Tu-144S Charger Production Aircraft
The Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Plant was tasked to master the production the world's first supersonic passenger plane - Tu-144. Production of Tu-144 was the biggest stage of technological progress at the Plant. The application of new construction materials, development of original design and technological solutions, production of uncommonly large components and aggregates and observance of high demands for aerodynamics and assigned life of the products - all these tasks have been successfully solved.
Production of Tu-144 aircraft with NK-144A was continued in Voronezh up to 1977. Large amount of flight tests were made on this aircraft and flights with passengers were started. The first flight of Tu-144 No.02-1 (side number 77103) was performed 13 December, 1973. Flight and navigation complex NPK-144, power supply system were tried out, the aircraft was tested aborted takeoff, technical flights were performed to various cities of the USSR.
On Tu-144 No.02-2 (side number 77104) - the first flight was made 14 June, 1974 - aerodynamics, strength, large angles of attack tests were performed. Aircraft systems and equipment was checked under nonstandard conditions. In 1975 the aircraft flown to Le-Bourget.
Tu-144 No.03-1 (side number 77105) was built in 1973 and was modified streight away to Tu-144D with RD-36-51A engines.
Tu-144 No.04-1 (side number 77106) - the first flight was performed 4 March, 1975 - was used to assess effectiveness of air-conditioning sytem/ Some problems on fuel system were solved on this aircraft. 26 December, 1975 this machine performed the first operational flight on the route Moscow-Alma-Ata. The aircraft carried goods and mail. The flights were made at the altitude of 18000 m at the speed of 2200 km/h. [Currently Tu-144 No. 04-1 is exhibited at Monino Museum].
On Tu-144 No.04-2 (side No. 77108) - the first flight was performed 12 December, 1975 - development works were made on navigation system, flight-director approach, sub-autothrottle. Tu-144 No.05-1 (side number 77107) - the first flight was performed 20 August, 1975 - after factory tests and special tests in 1977 was submitted as complex subject for joint government testing. According results of said tests it was noted that flight performance data of the aircraft except to operational range of fight with prescribed passenger number and takeoff weight complied with requirements to Tu-144 aircraft (when testing operational flight range reached 3080 km at takeoff weight of 195 tones and payload equal to 15 tone and at payload of 7 tone - flight rage was3600 km. It was highlighted that the range of 4000-4500 km at payload of 14-15 ton could not be realize on Tu-144 with NK-144A and it was noted that such range could be reached with RD-36-51A engines.
Upon joint tests completion the decision was taken on beginning of passenger transportation on Tu-144 aircraft with NK-144A engines. Tu-144 No. 05-2 (side number 77109) and Tu-144 No. 06-1 (side number 77110) were used for regular passenger transportation on Moscow-Alma-Ata route. The Tu-144 aircraft made this first passenger flight 1 November, 1977. The only inflight problem was noise. Conversation was rendered almost impossible by a loud rushing sound that made the flight seem as though it were taking place in a wind tunnel. Alexei Tupolev, the plane's designer, who was aboard the inaugural run, explained that the noise came from a supercharged ventilation system designed to keep passengers cool despite the above-boiling temperatures on the plane's skin.
Flights for a range of 3,260 km at an altitude of 16000-17000 m at the speed of 2000 km/h were performed once a week; number of passengers did not exceed 80 persons. The Soviets seemed to be sensitive to the noise and other potential environmental problems caused by supersonic transport. The Concordeski takes off from an airport located in an isolated birch wood, and the air route to Alma-Ata deliberately covers sparsely populated areas. The price of a one-way ticket on the once-a-week flight was $113. Before the moment of termination of regular operation with passengers in May 1978, Aeroflot crews made 55 flights on Tu-144 aircraft and carried 3284 passengers. The Tu-144 with NK-144A became the first Soviet passenger aircraft which was granted with national airworthiness certificate for safety of passenger transportation.
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