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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0374.PDF
"Flight" photograph Tu-104 COMES TO LONDON THURSDAY, March 22nd, was uaique; we awoke knowingthat we were to see a Russian jet airliner, which was to bringto England Gen. Ivan Serov, head of die Russian security services. Out at London Airport a cold and blustery day turnedto rain; but dampened spirits soared at five minutes after noon when the expected aircraft materialized directly overhead. Oneglance sufficed to tell us that this was a civilianized Badger medium bomber, designated (according to an official pronouncement byGeneral Sakharov, Russia's "D.G.C.A.") Tu-104, being the handi- work of A. N. Tupolev, who is shortly to visit this country. The graceful machine's first pass took London Airport squarelyon the nose, at about 2,000ft on a westerly heading. The pro- cedure let-down took about ten minutes and the aircraft nextappeared lined up on runway 15R. The approach was low and slow, with marked changes of heading to counteract the cross-wind. Just as the aircraft passed over the Bath Road the pilot opened up both engines almost to full power; their accelerationwas remarkable, and gouts of black smoke streamed from the jet-pipes. The actual touch-down was slow and not particularlynose-up, although the cross-wind caused a considerable amount of drift. After a run of about 3,000ft the Tu-104 turned off to port andtaxied smartly across to its parking place in the Central Area with the flaps retracted, making good use of the steerable nose-under-carriage. Sharp applications of brake caused deflections on the nose leg of several inches; the brakes were quite silent. Once atrest the big machine became a centre of scurrying men and vehicles; and it is worth recording that both engines were openedup to high r.p.m. for some 30 seconds before they were shut down. Much can be learned from a study of the photographs. Thefollowing, however, is provided as a section-by-section resume of particular points. Powerplant.—The engines are axial turbojets and the thrust of6,750 kg (14,850 lb), quoted by one crew-member or passenger, seems reasonable in view of the size of the aircraft and the pro-pelling-nozzle diameter of some 24in. The engines are attached to a sub-structure behind the primary wing members and thejet-pipes are less than 3ft in length. Looking up the "spouts," six rear-bearing support struts are visible. Inside each intakethere is a horizontal aerofoil—with a leading-edge intake— extending right across the duct below the centre-line. Thewhole upper parts of the cowlings are composed of large, excel- lently fitting panels. Wing.—The structure seems identical with that of the bomber, (Continued on page 374) ~» The plan view reveals the considerable sweep of all surfaces — used largely to allow a thick wing with stowage for over 8fl00 gal of fuel. This quantity was taken aboard from Esso tan- kers (above). Insignia comprised a dark blue, red and white cheat- line, dark blue lettering and a handsome Red Flag on the fin. The Russian characters painted on the nose signify "T-oo," indicat- ing a Turpolev design. "Flight" photographs
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