Many passengers are interested in the matter what AC they will fly in the nearest future. Really, that good and safe AC TU-134 and TU-154 gradually inferior on their technical characteristics should be changed. It is possible to purchase an old Boeing or Airbus but what for should we support the foreign producers when the new AC for short and medium range is creating now? It is more comfortable and safe than the other AC of this modification and the main reason is that this AC is a Russian one. The name of the firstling of new Russia's aviation industry is TU-334.
The history of this AC began in 1985 when the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the USSR expressed the wish to obtain AC of 100 seats to change TU-134 in future. The construction of the AC was charged to the Tupolev design bureau because they had an experience in creation of the similar AC.
It was the first time when they decided to join 2 projects together TU-204 and TU-334. It was done in order to avoid further operational problems. There was nothing like this in Russia before. The construction of a fuselage, navigation system and the other units were similar but TU-334 had a little shorter fuselage. The new AC should be more comfortable than the old versions because nowadays the air companies pay great attention to passenger comfort. Moreover this AC should comply with all the noise restrictions. The AC should be fitted out with the most modern equipment. The crew cabin of TU-334 is like the traffic control console. In pilots' disposal there are several monitors that can show different information about the flight from the map to the fuel quantity instead of a great number of compasses, speedometers and altimeters. TU-334 is one of the first Russian AC equipped with the number of crew members reduced to two people: the captain and the co-pilot. The duties of navigator, flight engineer and radio operator are performed by the technique. The equipment does not allow the people to make a mistake because the computer controls every pilot action.
The weather is not the barrier for TU-334. It can take off and land in poor visibility when the cloud ceiling is less than 10 meters.
The first flight of the TU334 took place in 1999. From this time this AC flies all over the world surprising the visitors of aviation salons with its low noise characteristics. Really taking off of this AC is practically noiseless.
Several modifications were worked out on the basis of main project. They differ from each other in seat capacity, in range and in engine model. There are several modifications with Rolls-Royce engines. It means that foreign companies will also purchase TU-334 because it is not inferior to Boeing -717, and the price of TU-334 is only a half of the Boeing's price. And it does not mean that our AC is worse than Boeing. Our engineers can save on everything except the passenger comfort and safety.
First of all this economy is based on the similarity of the different AC types. Now all the world aviation enterprises do the same but Tupolev bureau does it in better way.
In 1996 the Tupolev bureau created a project of transport regional AC TU230. The new AC is practically the copy of TU-334. The 75% of the main units for the both AC are similar. What does it mean? It means that in 10 years we will be able to forget about the delays on technical reasons because it will be easy to change any unit.
And there will be more comforts and conveniences for the passengers because the seats in TU-334 are wider and there is extra space for legs. Also there will be the system of video monitors which allow the passengers to watch movies and video clips. This AC attracts attention of VIP-companies which operate business flights. The Tupolev bureau suggested the VIP-layout of TU-334 with wide seats, comfortable sofas with a study and a shower with computers and telephones. It will be mobile office in the sky. By the words, the cost of this office will not exceed the 30 million dollars but for the west analogues you should pay 100 million dollars.
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