Tupolev Tu-204

Tu-204 / Tu-214
A Red Wings Tu-204-100 on final approach
General information
TypeNarrow-body jet airliner
National originSoviet Union/Russia
ManufacturerAviastar SP (Tu-204 series)
Kazan Aircraft Production Association (Tu-214)
United Aircraft Corporation (Tu-214)
DesignerTupolev
StatusIn service, in production
Primary usersRed Wings Airlines
Number built89 as of December 2015[1]
History
Manufactured1990[2]–present
Introduction date23 February 1996 with Vnukovo Airlines[3][better source needed]
First flight2 January 1989; 35 years ago (1989-01-02)

The Tupolev Tu-204 (Russian: Туполев Ту-204) is a twin-engined medium-range narrow-body jet airliner capable of carrying 210 passengers, designed by Tupolev and produced by Aviastar-SP and Kazan Aircraft Production Association. First introduced in 1989, it was intended to be broadly equivalent to the Boeing 757, with slightly lower range and payload, and had competitive performance and fuel efficiency in its class.

It was developed for Aeroflot as a replacement for the medium-range Tupolev Tu-154 trijet in the 1990s. The latest version, with significant upgrades and improvements, is the narrow-body Tu-204SM, which made its maiden flight on 29 December 2010.[4] In April 2022, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced plans to assemble 70 Tu-214s by 2030.[5] However, in 2024, Aeroflot expressed intention to transfer its order for domestic aircraft exclusively to next-gen MC-21 jets. The rejection of the new Tupolev has various reasons, including no two-member cockpit, and about 13% of avionics and evacuation ramps, still needing to be replaced by Russian equipment.[6]

  1. ^ "Tu-204/214 Production list". RussianPlanes.net. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  2. ^ Алексей Усанов (14 June 2012). "✈ OKBTupolev ✈: Aircraft Tu-204". Archived from the original on 22 July 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Exactly 10 years ago aircraft Tu-204 made first scheduled passenger flight - Знаменитости". persona.rin.ru.
  4. ^ "Новый опытный самолет Ту-204СМ совершил первый полет". Tupolev.ru. 29 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  5. ^ "UAC to manufacture 70 Tu-214s by 2030". Centreforaviation.com. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Почему "Аэрофлот" хочет получать только самолеты МС-21". Retrieved 27 July 2024.