Tupolev Tu-134

Tupolev Tu-134
Country	Soviet Union – Russia
Role	Airliner
First fly	29 July 1963
Built	854

The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain other Russian airliners (including its sister model the Tu-154), it can operate from unpaved airfields.

Source: Tupolev Tu-134 on Wikipedia

Tupolev Tu-134A Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Minsk-Borovaya Air Museum, Belarus
Photos	149

Tupolev Tu-134A 01

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Tupolev Tu-134A 09

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General Characteristics (Soviet Era)

The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engine, short-to-medium-range jet airliner developed in the Soviet Union, originally conceived to replace the Ilyushin Il-14. The ‘A’ variant was the first major production modification, introducing improved engines and increased passenger capacity.

Property	Value (Tu-134A Variant)
Role	Short/Medium-Haul Airliner
Manufacturer	Kharkov State Aircraft Plant / Tupolev Design Bureau
Entered Service (Tu-134A)	1970
Crew	3 or 4 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Engineer/Navigator)
Capacity	72 to 84 passengers
Length	37.10 m (121 ft 8 in)
Wingspan	29.0 m (95 ft 2 in)

Design and Powerplant

Engines: Two Soloviev D-30-II or D-30-III turbofan engines.
Engine Placement: A distinctive feature, the engines are mounted in two nacelles on the sides of the rear fuselage (similar to the BAC One-Eleven or Douglas DC-9).
Thrust (D-30-II): Approx. 66.7 kN (15,000 lbf) per engine.
Cockpit: Features a glazed nose, originally intended for a navigator, a hallmark of early Soviet jet transport design (though sometimes phased out on later A models).
Wing Design: Features a swept wing with noticeable dihedral and leading-edge slats for improved low-speed handling.
Landing Gear: Equipped with low-pressure tires for operation from unprepared airfields, a common Soviet design requirement.

Performance and Variants

Maximum Cruise Speed: 900 km/h (560 mph, 486 knots).
Operational Range: Approximately 1,800 to 2,000 km (1,100 to 1,240 miles).
Service Ceiling: 12,100 m (39,700 ft).
Key Improvement (Tu-134A): Compared to the original Tu-134, the ‘A’ variant has a stretched fuselage for more seating and an improved turbofan engine. It also replaced the rear braking parachute with reverse thrust on the engines.
Noise Issues: Due to the high exhaust velocity of its early turbofan engines, the Tu-134 family was known to be extremely loud and was one of the first Soviet types to be banned from many European airports due to noise restrictions in the 1990s and 2000s.