• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Transport - Great Patriotic War

From the beginning of jet aircraft, the Tupolev DB permanently was given orders for passenger jet aircraft and for their cargo versions in parallel. For example, the project of short–haul passenger TU-102 aircraft had in parallel a military transport and cargo TU-101 aircraft, medium-range TU-104 and TU-110 aircraft – respectively TU-107 and TU-117, short –haul TU-124 aircraft – TU-127 aircraft, long-range TU-114 aircraft – military and transport and cargo TU-112S and TU-114T aircraft. Experimental TU-107 aircraft was built, tested and approved by Customer as military and transport aircraft.

A quite effective conversion system of fleet of passenger airliners into military and transport aircraft under special circumstances at the expense of relatively minor design activities including manufacturing of additional replaceable tail parts with loading ramps, with rear shooting system and with reinforced cargo compartment floor. Up to 1968 all Tupolev airplanes were provided with replaceable set of equipment to be converted into cargo and ambulance aircraft in the course of operation.

Proceeding from straight-wing piston-engine designs, Tupolev developed the twin-jet swept-wing Badger bomber and the large turboprop swept-wing Bear bomber. The Badger also evolved into the world's first swept-wing jet civil transport, the Tu-104, while the Bear evolved into the Tu-114 civil transport and the Tu-126 AWACS. The Tu-104 transport was developed from the "Badger" bomber and utilized the same wings, tall surfaces, engines and inlets, landing gear, and fuselage nose section as the earlier bomber aircraft.

• ANT-2 Colt was Antonov's first postwar transport design (1947). It is a single-engine propeller-driven biplane with an enclosed cabin for up to about 14 passengers or troops. The design won Antonov a Stalin Prize in 1952. Since then he has concentrated on large turbine-powered aircraft.
• Il-12/14 are propeller-driven airplanes somewhatsimilar to the US DC-3/C-47 except for more powerful engines and a higher speed. These were the first postwar Soviet transports and were introduced into service in 1947 with Aeroflot and as military transports as early replacements for the Li-2.
• Tu-104, the world's first swept-wing jet transport test flown in 1955, was a derivative of the Tu-16 Badger bomberthat first flew in 1952. This is representative of the meansthat the Soviets have frequently used to place newcivil designs into production more quickly than the West.
• An-8 was the first Soviet airplane designed for tactical airlift. It has twin turboprops and carries about 40 passengers or troops.
• Il-18 is a four-engine turboprop, introduced in 1958, that had a seating capacity of 80-110. It wasone of the first airplanes to have a forward entrance door. A maritime reconnaissance version I1-38 is also in service.
• An-10/12 is a four-engine turboprop design capable of carrying up to 100 passengers or troops. The An-lO is a passenger version while the An-12 is a freighter version in service with both Aeroflot and the military (VTA).
• An-14 is a high-wing twin-piston engine design for about 8 troops. It is distinguished by an exceptionally high-wing aspect ratio of about 12. An-28 appears to be a later modification with twin turboprops and an extended body to accommodateabout 15 passengers and an increased payload.
• Tu-114 was a transport conversion of the Tu-95 Bear that made an appearancea the 1959 Paris Air Show. The airplane could seat up to about 220 passengers and for a numberof years was the largest airliner in service. The propellers were eight-bladed contrarotating with a diameter of 18.375 feet. Maximum gross weight was 385,805 poundsand cruising at 470 mph, it was the fastest propellor-driven airliner ever in service.
• Tu-124 was a scaled-down version of the Tu-104 originally designed in the late 1950's as a replacement for the prop-driven 11-18. Designed for operation from small fields, the Tu-124 had double-slotted trailing-edge flaps, upper surface spoilers, and a large air brake beneath the center section to steepen the glide path.
• Tu-134 was a subsequent replacement for the Tu-124 with twin jets aftmounted on the fuselage. It first flew about 1963-64 thus being contemporary with the BAC 111 and Douglas DC-9.
• An-22, a major component of the VTA, is a four-engine turboprop with a high wing having an aspect ratio of about 12. The maximum grossweight is about 550,000 pounds. A maximum payload of about 176,000 pounds can be carried about 3,100 miles and with a payload of about 100,000 pounds, the range is extended to 6,800 miles. A civil version of the An-22 appeared in Aeroflot markings at the Paris Air Show in 1965. The civil version is said to have a capacity of 300-350 passengers.
• An-24/26/30 twin turboprop in passenger version (up to about 50), freight version with payload of about 13,000 pounds, and reconnaissance version. First to use Antonov unique rear loading ramp which serves as underside of body when closed and can also be slid forward to facilitate direct floor loading and air dropping.
• Il-62 was designed to replace the Tu-114 on long haul routes. With four rear-mounted engines, it resembles the BAC VC-IO. Normal seating is 186. The Il-62 first flew in January 1963 and it entered service in March 1967.
• Yak 40 was designed to meet the needs for small field local service operation and replace older aircraft such as the Li-2 and 11-14. The Yak 40 is a tri-jet (similar to a small B-727) and carries about 32 passengers. It first flew in October 1966 and went into service in September 1968. Many have been exported.
• Be-30 is another small field operator having twin turboprops and a seating capacity for about 15 passengers. It is intended to replace the An-2 and can take off in about 1,800 feet from dirt fields.
• Tu-154 is a medium-haul transport that has three jets (similar to B-727). Passenger capacity is about 164. First flight was October 4, 1968, and it entered service in November 1971.
• Il-76 is similar to the Lockheed C-141 with a maximum payload capacity of about 88,000 pounds and a maximum gross weight of about 375,000 pounds. Designed as a military transport, it also serves in Aeroflot. First flew in March 1971 and appeared at the Paris Air Show in June 1971 (in Aeroflot colors). The 11-76 is especially designed for operation from unprepared fields.
• Yak 42 is a 120-passenger trijet for feeder line service that first flew in March 1975.
• An-72 is a STOL design with blowing over the wing somewhat similar to the Boeing YC-14. It was shown at the 1979 Paris Air Show. The maximum payload is about 22,000 pounds and there are provisions for up to about 32 passengers. The An-72 set 16 records for height, time to height, and payload to height in November-December 983.
• Il-86 is a wide-body four-engine jet with a passenger capacity of 350 that went into service in July 1981.
• An-124 was Antonov's first large jet and apparently the largest airplane flying in the world today. Designed as a military transport, it appeared at the Paris Air Show in Aeroflot colors in June 1985. It is similar to the C-5A except for the low horizontal stabilizer. The payload is as much as 330,688 pounds with a maximum takeoff gross weight of about 893,000 pounds. Range with maximum payload is said to be about 2,800 miles. The An-124 includes many features to aid in loading and unloading and has an extensive array of flaps and spoilers to facilitate low-speed flight and short-field operation.

Tu-104 aircraft powered by turbojet engines have a fuel consumption rate of 0.8-1.0 kg per 1-kg thrust per hr. Turboprop engines were developed for the purpose of fuel economy. Turboprop engines have similar construction and operate on the same principle as a turbojet engine. The only difference in a turboprop engine is the addition of a propeller outside the compressor. Turboprop engines are built for long-range civil transport airplanes flying at a speed of 800-900 km/hr. Turboprop engines can also be used in military aircraft having a flying speed of 4-4.5 mach if an afterburner is added. Tests showed that the fuel consumption of turboprop engines is reduced 16-20% under the same internal flow condition. Takeoff thrust is also increased 30-40% and engine noise is reduced 10-15 db. Turboprop engines, however, are more complicated in construction, heavier, and larger in diameter (30-40%) than turbojet engines. Middle-range Tu-124 passenger airplanes powered by turboprop engines have a fuel consumption rate 15-25% lower than Tu-104 airplanes.