the population collapsed as a result of a catastrophic drop in domestic passenger air travel.


It should be noted that the Tu-204 passenger airliner was a qualitatively new generation of the domestic aircraft industry. When developing this aircraft, the designers tried to take into account all the possible requirements of modern aircraft industry, as well as international standards. The designers initially made sure that their aircraft turned out to be economical and not noisy, while meeting all international environmental requirements. Initially, the developers of the aircraft from the Tupolev Design Bureau believed that the aircraft would be as successful as the Tu-154 and would replace it in the carriers' fleet. However, in the 1990s, air travel in Russia declined very significantly, which in turn led to a small order of new Russian passenger aircraft. The problems of the 90s of the last century prevented the implementation of all the conceived plans that concerned this machine, and continue to affect so far in the 21st century.

At present, the main customer for these aircraft is the Rossiya Flight Detachment of the Presidential Administration. There are 12 aircraft of this type in the fleet of the detachment, 3 more aircraft (Tu-214SR) have been ordered. In total, various government agencies and airlines, including foreign ones, ordered about fifty aircraft of this type. Among the largest commercial companies, customers of these Tupolev aircraft, Red Wings can be singled out, which already has a fleet of 10 aircraft of this class (2 in storage) and has placed an order for another 10 aircraft in the most modern modification of the Tu-204SM. Among the foreign operators of the aircraft are Egypt, Cuba and North Korea.

creation and design features

Back in the first half of the 1970s, the Tupolev Design Bureau decided to develop a comprehensive program for the further development of passenger aviation in the country. It was supposed to create an open unified basic design of the main machine, on the basis of which in the future it would be possible to acquire the entire range of main aircraft, from short-haul to long-haul aircraft, from low-passenger aircraft to huge airbuses designed to transport hundreds of passengers by air. Research in this direction was carried out for several years, after which the design bureau decided to focus on creating the basic design of a modern medium-haul passenger aircraft Tu-204, which would meet all the requirements that were imposed on aircraft of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

By the mid-1980s, the design bureau finally took shape of the new airliner, it was decided to make the aircraft in a twin-engine version. Initially, the car was supposed to receive three engines, like the Tu-154, but it was decided to abandon this scheme, focusing on the version with two engines suspended on pylons under the wings of the liner. For the Tupolev Design Bureau, such a layout of engines was applied at that time for the first time. The plane was supposed to carry 212-214 passengers on routes of approximately 3,500 km. Initially, the Tupolev Design Bureau set very high requirements for this project, both in terms of operational and flight, and in terms of economic characteristics.

The created aircraft had to meet all international standards and successfully compete with foreign counterparts. A high technical level in the creation of a new passenger aircraft was achieved through careful development of the aerodynamic perfection of the machine, especially the wing of the liner, the use of highly economical turbofan engines with a large bypass ratio, and the high weight perfection of the design of the airliner and its individual components and assemblies due to the latest technologies and materials. All this together allowed the designers to achieve 1.5-2 times better fuel efficiency of the Tu-204, compared to its predecessor, the Tu-154 passenger liner.

In 1987, preparations for the production of the first Tu-204 began at the local aircraft factory in Ulyanovsk. The first prototype of this model was ready in 1988, and in 1989 the aircraft took to the skies for the first time. The full range of aircraft testing was completed after the collapse of the USSR in 1993. At the same time, the Ulyanovsk company Aviastar did not wait for the end of the tests and began production of the Tu-204 back in 1990. In January 1995, the new passenger aircraft received a certificate of airworthiness from the Russian Federation. The first flight of the airliner took place on the route Moscow - Mineralnye Vody.

When creating the Tu-204 aircraft, close cooperation was organized between many domestic research centers. Thanks to this cooperation, the aircraft received a large number of advantages over its counterparts of that period of time. One of the main features of the aircraft were high-performance wings with supercritical profiles, as well as vertical surfaces, which made it possible to increase aerodynamics at the ends of the consoles. At the same time, the entire fuselage of the passenger aircraft was made using new high-strength aluminum alloys, and the aircraft body parts were connected using riveting.

When designing the aircraft, modern composite materials were widely used, their share was approximately 18%. In addition, this model of a passenger aircraft became the first in Russia, in which a system of electric remote control was implemented. This system is able to automatically land the aircraft even in the most difficult weather conditions. And for more comfortable work of the aircraft crew, a system called the "dark cockpit" was used. This system allows you to reduce the load on the pilots.

In the Tu-204 aircraft, a domestic avionics system was used, 6 displays were used. All the information necessary for pilots is displayed on the screens of these displays: about the state of the flight and all the functional details of the liner. This system can automatically diagnose all equipment on board, and also provides the aircraft with satellite communications. They touched upon the innovation and design of the wing of an airliner. Double-slotted flaps appeared in the wing, as well as slats that run along the leading edge of the aircraft wing. The chassis of the liner was also manufactured using new technologies.

The designers also took care of the air supply system for the entire cabin of the aircraft, it turned out to be well thought out. The main task of this system is the selection and subsequent cooling of air that passes through two independent lines. This system is able to automatically maintain the optimal air temperature on board the aircraft. A feature of the system is that the air that enters the middle part of the aircraft is taken directly from the engine compressors.

At this point in time, the most advanced modification of the aircraft is the Tu-204SM. The Tu-204SM passenger aircraft surpasses its predecessors from the Tu-204 family in terms of flight performance and navigation characteristics, while it fully complies with world requirements for economy, operational manufacturability and comfort, including the requirements of the fourth Chapter of the ICAO standards for aircraft noise level on the ground. In addition, a concept called "electronic board" was implemented on the Tu-204SM airliner, which implies a significant degree of automation of aircraft control processes at all stages of flight, which made it possible to reduce the crew from three to two people (the flight mechanic was removed), as on other modern aircraft similar class. Compared to the basic versions of the aircraft, the Tu-204SM managed to improve fuel efficiency and operational manufacturability by 10-12%. The aircraft is able to stay in the air for up to 9 hours without refueling, carrying 194 passengers at a distance of up to 4.8 thousand kilometers.

The passengers of the Tu-204SM airliner were provided with an excellent level of individual comfort: noise-absorbing structures are used in the cabin, which ensure a low noise level in flight, there are spacious luggage racks. The aircraft has video and audio systems designed to entertain passengers in flight, lighting and lighting equipment using LEDs. According to experts, the Tu-204SM is the most competitive and successful model in the line of these machines. At the same time, he may well argue with his foreign counterparts - the Airbus A320 / 321 and the Boeing 737.

Possible contract with Iran

Interest in the Tu-204SM aircraft was once shown by Iran. In April 2014, information appeared that the UAC (United Aircraft Corporation) could continue its negotiations with Tehran regarding the supply of Tu-204SM passenger liners. In particular, UAC President Yuri Slyusar spoke about this within the framework of the II Congress of Aircraft Manufacturers, which was held in Ulyanovsk. Yuri Slyusar explained that enough time has passed since the parties discussed this project. Now we need to update it, to place new accents. We hope that the existing advantages, including technological cooperation, which we once offered to Iran, as well as the possibility of import independence, will make this project attractive for our Iranian partners. The President of the United Aircraft Corporation specified that it was about the supply of Russian passenger liners with the possibility of assembly, customization and production of individual components and parts at the Iranian aircraft factory in the city of Isfahan. At the same time, it is planned to supply Iran with up to 5 Tu-204SM aircraft annually, negotiations are underway on the supply of these passenger liners with Cuba.

It is worth noting that the contract for the supply of passenger airliners assembled at the Ulyanovsk aircraft plant was concluded between the leasing company Ilyushin Finance Co and Iran Air Tour in 2009. However, the plans of the parties were violated after the US State Department imposed sanctions against Iran. Pratt & Whitney, an American manufacturer of aircraft engines, which is one of the shareholders of the Perm Engine Plant, which manufactures PS-90A2 engines for the Tu-204SM aircraft, said that the sale of Tu-204SM aircraft with jointly created PS-90A2 engines to Iran is impossible. In February 2014, Yuri Slyusar, who was then the country's Deputy Minister of Industry, noted that the intellectual rights to the PS-90A2 engines were bought from an American company.

Interesting Facts

The Tu-204 passenger aircraft is one of the few aircraft that had to confirm in practice the possibility of a safe flight completion with all engines inoperative. On January 14, 2002, the Tu-204-100 aircraft, owned by Siberia Airlines, flying from Frankfurt to Novosibirsk, in difficult meteorological conditions, ran out of fuel for 17 kilometers to Omsk airport, where it managed to make a successful landing with two inoperative at that time engines. At the same time, none of the passengers of the aircraft was injured, and the aircraft itself was soon returned to service.

Tu-204/214 wing and empennage are not very susceptible to ice buildup and are not equipped with an anti-icing system. Among all modern long-haul aircraft, the Tu-204 is the only aircraft whose wing does not require an anti-icing system. As a result of the tests, the absolute safety of flying the Tu-204 without such a system on the bearing surfaces was confirmed, and European and Russian certificates were obtained.

Flight performance (Tu-204SM - Airbus A321 - Boeing 737-900):

Number of passengers: 176-194 - 185-220 - 177-189.
Aircraft length: 46.1 m - 44.51 m - 42.11 m.
Fuselage width: 3.8 m - 3.95 m - 3.76 m.
Wingspan: 41.8 m - 34.1 m - 35.8 m.
Wing area: 182.4 m2 - 122.6 m2 - 124.6 m2.
Flight range with maximum load: 4200 km - 4000 km - 4996 km
Maximum takeoff weight: 105 t - 85 t - 85.1 t.
Cruise speed: 850 km/h - 840 km/h - 925 km/h.
Ceiling: 12,200 m - 12,000 - 12,500 m.
Runway length: 1950 m - 2090 m - 2400 m.
Fuel efficiency: 19.25 g/pass.km - 18.5 g/pass.km - 22.4 g/pass.km (gallons per passenger-kilometre).
Crew - 2 people.

Information sources:
http://avia.pro/blog/tu-204
http://svpressa.ru/post/article/109040/?rintr=1
http://www.airwar.ru
http://www.tupolev.ru
http://www.boeing.com

The Tu-204 is a Soviet and Russian narrow-body medium-range aircraft, the development of which began at the Tupolev Design Bureau back in the mid-70s of the last century. This machine made its first flight only at the beginning of 1989.

This aircraft was intended to replace the obsolete Tu-154, developed back in the 60s.

The Tu-204 aircraft became the ancestor of a whole family of passenger and cargo vehicles. Depending on the modification, it can carry 164-215 passengers over a distance of up to 5920 km. The release of the Tu-204 was deployed at the Ulyanovsk plant "Aviastar" and the Kazan Aviation Plant (KAPO). In total, since the start of mass production, 83 aircraft of various modifications have been manufactured. In 2007, the cost of one airliner was $35 million.

Currently, the Tu-204 passenger aircraft is actively operated, and not only in Russia. It makes regular flights around the world, including EU countries, North and South America. The airliner has passed all the necessary certifications and fully complies with ICAO requirements. The machine meets all modern requirements regarding the level of noise, emissions of harmful substances and safety, and in terms of reliability and efficiency, it is not inferior to the best foreign analogues.

At the moment, the largest Tu-204 operator is the Rossiya government squadron, which has 12 aircraft on its balance sheet. Two airliners are used by the North Korean company Air Koryo, and three more by the Cuban Cubana.

The latest and most advanced modification of the aircraft is the Tu-204SM airliner, which first took to the skies in 2010.

The history of the Tu-204

Work on the creation of a new passenger aircraft, which in the future received the name Tu-204, began back in 1973. A lot of time was spent on defining the concept of the future machine, its schemes and layout. The first was a project of an aircraft with two engines in the tail section, which was very close to the design of the Tu-134 and Tu-154 serial machines. However, after a few years, the concept was changed, now an aircraft similar in layout to the American MD-10 and L-1011 liners was considered. A significant amount of work was done on this project, the designers proposed several options both for the design of the airframe and for the power plant of the future airliner. The idea of ​​"family" was interesting: based on one basic modification of the aircraft, the developers proposed to create both a short-haul liner to replace the Tu-134 and Yak-42, and medium-haul aircraft with a flight range of up to 4 thousand km.

In August 1981, a government decree was adopted on the creation of a medium-range Tu-204 aircraft with three D-90 engines.

In the same year, Silaev was appointed Minister of the Aviation Industry of the USSR. He demanded the creation of a passenger aircraft that, in terms of its characteristics and level of comfort, would not be inferior to the latest medium-haul Boeing 757 at that time. Once again, the layout of the aircraft was changed, now it has become twin-engine. The new terms of reference were approved only at the end of 1983, and in 1986 the Council of Ministers of the USSR issued a decree, according to which the tests of the machine were to begin in 1988, and the operation of the liner in the first years of the next decade.

Soon they decided on the place of mass production: it was supposed to be the Ulyanovsk Aviation Association. In 1987, the company began preparations for the production of the machine. Already in 1988, the first prototype of the aircraft was made, on January 2, 1989, the Tu-204 prototype finally took off.

The results of the tests were significant improvements to the aircraft, as well as a number of improvements in the process of its production. At that time, due to the deterioration of the general economic situation in the country, the financing of the program began to shrink, and in the early 90s it was almost completely stopped. Only the personal intervention of Prime Minister Chernomyrdin made it possible to find funds and complete the test program. This happened in 1993, but even before the completion of the certification of the aircraft, Aviastar began serial production of the Tu-204. The car received the Russian certificate of airworthiness only in 1995.

Operation Tu-204

The Tu-204 passenger plane was not lucky. Not only did this machine take a very long time to create, but its first steps into the sky fell on a very difficult period for the country. In the 1990s, the standard of living of ordinary Russians plummeted, and very few could afford air travel. Accordingly, passenger traffic and revenues of air carriers have fallen significantly. In addition, supported imported cars poured into the Russian market en masse.

The decrease in production rates led to a lack of spare parts and components for the Tu-204, which further increased the cost of its operation.

Trying to somehow rectify the situation, the Tupolev team developed several new modifications of the machine: Tu-204-120, Tu-204-200 and Tu-204-300. In the new aircraft, avionics and a number of other Soviet-designed systems were replaced by more advanced Russian or foreign counterparts. Liquid crystal screens appeared in the cockpit, significant changes were made to the control systems. The interior of the Tu-204 aircraft has become more comfortable.

However, with small-scale production, it is very difficult to achieve a serious profitability of the aircraft. It is no less difficult in such conditions to create a viable after-sales service system. It is precisely because of this that the Tu-204 is not popular with commercial airlines, who prefer to buy imported aircraft (new or used). Although, in terms of its flight performance, the Tupolev machine is in no way inferior to its foreign counterparts. This has been repeatedly stated by the air carriers themselves.

Currently, the largest operator of the Tu-204 is a special flight squad "Russia", which uses 12 aircraft of this type. In 2016, information appeared about plans for a large-scale purchase of cargo Tu-204s for the Russian Post, and at the beginning of 2017, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced a desire to replace the obsolete Tu-154s with Tu-204s. It is likely that this machine will fall into the state arms program.

In 2015, the Iranian airline Kish Air announced its plans to purchase the Tu-204. It was about a batch of 15 aircraft. Later, representatives of Tupolev PJSC expressed their readiness to begin licensed production of the Tu-204 in Iran.

Tu-204SM modification

In 2010, the first flight of the Tu-204SM aircraft took place, which is the most modern modification in this family of aircraft. It is on this liner that Russian aircraft manufacturers place their greatest hopes.

Compared to the basic modification of the Tu-204-100, this aircraft has a higher takeoff weight, a new set of on-board equipment, improved fuel, power and hydraulic systems. On the Tu-204SM, the crew was reduced to two people (the flight engineer was excluded), which is a global practice on aircraft of this class. In addition, this modification received more advanced PS-90A2 engines, which are distinguished by a lower operating cost. The interior of the passenger compartment has also been improved.

Serial production of the Tu-204SM was launched in the second half of 2013.

Design Description

The Tu-204 is made according to the normal aerodynamic configuration, it is a cantilever low-wing aircraft with two turbofan engines, which are installed in pylons under the wing. The aircraft has a tricycle retractable undercarriage with a nose strut. Tu-204 wing mechanization consists of slats and double-slotted flaps.

Composite materials are widely used in aircraft construction, their share is 18%.

Tu-204 became the first domestic aircraft of this class with a fly-by-wire control system (EDSU).

The aircraft is equipped with a comprehensive information signaling system that displays information on the operation of all aircraft systems on the screens in the cockpit, warns of failures and malfunctions, and gives recommendations for their elimination. They also display the data necessary for piloting the aircraft. Moreover, information can be issued both in the British and in the metric system of units. The flight and navigation complex includes an onboard inertial navigation system, means for measuring altitude and speed parameters and angles of attack, landing systems, warning of critical conditions and collisions in the air, as well as a meteorological radar station.

The fuel system of the aircraft consists of several caisson tanks, two of which are expendable. The total mass of fuel is 35710 kg. An interesting design feature of the Tu-204 is the presence of a system for pumping fuel into the tail tank during the flight. This allows you to shift the center of mass of the machine and improve its aerodynamic characteristics.

The power plant of the aircraft consists of two PS-90A engines, the maximum thrust of which is 16,000 kgf.

Modifications

Since the start of mass production, a large number of aircraft modifications have been created:

  • Tu-204. Basic modification. The takeoff weight of the machine is 94.6 tons;
  • Tu-204-100. An aircraft with a takeoff weight of 103 tons. It can accommodate up to 210 passengers. Flight range - 4600 km;
  • Tu-204-200. Modification with additional fuel tanks, which provides a longer flight range;
  • Tu-204-100E. Aircraft with PS-90A engines, maximum takeoff weight of 105 tons and an English-speaking cockpit;
  • Tu-204-100V. Tu-204-100E version with Russian-language cockpit;
  • Tu-204-100V-04. Modification of Tu-204-100V with engines that meet ICAO noise requirements;
  • Tu-204-120. Modification of the base model with Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines and foreign avionics;
  • Tu-204-300. Aircraft with a shorter fuselage compared to the base model and an increased flight range. Can accommodate up to 162 passengers. The maximum takeoff weight of the Tu-204-300 is 107.5 tons;
  • Tu-204-300A. Modification with a maximum range of up to 9600 km and a superior cabin. It has a shower cabin, satellite connection, adjustable lighting. The aircraft can accommodate up to 26 passengers and is intended for administrative transportation;
  • Tu-214. Modification with a takeoff weight increased to 110.75 tons. Based on it, several special versions were developed for the country's top leadership: Tu-214PU (control point), Tu-214SUS (aircraft-communication center), Tu-214SR (aircraft- repeater). There is also a reconnaissance aircraft Tu-214R and Tu-214ON, designed to perform observation flights;
  • Tu-204SM - an updated version of the Tu-204.

"Tu-204" is a medium-range jet passenger aircraft. This unit was developed in the 80s in the Tupolev Design Bureau Department. With the help of it, the creators intended to replace the obsolete Tu-154 at that time. There are various modifications of this aircraft: VIP version, passenger, cargo and special. The Tu-204 aircraft meets all safety, emission and noise standards, so these models can be operated all over the world. More on this later.

Design

The Tu-204 aircraft is a cantilever monoplane of the normal design. Its swept wings are set quite low. Two of them are installed on special pylons. Their locations are under the wings. This gives the model a unique style. Winglets are located at the end of each wing. This helps to reduce the inductive drag and increase. In addition, they are equipped with double-slotted flaps. These are important elements. Also here are the slats. They regulate the bearing properties of a given aircraft. They are located along the leading edge of the wing. The landing gear has three supports and a nose strut. The power plant includes RB211-535E4 or 2 PS-90A turbofan engines

Story

After the civil aviation of Russia had been operating the Tu-154 aircraft for 2 years already, in 1973, the Design Bureau Department began to work on a future replacement for this model. At first, a proposal was put forward to deeply modernize the Tu-154 and develop many layouts and various new schemes. In the end, the scientists opted for a three-engine model with a wide fuselage, which they called the TU-204 aircraft.

This project was approved by the government in 1981. However, during this process, the designers decided to abandon the tail engine. After that, the project was reworked. As a result, an actual image of the planned aircraft emerged.

During the development, scientists actively applied innovative design methods, using electronic computers. In order to find the optimal aerodynamic layout in certain special tubes, they had to check dozens of mock-ups. In addition, to reduce the weight and increase the strength of this unit, the use of their share in the mass of this model is at least 14%.

When the design was completed, the TU-204 aircraft began to be mass-produced at the Ulyanovsk Aviation Industrial Complex named after D. F. Ustinov. This is a reliable fact. And the first Tu-204 aircraft, the reviews of which were positive, was built in Moscow in a community with an experimental significant production of the ASTC named after. A. N. Tupolev and UAPK.

Tests

2 prototypes were involved in this process. Special on-board systems of this model were tested on many stands.

In early January 1989, the initial flight of the said Tu-204 aircraft took off from the Ramenskoye airfield. Based on the results of the tests carried out, some improvements were made to the design. Namely, the production technology was improved. At the same time, considerable attention was paid to working out new digital systems. Carefulness in this regard led to a positive result. Specialists have developed 23 variants of the onboard automatic control system using the steering wheel. And each has been tested for reliability and numerous flight tests. All this took a long time. In addition, at that time, economic difficulties began in the state. This led to the fact that funding for the program was reduced. As a result, the terms for obtaining the necessary documents and tests were increased.

In the 90s, budget financing of this project was completely stopped. This led to a halt in certification tests, and the Tu-204 aircraft, which still had to undergo operational studies, was waiting in the wings.

As already mentioned, due to the fact that in the 90s the economic situation in the state deteriorated sharply, the flight test budget was practically zeroed. In order to complete this work, scientists had to take extraordinary steps. For example, they agreed to transport goods for a fee. At the same time, the tests were carried out in parallel with commercial flights. This made it difficult to complete the financing of the project. After diligent efforts, scientists managed to obtain the necessary certificate in 1994.

Exploitation

At the end of February 1996, the first flight of the new specified aircraft was carried out on a commercial basis. The Tu-204 aircraft was flying by Vnukovo Airlines from the capital to Mineralnye Vody.

It was assumed that the Tu-204 should replace the Tu-154. However, a sudden drop in funding to the aircraft industry led to disruption in the development of aircraft, and this reduced the speed of production. The result is a small number of models from aviation companies, the high cost of spare parts and maintenance, and frequent downtime. All this led to a drop in the competitiveness of this aircraft, especially in comparison with the western Airbus-320 and Boeing-737, which turned out to be more economical to operate and cheaper.

In the 2000s, at least 10 models were released every year. As a rule, their consumers were state structures.

From the moment mass production began, namely from 1990, 75 Tu-204 aircraft of various variations saw the light of day. In February 2013, only 50 air units of this family were actively operated.

prospects

Initially, in this regard, the Tu-204 was very unlucky. According to the preliminary plan of the designers, it was to be mass-produced, and it was for its production that a completely new plant was built, located in Ulyanovsk. However, as noted above, after the collapse of the USSR, much less funds began to be allocated to the needs of the aviation industry. The market economy has replaced the planned one. As a result of this, Tu-204 aircraft replaced used Western-made aircraft. In addition, over time, the model has become outdated in many respects. One of the reasons that it was no longer used was that the Tu-204 crew consists of 3 people, while most modern aircraft need only 2. This entails additional costs for the maintenance of pilots.

Now about 10 of these models are produced per year. At the same time, as a rule, they are popular in the Arctic Ocean "Russia" and the Air Force. Due to the fact that Ulyanovsk cannot establish mass production and special maintenance, Tu-204 aircraft are not in significant demand among most companies. Nevertheless, according to experts, the latest MS-21 model is able to compete with the foreign Boeing-737. According to recent information, major carriers such as Red Wings and Transaero have often reported that they are interested in purchasing this type of air units. This suggests that the Tu-204 aircraft is quite in demand, expert reviews of which indicate that it is too early to rank it as a past stage of aircraft design. UAC and the Ministry of Industry and Trade invest considerable sums in these projects, which exist only on paper. These include MS-21, which is expected to enter the line only in 2020.

Description of the technical characteristics of the aircraft "Tu-204"

In this case, the following is taken into account:

  • Crew - 3 people.
  • Two turbofan engines - "PS-90A".
  • The wingspan/area is 42.0 m/184.17 m².
  • The size of the length / height of the aircraft - 46.0 / 13.9 m.
  • Weight: takeoff (maximum) / empty - 94,600 kg / 58,300 kg.
  • Cruising speed is 830 km/h.
  • Practical ceiling - 12,100 m.
  • The maximum range is 2900 km.
  • The presence of thrust in 16 140 kgf.
  • Weight: maximum takeoff / landing - 94.6 t / 47 t; curb model - 58.3 tons.
  • Flight range up to 3700 km.

Modifications

Currently, there are several variations of this air unit. Each of them was carefully worked out by the creators in order to obtain the desired result. Let's take a closer look at them next.

Tu-204

As mentioned above, the take-off weight of this basic version is 94.6 tons. For the first time, this Tu-204 aircraft, the photo of which is provided in this text, took off on August 17, 1990 (scheduled flight). In addition, a cargo version of the model was developed. The scheme of the aircraft "TU-204" is the most developed by the designers. The commercial load of this equipment does not exceed 30 tons.

Tu-204-100

This version has PS-90A engines and Russian avionics. Its effectiveness is quite high. This is an essential fact. The cabin of the Tu-204-100 aircraft can accommodate 210 passengers. The certification of this aircraft took place in the winter of 1995.

Tu-204-200

This model is a modification of "Tu-204-100". This aircraft is equipped with additional fuel tanks, which are necessary for a longer flight range. In addition, the specialists of the Ulyanovsk plant "Aviastar" built only one specified unit with the onboard number RA-64036. Now this model is produced in Kazan.

Tu-204-120

"Tu-204-120" and "Tu-204-220" are respectively modifications of "Tu-204-100" and "Tu-204-200". They are equipped with Western avionics and (2 × 19,500 kgf) British-made Rolls-Royce. This innovation was made in order to expand the consumer properties of the model, which first took to the air in August 1992. Foreign deliveries of the charter airline Cairo Aviaton to Egypt have been carried out on this aircraft since 1998. After that, these Tupolev aircraft, the photo of which is available in this text, were delivered to China. The cockpit of this model is made in the English version. This facilitates deliveries to other states. For the first time in the history of the Russian aircraft industry, this air unit was certified in accordance with certain European standards.

Tu-204-300

This model (formerly Tu-234) is shortened by 6 meters in comparison with the basic specific fuselage. This aircraft can accommodate no more than 162 passengers, but initially it was supposed to accommodate 142. The seats on the TU-204-300 aircraft are divided as follows: 8 business class and 134 economy class. This implementation is important. This emphasizes the peculiar style of this modification of the Tu-204. The best seats, of course, will be in business class. This unit was developed in three variations. Their flight range is 9250, 7500 and 3400 km. As a result, the Tu-204-300 was recognized as the first aircraft with two engines that can fly from the capital of the Russian Federation to Vladivostok without stops. The maximum take-off weight of this aircraft is 107.5 tons. This model is equipped with: the domestic avionics complex KSPNO-204 and two PS-90A engines. The Tu-204-300 first flew into the air in August 2003, after which it was demonstrated at the MAKS-2003 aerospace show. It was certified on May 14, 2005. Its mass production was launched at the Aviastar Ulyanovsk plant.

"Tu-204-300A"

These civil aviation aircraft are used for administrative transportation over a distance not exceeding 9600 km. The model can accommodate only 26 passengers. Fuel refueling - 42 t.

Tu-206

This aircraft is still being developed by experts. It is interesting that in this apparatus liquefied natural gas is used as a fuel. These aircraft began to be produced on the basis of such an aircraft as the Tu-204-100. One of the main problems in this case is the placement of vessels with blue fuel, which requires a considerable volume.

Tu-214

This model is a modification of the Tu-204. The maximum takeoff weight of this unit was increased to 110.75 tons, and the size of the payload - up to 25.2 tons. The aircraft of the cargo modification was certified in accordance with the Russian AP-25 standards, which are harmonized with Western FAR-25 and JAR -252. Serial production has been established in the Kazan Aviation Association named after V.I. S. P. Gorbunova. The first takeoff of this model took place in 1989. These aircraft of the civil aviation of the USSR were launched into the stream only in 1997. That is, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In April 2010, this aircraft began to be produced exclusively in special equipment. However, they stopped creating it in a commercial version, as it was unprofitable. Although a major carrier, Transaero, became interested in acquiring this unit.

Tu-204SM

This is a deeply improved Tu-204 aircraft. In comparison with the Tu-204-100, its maximum take-off weight has increased significantly. Also in this model, the avionics were updated. Because of this, the number of crew was reduced to two people, reducing the seats on the TU-204 aircraft and leaving the ship without an onboard engineer. This is done in accordance with world practice for models of this class.

In addition, the Tu-204SM aircraft has undergone some changes.

  1. Modernization of the PS-90A2 turbofan engine. This was accompanied by a decrease in the cost of the life cycle and an increase in the overhaul and assigned resources of units and main elements (for the hot part - 10,000 cycles, and for the cold - up to 20,000).
  2. Updated APU "TA-18-200". In this case, the launch and operation altitude was increased. New equipment was introduced that performs the necessary functions that meet certain advanced and modern requirements of ICAO and European control.
  3. Chassis upgraded. In the design of this part, all aspects that correspond to the resource of the airframe were taken into account.
  4. The aircraft cabin has been improved.
  5. Reduced crew to 2 pilots.
  6. A control system for general aircraft units (SUOSO) has already been developed and is awaiting installation. Maintenance and diagnostics have also been improved.
  7. Modernized systems: energy conservation, hydraulic, fuel and air conditioning.

At the end of December 2010, the flight test of the TU-204SM fell. It was carried out by the honored test pilot Viktor Minashkin. This process went well. However, the tests of this updated aircraft were carried out with a slight delay. At a press conference, the general director of the aviation plant, Sergei Dementiev, told the audience that a test flight of this model was scheduled for December 17, 2010. However, he stressed that the work on assembling aircraft of this type follows a given schedule.

By 2016, the Aviastar-SP enterprise plans to manufacture 44 Tu-204SM aircraft intended for the large enterprise Red Wings Airlines. According to preliminary information, at least $1.8 billion has been allocated to finance this project.

In mid-January 2012, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia spoke at the famous Ulyanovsk aircraft building enterprise called Aviastar-SP. According to Dmitry Rogozin, the certification of the new Tu-204SM passenger-type aircraft will end in June, and from the middle of the year it will be possible to talk about its serial production.

Outcome

Having read the above, everyone can have an exact idea of ​​what the described aircraft is and what variations exist. In general, Tupolev aircraft fully comply with certain standards. Currently, air units of this family are in considerable demand. The technical and flight characteristics of the vehicles of this type are at the proper level. However, the developers do not stop there and continue to improve aircraft of this type.

Tu-204SM- deep modernization of the aircraft, which has a number of significant advantages over the base model and is able to compete with modern liners of competitors.

History of Tu-204SM

The prototype aircraft (factory No. 64150) first took to the air on December 29, 2010 in Ulyanovsk at the Ulyanovsk Vostochny airport. The aircraft was commanded by test pilot Viktor Minashkin.

At the moment, the Government of the Russian Federation and the United Aircraft Corporation are analyzing the prospects for the production and operation of airliners in government services, as well as airlines before the commissioning of a new generation airliner.

The manufacturing plant Aviastar-SP is implementing an initiative program to bring a dozen Tu-204-100/300s to the market. We are talking about aircraft with a superior cabin for corporate and business aviation. Over the next two years, a batch of Tu-204 aircraft with superior comfort interiors will be produced. In accordance with the UAC report for 2015, in terms of the production of liners, it is planned to consider the possibility of subsidizing part of the cost of the aircraft.

Tu-204SM design

Compared with the design of the basic aircraft of the Tu-204/214 family, the following main changes were made to the new aircraft:

  • upgraded PS-90A2 turbofan engines with a reduced life cycle cost and increased overhaul and designated life of the main parts and assemblies (for the cold part - up to 20,000 cycles and for the hot part - 10,000 cycles);
  • new APU TA-18-200M with increased launch and operation altitude; new equipment is being introduced that performs functions in accordance with modern and future requirements of ICAO and Eurocontrol;
  • modernized landing gear, the design of which provides a resource corresponding to the resource of the aircraft airframe;
  • the interior of the passenger compartment is improved;
  • the general aircraft equipment control system (SUOSO) and the maintenance and diagnostics system are being developed and installed;
  • cockpit, providing control of the aircraft by 2 pilots;
  • modified power supply systems, control systems, fuel and hydraulic systems, a new air conditioning system, a digital ACS system and electric drives are being introduced in the wing mechanization system.

Tu-204SM video: Demonstration flight of the aircraft at the MAKS 2013 air show

Key indicators of Tu-204SM

  • Crew: 2 people.
  • Range at maximum load: 3500 km.
  • Aerodrome class: B.
  • Runway length (mileage): 1800 m.
  • Landing category: IIIA.
  • Noise on the ground: meets the requirements of Chapter 4 of Annex 16 of ICAO.
  • Design life: 60,000 hours, 30,000 flights 25 calendar years.
  • MTBF: at least 12,000 hours, 6,000 flights with 300-350 flying hours. hour. per month.

Scheme of the cabin Tu-204SM

Tupolev Tu-204 is a passenger airliner developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the late eighties. The liner is designed for medium-haul passenger flights. The Tu-204 was released as a replacement for the outdated Tu-154 medium-range aircraft. In terms of its main characteristics, the Tu-204 is similar to the Airbus A320, Boeing 737 and Boeing 757.

According to the original project, the aircraft was planned to be equipped with three D90 jet engines. But later the project was revised and the prototype of the aircraft received two engines suspended on pylons under the wings of the aircraft. For the Tupolev Design Bureau, such a layout of engines was used for the first time. When designing the aircraft, the use of composite materials based on glass-carbon plastics was widely used.

So, the Tu-204 aircraft is a passenger aircraft that performs medium-haul flights. The development of this model began in 1973. Many possible models and variants of the new air machine were developed and revised. The calculations were carried out at the Tupolev Design Bureau, where other aircraft models were being developed in parallel.

The history of the creation of the medium-range aircraft Tu-204

L.L. was appointed chief designer, who was involved in the development of a new passenger liner. Selyakov. According to the original version, it was planned to create an aircraft that would have 2 engines, and basically the new model was very much supposed to be very similar to the Tu-134. Also, many design solutions were borrowed from the already designed Tu-136.

Already in the mid-70s, the aircraft was becoming more and more similar to American counterparts, such as the MD-10 and L-1011. The design model included large luggage compartments in which containers could be transported. Because of this, the unit became double-deck, and the fuselage layout had to be changed. This innovation made it possible to change the ratio of filling the aircraft with cargo and passengers.


In August 1981, the government set the task of creating a three-engine aircraft, which should use D-90 engines, which at that time were the most progressive and economical. But after the design layout of the aircraft was created, it could not be used, which is why it was decided to return to a twin-engine model. The engines were planned to be hung on the pylons of the wings. This project of a passenger aircraft was completely revised and was the basis for the creation of the Tu-204.

In 1987, preparations for the production of the Tu-204 began at the Ulyanovsk plant. The first prototype of this model was made in 88, and the first Tu-204 was flown into the air at the beginning of 89. The full set of tests was completed at the end of 1993. The Aviastar company did not wait for the end of the tests and started manufacturing this aircraft back in 1990. In January 1995, the Tu-204 received a certificate of airworthiness from the Russian Federation. This machine made its first flight between Moscow and Mineralnye Vody.

Description of the passenger airliner Tu-204

During the development of this aircraft model, close cooperation was carried out between many scientific centers of the Russian Federation. Thanks to this, this device has many advantages over similar models in the world. The Tu-204 aircraft was equipped with high-performance wings that had supercritical profiles, as well as vertical surfaces that increased aerodynamics at the ends of the consoles. The entire fuselage is made of new high-strength aluminum alloys, and the connection of body parts is made by riveting.


When designing, composite materials are also used, the share of which is about 18%. For better balancing of the aircraft, a fuel tank is built into its plumage, which includes 2.8 tons of fuel.

This model of a passenger aircraft is the first in the Russian Federation, in which a system of electric remote control is installed. It can perform automatic landing of the car even in very difficult weather conditions. For more comfortable work of pilots, a system called "dark cockpit" was made, it helps to reduce the load on pilots.

The aircraft is equipped with a domestic avionics system, for which 6 displays are used. With their help, information is displayed for pilots about the state of the flight and all the functional details of the aircraft. This system automatically diagnoses all equipment, and also supports satellite communications. Innovations also touched the design of the wing. Flaps appeared in it, which are double-slotted, as well as slats that run along the leading edge of the wing. As for the chassis, it is made using new technologies.

The designers perfectly thought out the air supply system for the entire cabin of the apparatus. Its main task is to extract and cool the air that passes through two independent lines. This system is able to automatically maintain the optimum temperature inside the aircraft. A feature is that the air that enters the middle of the aircraft is taken directly from the engine compressors.


Speaking about the power supply, it should be noted that the aircraft is supplied from generators that are installed on the engines of the machine, as well as from regular batteries. In the aircraft network, the voltage is 115 volts, and in some models - 200 volts with a frequency of 400 hertz.

The entire hydraulic system is powered by pumps that are powered by engines. In case of unforeseen situations, each hydraulic system is equipped with additional electric pumps.

On the Tu-204, as on many other aircraft, there is a problem of icing of the external units of the device. Therefore, a whole range of systems have been installed that prevent this problem. Engine air intakes, pressure receivers, fan fairings, and cockpit windshields need basic protection. The wings and fuselage, as a rule, do not suffer from icing, so they do not need additional protection. It should be noted that in many other aircraft models, hull icing is possible. This feature of the Tu-204 was noted by special commissions of international organizations.


The Tu-204 passenger airliner was a qualitatively new generation of the domestic aircraft industry. When creating this machine, all the requirements of modern aircraft engineering and the requirements of international standards were taken into account. The designers of a qualitatively new unit took into account the fact that it would be economical and not create a lot of noise, and also comply with international environmental requirements. According to the initial plans of designers and customers, the Tu-204 should be as successful as the Tu-154 and replace it. But in the 1990s, air travel dropped significantly, resulting in low orders for new aircraft. The problems of the 90s did not allow the implementation of all plans related to the Tu-204 aircraft.

Tu-204 position today

Until our time, only 40 Tu-204 models of various modifications were manufactured. Most of them serve for the good of the motherland, but some were sold abroad, namely to China and Egypt. In September 2009, the designers and developers of the Tu-204 passenger aircraft were awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation. Despite the undoubted advantages, this model has not reached a large commercial hype.

In addition to the fact that in the 90s civil aviation, one might say, fell apart, the attitude of airlines towards domestic manufacturers also played a big role in this. It is because of this that most passenger transportation companies believe that Russia has not yet learned how to produce high-quality passenger aircraft. Air carriers are ready to spend their money on the purchase of a decommissioned old Boeing, rather than buying a new Tu-204, which is not much inferior to its foreign analogue.

On the basis of the Tu-204 passenger aircraft, the Tupolev Design Bureau created a whole line of various modifications, namely, 16 special varieties of this brand were created. Some of them were even cargo planes, and one Tu-234 was a long-haul aircraft that could fly 9,000 kilometers. Devices that are made to order, and this is usually overseas, come with an English-speaking cabin. But still the main customer is our state.

According to experts, the Tu-204SM is the most successful and competitive model. It is she who can compete for leadership with such foreign counterparts as the Boeing 737 and A320.

Tu-204 photo

The test flight of the first Tu-204 flight model took place on January 2, 1989. During all the tests, improvements and improvements were made to the design of the aircraft. The aircraft was equipped with a fly-by-wire control system (EDSU). The cockpit has six color displays to display flight data. PS90-A jet engines were installed on the liner. During air tests, the aircraft flew over a thousand hours.

In 1992, a new aircraft was introduced which received the designation Tu-204-120.

On this model, turbojet engines RB-211-535E4 of the English company "Rolls Royce" and Western avionics of the company "Honeywell" were used.

Salon TU-204 salon photo

The aircraft received its first airworthiness certificate on December 29, 1994.

The airliner meets all modern European ICAO requirements.

The Tu-204 aircraft is one of those airliners that can land safely with all engines switched off.

Tu-204-300, a VIP-class aircraft, Tu-204-300A, was produced, the passenger compartment of which is made in the “flying apartments” class

In addition to the passenger version, a cargo aircraft was also designed.

The cargo export version of the Tu-204-200C is successfully operated by several airlines in Europe and Egypt.

In 2005, the Tu-204-300, shortened by six meters, began to operate. Which is also known as Tu-234. This version is equipped with PS90-A2 turbofan engines. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 107.6 tons with a flight range of up to 9,300 kilometers. This version is capable of carrying 166 passengers.

To date, a little more than seventy Tu-204 aircraft of various modifications have been produced.

Characteristics of Tu-204-100 (basic version):

    Years of production: 1990 - our time.

    Length: 46.14 m.

    Height: 13.88 m.

    Wingspan: 41.8 m.