Tu-144 Projects

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Tu-144 Projects

Aviation- missile complex - the medium range ballistic solid-propellant missiles. Carrier aircraft had to bear in the fuselage compartment three MBR of long range. The launch of rockets had to be carried out from the carrier aircraft in the limits of the territory OF THE USSR, output to the line of starting at the velocity of 2300-2500 km/h. Specific quantity of the aircraft. the line of firing was determined in 2500 km from the base, the flying range of rockets achieved 7000-9000 km.

These preliminary projects formed the basis for the subsequent projects ARK on the base Tu-144D with the engines RD -36-51. In these projects was considered the use of that modernised Tu-144D with the increased fuel load as carrier for intermediate range rocket with the flying range 3000-5000km, distinguished by their considerably smaller sizes and by masses, than in the preceding case.
In these projects basic flight into the zone of starting carrier aircraft had to perform in the subsonic mode. In this case with one rocket the range of system was determined in 9000-11000 km, with the flying range of aircraft itself near 5000 km; with two rockets - 8500-10000km, with the flying range of aircraft of approximately 4500 km, and with three rockets - 8000-9500 km with the flying range of aircraft of approximately 3500 km.

In the preliminary study there were other projects ARK on the base Tu-144, including with the cruise missiles of long range.

In second-half of the 1970s was examined the version of development on the base Tu-144D long range interceptor - “Raider” DP-2, capable of covering at the large distance long-range bomber aircraft, protecting them from the fighter-interceptors of enemy, to ensure PVO of the protected territories at large removals from the bases, and to also carry on a struggle with the aviation military- transport transportation on the routes of the sequence of transport aircraft.

As further development of this idea of steel the projects of interceptor- producer Tu-144PP, the combined functions distant fighter-interceptor and jammer, capable of complexly supporting the operations of the aircraft of long-range aviation on the penetration PVO of enemy.

In 1980 in the examination was found the version of the producer of interference- reconnaissance aircraft Tu-144PR on the base Tu-144D. Aircraft it was intended for the accomplishment of the missions of operational-strategic reconnaissance and radio-electronic counteraction. Tu-144PR thought as the universal complex, capable of working both in the long-range aviation and in PVO accomplishing reconnaissance of aerial targets, the induction on them of fighters, the transmission of target designations to SAMs. Furthermore, equipment and armament of aircraft permitted implementation of its own defence of aircraft from the attacks of fighters and rockets of different classes.

One of the last projects of creation on the base Tu-144 its military version became the design of distant reconnaissance aircraft for the naval aviation, which received designation Tu-144MR. Aircraft had to become the modification of series Tu-144D it was intended for conducting of aerial reconnaissance and realisation of target designation to the striking powers of fleet for the maritime and oceanic theatres of military actions. For expanding of tactical possibilities and reduction of prices of development and operation it was intended to have two versions of the aircraft in the formation: reconnaissance and reconnaissance-and-strike with two rockets.

In the reconnaissance version flying range Tu-144MR were determined by developers in 10,000 km, the maximum speed of flight 2500 km/h, average flight altitude 20,000m, in this case takeoff mass was determined in 185 t that it was almost to 10% less than in base model Tu-144D.

Vladimir Rigmant, Tu-160 article, Aviatsiya i Kosmonautika 02/2006

Picture is a Tu-144 model shown at Paris Airshow before first flight.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

in Flightglobal,the early model for Tupolev Tu-144 showed the
single row of intakes.
http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1978/1978%20-%202275.html

 

[hesham]

Hi,

in an archive film about the SST aircraft,I saw the early model to Tu-144,
it had a very slender wing,and very small delta wing and not doubl delta
wing,unfortunately I can't record the film,has anyone a picture to this model ?.

 

[borovik]

One of the iterations of Tu-160 LK (based on the Tu-144)
from E.Gordon "Tu-160" Polygon

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

In the early 1980s the Soviet Navy collaborated in an idea to convert existing Tu-144Ds into Tu-144P ECM aircraft and Tu-144K and Tu-144KP air-to-surface missile carriers.

OKB Tupolev, Yefim Gordon & Vladimir Rigmant

 

[hesham]

Hi,

a comparison between Tu-144A and Tu-144B.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19860006738_1986006738.pdf

 

[hesham]

Hi,

the early design to Tu-144 with canard.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

anther Canard early Tupolev Tu-144,note the canard
was high position,unlike the previous.

 

[famvburg]

I've been scrounging around getting ready to scratchbuild a 1/72 Tu-144DP / Tu-144PP & was wondering if the proposed bomber / cruise missile version & long range interceptor versions of the Tu-144D had been built, would they have likely been given B & F NATO codenames or probably just been given suffixes to the Charger codename? The illustrations in Gordon's Tu-144 book show the Tu-144D bomber variant as basically a Tu-144D with no windows in the cabin area with cruise missiles underneath & the PP interceptor as a Tu-144D with a bigger radome similar to a MiG-25, -31 or Su-27 with missiles underneath, so I'm just curious as to what their designations might have been. My thoughts are they would have been given B & F codenames. I do feel that the Tu-144D derived Tu-160 shown in post 2 above would have been given a B NATO codename had it seen life. Any thoughts?

 

[OM]

Hi,

a comparison between Tu-144A and Tu-144B.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19860006738_1986006738.pdf

...Heh, page 26 of this document is a hoot insofar as Military designations were concerned. Antonov AN-22 "Cock", Ilyushin IL-18 "Coot" - considering the age and durability, a very prophetic designator at that! - TU-134 "Crusty", and TU-154 "Careless", all names that require a chuckle upon hearing. ;D ;D ;D

 

[Aardvark]

Photo made in Soviet military base Severomorsk (1977) during display of Tu-144 to seamen:
http://radikal.ru/F/s46.radikal.ru/i112/1103/cb/164bdcfc0916.jpg.html
http://radikal.ru/F/s013.radikal.ru/i323/1103/db/ee2b98ccc006.jpg.html
The author of these photos V.Nazarov(old) serving then in Severomorsk.
This plane as the reconnaissance aircraft for the naval aviation, hasn't interested seamen.
Are taken from here:
http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic_t_30055.html

B.R. Serge

 

[hesham]

The early Tu-144 configurations;


http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=ar&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Foao-tupolev.livejournal.com%2F1209.html%3Fthread%3D11449

 

[hesham]

From the book;


Черемухин Г.А. - Дальше. Выше. Быстрее воспоминания о работе в авиапромышленности%2C о технике и ее создателях

 

[Stargazer]

Image before last appears elsewhere as a civilian '135'... ???

 

[hesham]

Image before last appears elsewhere as a civilian '135'... ???

May be looks like it;


here is the Tu-135.

 

[Stargazer]

here is the Tu-135.

No, here is ONE Tu-135... There are several different variants (both bomber and transport) under that number.

 

[hesham]

here is the Tu-135.

No, here is ONE Tu-135... There are several different variants (both bomber and transport) under that number.

OK,but those Models are for Tu-144.

 

[hesham]

Hi,


here is a Models for Tupolev Tu-144 early designs of 1962 and 1965,also an artist drawing
to the aircraft actually built,

Первые сверхзвуковые - Ту-144 против "Конкорда"

 

[blackkite]

Hi!
Book introduction. I believe that English version of this book will be a best-selling book among Western aircraft enthusiasts.
http://www.polygonpress.ru/?portfolio=tupolev-144 (No.1 to No.3 picture)

Drawings. (Tu-144A and Tu-144B)(No.4 to No.5 picture)
http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw/tu144dblueprints.html

 

[blackkite]

Hi!
Early Tu-144 design models.

http://ru-aviation.livejournal.com/3640975.html

No.1 picture shows this third model?
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=740.0;attach=196653;image

 

[Rickshaw]

Are there any details anywhere about the proposed Tu-144 bomber variant? Or is this a Cold War myth?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Are there any details anywhere about the proposed Tu-144 bomber variant? Or is this a Cold War myth?

I think the 'bomber' story comes from the early Tu-160 work.

There were some proposed military versions of the Tu-144 like maritime reconnaissance, long range interceptor and even ballistic missile carrier.

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Tu-135P.
http://translate.google.fr/translate?hl=fr&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fzavodfoto.livejournal.com%2F2738335.html&sandbox=1

http://translate.google.fr/translate?hl=fr&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftestpilot.ru%2Frussia%2Ftupolev%2F135%2Fp%2F135p.htm&sandbox=1

 

[Rickshaw]

Are there any details anywhere about the proposed Tu-144 bomber variant? Or is this a Cold War myth?

I think the 'bomber' story comes from the early Tu-160 work.

There were some proposed military versions of the Tu-144 like maritime reconnaissance, long range interceptor and even ballistic missile carrier.

Interesting. Are there any 3-view drawings of them anywhere?

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Moving picture and normal picture.
Hard to find military version drawings. :'(

http://www.popmech.ru/technologies/317332-tu-144-prervannyy-polet/

Tu-144A 3D model.
https://sketchfab.com/models/d44ebc5439bd46d1b39f0e53e59e8e46#

 

[blackkite]

Some information.
http://translate.google.fr/translate?hl=fr&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftestpilot.ru%2Frussia%2Ftupolev%2F160%2F160.htm&sandbox=1

 

[ZacYates]

Are there any details anywhere about the proposed Tu-144 bomber variant? Or is this a Cold War myth?

I think the 'bomber' story comes from the early Tu-160 work.

There were some proposed military versions of the Tu-144 like maritime reconnaissance, long range interceptor and even ballistic missile carrier.

Interesting. Are there any 3-view drawings of them anywhere?

See earlier:

In the early 1980s the Soviet Navy collaborated in an idea to convert existing Tu-144Ds into Tu-144P ECM aircraft and Tu-144K and Tu-144KP air-to-surface missile carriers.

OKB Tupolev, Yefim Gordon & Vladimir Rigmant

The K/KP variant sounds like an interesting project for a model.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Are there any details anywhere about the proposed Tu-144 bomber variant? Or is this a Cold War myth?

I think the 'bomber' story comes from the early Tu-160 work.

There were some proposed military versions of the Tu-144 like maritime reconnaissance, long range interceptor and even ballistic missile carrier.

Interesting. Are there any 3-view drawings of them anywhere?

There's several including a Tupolev Tu-144MR drawing in the recent Polygon Tu-160 book, armed with 2 Kh-45 missiles.

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Military version.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=26.0;attach=45043;image

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Tu-144 design study model. Wing shape, especially wing trailing edge shape is different from production model(left side model).

http://saidpvo.livejournal.com/172879.html

 

[Grey Havoc]

A slightly controversial short video on the Tu-144 program and the background to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFWbuKr5-I8

 

[Archibald]

I recently got my hands on Yefim Gordon "soviet bombers" book. In the chapter over the M-18 / Tu-160 / T-4Ms he mention the fact that Tupolev desperately pushed for military Tu-144s and the Soviet generals said "Hell, no. We don't want any derivative of this tricky pony"

 

[flateric]

1). Tupolev '160' 1970-1972
2). Northrop Grumman M2 FSA concept, 1999

Was Andrey Nikolaevich too conservative? Or MoD was looking at AMSA too much?

 

[Archibald]

The weirdest part in the story is Tupolev cornering himself with "too much tu-144" and Myasischchev M-18 being the favorite design... and then they merged the two, Tupolev got its hands on the M-18 and reworked it into the Tu-160.
Sukhoi designs were pretty interesting too. But somebody had to build the Flanker...

 

[flateric]

Tupolev got its hands on the M-18 and reworked it into the Tu-160.
Sukhoi designs were pretty interesting too. But somebody had to build the Flanker...

Tupolev has declined MAP offer to pass T-4MS and M-18/20 documentation to his DB as it already has 160M alternate VG variant along with double delta.
So story about bad Tupolev stealing Myasicshev design is a little bit off the truth.

 

[flateric]

UAC and Tupolev have made some nifty video for Tu-144 maiden flight 50th anniversary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Z3G8EENO4

 

[hesham]

From L+K 5/1967.

 

[blackkite]

I think that Tu-144A was applied compression lift theory but Tu-144D was not.
I can see some wedge shapes under the wing of Tu-144A.　Perhaps such shapes generate more drag compared with anticipated L/D increase based on compression theory.

The designers of this airplane should have conducted wind tunnel tests on this design, but why would such a design change be necessary? It is very strange for me.

Photos Technik Museum Sinsheim

Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum photos of the exhibits from the USSR and the GDR including the famous Tupolev Tu-144

www.comtourist.com

 

[Trident]

Because it was a rush job, trying to leapfrog the Concorde from a late start (all the while competing for resources with the Moonshot project). That political imperative caused a number of shortcuts to be taken, among them the initial reheated turbofan engines (already under development for what would become the Tu-22M, which was supposed to have only a supersonic dash capability but good subsonic endurance). And in a way Tupolev did succeed, beating its rival into the air and to the Mach, but then paid dearly for the compromises that made this compressed schedule possible. Many aspects had to be redone at great cost in time and money to turn it into something approaching a viable airliner (which, frankly speaking, even Concorde wasn't really - it merely came a bit closer thanks to a more systematic development approach).

 

[Hood]

I wouldn't call the Tu-144 a rush job. Tupolev began working on the project in September 1962 (two months before the Concorde agreement was finally signed), the NK-144 was not defined until September 1964. The design seems to have been finalised around mid-1965, the mock-up being shown in May-June 1966. Already by December 1966 Tupolev were working on improving the design and in October 1967 they were looking at the better RD-36-51A and was given the go-ahead two weeks before the prototype had flown.
That the Tu-144 was less than optimal as an airliner should perhaps not be surprising (most Soviet airliners were rather rough and ready anyway), Concorde was sufficiently so but even the Americans didn't manage to get something off the ground so its hard to compare and supersonic airliners were perhaps the most trickiest aeronautical engineering project of the day.