Longer range Tu-334 goes ahead at Tupolev

Published: 2/25/2000

According to Igor Kalygin, General Designer at Tupolev, the new version of the 102-seat Tu-334, designated the Tu-334-100D, which is currently being developed at Tupolev, will have a range of over 4,300 km, compared to the base model's range of 2,400 km. It will also be equipped with uprated D-436T2 Ukrainian engines, as opposed to the D436-T1 engines currently used on the Tu-334-100, as a result of increased take-off weight. Serial production of the Tu-334-100D, which was first announced in 1995 at the Moscow Air Show, may be set up at MiG plants at Lukhovitsy near Moscow, where the Tu-334-100 is due to be produced. Samara-based Aviakor may become one of the subcontractors. In November 1999, Kalygin estimated that the completion of aircraft prototypes for the Tu-334 programme and flight and certification tests would cost a minimum of $70-$90m. The price of the aircraft is calculated to be between $15-$20m. Associated article: www.concise.org. 3rd November 1999

Article ID: 1481