Aviation History - USA (2019-09)

SEPTEMBER 2019 AH 17

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serve as a hedge against the

possible failure or protracted

development of the Tu-114.

The Tu-116 involved a far

less extensive redesign of the

Tu-95, utilizing the bomber’s

existing fuselage with the

addition of relatively small

pressurized passenger cabins

fore and aft of the wings, the

latter accessed via a folding

ladder beneath the tail. But

within a few months of the

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it became apparent that the

Tu-116 would be unneces-

sary, so only two examples

were ever completed.

The Tu-114 was displayed

at the Brussels World Exhibi-

tion in 1958. Then, despite

the misgivings of many

aeronautical engineers

about the employment of a

still-experimental aircraft for

such a purpose, Khrushchev

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his September 1959 visit

to the United States. Since

worrisome hairline cracks

had appeared in the engine

nacelles, special engineers

accompanied Khrushchev’s

party and every Soviet

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path stood at full alert in

case anything went wrong.

Fortunately for all concerned,

the aircraft performed sat-

isfactorily throughout the

long excursion.

The Tu-114 certainly

created a splash in the U.S.

It was the largest airliner

in the world at the time,

and though not quite as

fast as the new Boeing

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jetliners, was very nearly

as fast, while being able

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larger payload over a con-

siderably longer distance. In

fact, the Tu-114 set several

speed, altitude and payload

records for turboprop-pow-

ered aircraft that still stand

to this day. It has held the

Fédération Aéronautique

Internationale’s world speed

record for propeller aircraft

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Having so dramatically

proven itself, the Tu-

entered commercial service

in April 1961, with a total

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superseded by the Ilyushin

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four jet engines mounted

beneath its tail, bearing a

suspicious resemblance to

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Although displaced from

international routes, Tu-114s

continued in domestic com-

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leaving behind an enviable

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ever involved in a fatal acci-

dent, and that occurred when

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a runway that had not been

properly cleared of snow.

Its principal fault lay in the

engines—the most powerful

turboprops were also among

the noisiest.

After their commercial

career ended, about a dozen

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airborne early-warning

platforms. Redesignated

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versions of the Tu-

remained in service until

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have been transferred to the

Indian Air Force.

TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT

Above: The Tu-114 proto-

type stands 50 feet tall.

Right: Andrei Tupolev

smiles next to his creation.

WELCOME, COMRADES

Passengers debark from

an Aeroflot Tupolev

Tu-114 at Domodedovo

Airport in Moscow.

JET-FAST TURBOPROP

With a top speed of 541

mph, the Tu-114 was nearly

as fast as jetliners of the era.