TUPOLEV ROLLED out its newest medium-range airliner, the 102-seat twin-turbofan Tu-334, at the MosAero show on 26 August.
Intended as a successor to the earlier Tu-134, the aircraft will be operated on routes of up to 3,000km (1,600nm), and will have a maximum take-off weight of 46t. The aircraft is powered by two rear-mounted Ukrainian ZMKB Progress D-436T1 engines, each rated at 73.5kN (16,500lb).
Tupolev says, that the prototype aircraft produced in Kiev will have its maiden flight, within ten weeks of the roll out. It is due to be certificated in 1997.
Preliminary agreements have been struck with Germany's BMW Rolls Royce to offer later versions of the aircraft with BR715 engines, rated at 89kN take-off thrust. This engine will also power the planned -100D, and the higher-capacity 126-seat Tu-334-200 versions of the aircraft.
The -100D and the -200 have higher maximum all-up weights - increased to 54.8t - by virtue of a larger, 100m2 wing area compared with the -100 prototype's 83.2m2. The lower-capacity (102-seat) -100D will also have an increased range of 4,100km, compared with the -200's 2,200km.
The -100D is also to be offered with 82kN ZMKB Progress D-436T2 turbofans.
The Tu-334 is fitted with a Russian-produced glass cockpit, which has much in common with the larger 214-seat Tu-204 airliner. Tupolev says that it hopes to install foreign-made avionics into later aircraft to make the type more attractive to the export market.
Source: Flight International
