Aerofax: Tupolev Tu-154

The latest title in the Aerofax imprint deals with the history and operations of the Soviet/Russian Tu-154 jet airliner, one of the most successful and long-lived jets produced by that country's aviation industry.

The need for the state-of-the-art medium-haul jet airliner that would succeed both the Soviet's existing jet airliner, the twin-engined Tu-104, and to a certain extent the four engined turboprop Ilyushin II-18, led the design bureau headed by Andrey Nikolayevich Tupolev to start work on a three-turbofan engined aircraft which, in keeping with the company's established tradition, was designated the Tu-154. Sharing the rear-engine, 'T-tail' layout of the Boeing 727 and the Hawker Siddeley Trident, the prototype took to the air on 3rd October 1968.

In the years that followed the Tu-154 became not only the principal medium-haul aircraft of the Soviet airline Aeroflot but also one of the Soviet Union's bestsellers on the commercial aircraft market. Built on a slightly smaller scale that the 727, though it was much larger that its British counterparts in airline service. It's uses have included VIP transportation, astronaut training and open skies monitoring flights. It is still a popular aircraft on holiday charter flights.

This book traces the development and operational history of one of the most successful designs produced by the Tupolev bureau. It describes all known versions and variants and unrealised projects based on the aeroplane. A detailed production list, operator lists on a country-by-country basis and accident details are included.