Model: Tupolev Tu-154M
Airline: Cubana CU-T1264
Airline: Cubana CU-T1264
Scale: 1/144
Kit: Zvezda [7004]
Decals: BOA Decals [14428]
Background:
The Tupolev Tu-154 (Russian: Ту-154; NATO reporting name: Careless) is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid-1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. A workhorse of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it carried half of all passengers flown by Aeroflot and its subsidiaries, remaining the standard domestic-route airliner of Russia and former Soviet states until the mid-2000s. It was exported to 17 non-Russian airlines and used as head-of-state transport by the air forces of several countries.
With a cruising speed of 975 kilometres per hour, the Tu-154 is one of the fastest civilian aircraft in use and has a range of 5,280 kilometres. Capable of operating from unpaved and gravel airfields with only basic facilities, it was widely used in the extreme Arctic conditions of Russia's northern/eastern regions where other airliners were unable to operate. Originally designed for a 45,000 hr service life (18,000 cycles) but capable of 80,000 hrs with upgrades, it is expected to continue in service until 2016, although noise regulations have restricted flights to western Europe and other regions.
The Tu-154M is the most highly upgraded versions, which first flew in 1982 and entered mass production in 1984. It uses more fuel-efficient Soloviev D-30KU-154 turbofans. Together with significant aerodynamic refinement, this led to much lower fuel consumption and therefore longer range, as well as lower operating costs. The aircraft has new double-slotted flaps, with an extra 36-degree position, which allows reduction of noise on approach. It also has a relocated auxiliary power unit and numerous other improvements. Mass production ended in 2006, though limited manufacturing continued as of January 2009.
Cubana operated both the Tu-154B-2 and Tu-154M. Only four Tu-154Ms operated for Cubana, the first entering service in 1986. The last sample was retired in 2003. CU-T1264 was the first Tu-154M to be delivered to Cubana in 1986. It unfortunately crashed August 29th, 1998 in Guayaquil, Ecuador when it overran the runway aborting the take-off.
The Tupolev Tu-154 (Russian: Ту-154; NATO reporting name: Careless) is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid-1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. A workhorse of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it carried half of all passengers flown by Aeroflot and its subsidiaries, remaining the standard domestic-route airliner of Russia and former Soviet states until the mid-2000s. It was exported to 17 non-Russian airlines and used as head-of-state transport by the air forces of several countries.
With a cruising speed of 975 kilometres per hour, the Tu-154 is one of the fastest civilian aircraft in use and has a range of 5,280 kilometres. Capable of operating from unpaved and gravel airfields with only basic facilities, it was widely used in the extreme Arctic conditions of Russia's northern/eastern regions where other airliners were unable to operate. Originally designed for a 45,000 hr service life (18,000 cycles) but capable of 80,000 hrs with upgrades, it is expected to continue in service until 2016, although noise regulations have restricted flights to western Europe and other regions.
The Tu-154M is the most highly upgraded versions, which first flew in 1982 and entered mass production in 1984. It uses more fuel-efficient Soloviev D-30KU-154 turbofans. Together with significant aerodynamic refinement, this led to much lower fuel consumption and therefore longer range, as well as lower operating costs. The aircraft has new double-slotted flaps, with an extra 36-degree position, which allows reduction of noise on approach. It also has a relocated auxiliary power unit and numerous other improvements. Mass production ended in 2006, though limited manufacturing continued as of January 2009.