Tupolev Tu-114

The Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya (Russian: Tyполев Тy-114 Poccия) (NATO reporting name Cleat) was a turboprop-powered long-range airliner designed by the Tupolev design bureau and built in the USSR from May 1955. The aircraft was the largest and fastest passenger plane at that time and also had the longest range (6,800 miles (10,944 kilometers)). It has held the official title of fastest propeller-driven aircraft since 1960.

Due to its swept wing and powerplant design, the Tu-114 was able to travel at speeds typical of modern jetliners (550 mph (885.14 km/h)). Although it was able to accommodate 224 passengers, when operated by Aeroflot, it was more common to provide 170 sleeping berths and a dining lounge.

In fourteen years of civilian service, the Tu-114 was reported to have a high level of safety and reliability. The Tu-114 carried over six million passengers before being replaced by the jet-powered Ilyushin Il-62. Thirty-two aircraft were built at the Kuibyshev aviation plant (№18) in the early 1960s.

Variants

 * Tu-114: Initial production version
 * Tu-114 6NK-8: Projected long-range version with six NK-8 turbofan engines. Destined as an alternative to the Il-62M; never reached production
 * Tu-114-200: Upgrade to original Tu-114, with seating layout for 200 passengers. Almost all aircraft were converted
 * Tu-114A: Projected upgraded version designed in 1962–1963, with 98–102 passengers on long-range routes; never entered production
 * Tu-114B: Variant of Tu-114A with radome and assigned to carry large cruise missile
 * Tu-114C: Variant version of Tu-114A with radome from Tu-114B and side blisters
 * Tu-114D: Long-range version for flights to Cuba, with fewer passengers and increased take-off weight to 182,000 kg. Three built; two were converted to Tu-114-200 standard in 1969–1970 and one was written off in 1962. Not to be confused with the Tu-116 (Tu-114D).
 * Tu-114E: Reconnaissance version of Tu-114A
 * Tu-114F: Reconnaissance version of Tu-114A and Tu-114E with additional sensors.
 * Tu-114PLO: Projected maritime strike variant armed with anti-ship missiles and naval radar. This variant was to be powered by a nuclear powerplant.
 * Tu-114T/TS: Retrofit into air ambulances
 * Tu-115: Projected military transport version; never reached production

Users

 * Soviet Union
 * Aeroflot
 * Soviet Air Force

Related Development

 * Tupolev Tu-95
 * Tupolev Tu-116
 * Tupolev Tu-126
 * Tupolev Tu-142