Development Tupolev Tu-144

mig-21i analog, used testbed tu-144 s wings



tu-144 prototype in june 1971, berlin–schönefeld



view of front of tu-144, retractable canards deployed , lowered droop-nose

the soviet government published concept of tu-144 in article in january 1962 issue of magazine technology of air transport. air ministry started development of tu-144 on 26 july 1963, 10 days after design approved council of ministers. plan called 5 flying prototypes built in 4 years, first aircraft ready in 1966. mig-21i (1968; izdeliye 21-11; analog ) = imitator ( simulator ) testbed wing design of tu-144.

despite close similarity in appearance of tu-144 anglo-french supersonic aircraft, there significant differences in control, navigation , engine systems. tu-144 lagged behind concorde in areas such braking , engine control. concorde utilized electronic engine control package lucas, tupolev not permitted purchase tu-144 used on military aircraft. concorde s designers used fuel coolant cabin air conditioning , hydraulic system (see concorde details). tupolev used fuel/hydraulic heat exchangers used cooling turbines cabin air.

the tu-144 prototype full-scale demonstrator aircraft different production aircraft being developed in parallel. while both concorde , tu-144 prototype had ogival delta wings, tu-144 s wing lacked concorde s conical camber. production tu-144s replaced wing double delta wing including spanwise , chordwise camber. added 2 small retractable surfaces called moustache canard, fixed double-slotted le slats , retractable double-slotted flaps. these fitted behind cockpit , increased lift @ low speeds.

aeroflot tu-144 @ paris air show in 1975.

moving elevons downward in delta-wing aircraft increases lift (force), pitches nose downward. canards cancel out nose-downwards moment, reducing landing speed of production tu-144s 315–333 km/h (196–207 mph; 170–180 kn), still faster of concorde. nasa study lists final approach speeds during tu-144ll test flights 315–335 km/h (196–208 mph; 170–181 kn). faa circular lists tu-144s approach speed 329 km/h (204 mph; 178 kn), opposed concorde s approach speed of 300 km/h (190 mph; 160 kn), based on characteristics declared manufacturers western regulatory bodies. open argument how stable tu-144s @ listed airspeed. in event, when nasa subcontracted tupolev bureau in 1990s convert 1 of remaining tu-144d tu-144ll standard, procedure set tupolev landing defined tu-144ll final approach speed... on order of 360 km/h depending on fuel weight. brian calvert, concorde s technical flight manager , first commercial pilot in command several inaugural flights, cites final approach speed of typical concorde landing 287–296 km/h (178–184 mph; 155–160 kn). lower landing speed compared tu-144 due concorde s more refined design of wing profile provides higher lift @ low speeds without degrading supersonic cruise performance – feature mentioned in western publications on concorde , acknowledged tupolev designers well.