Tupolev Tu-116

Tupolev

Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founded	1922
Headquarters	Moscow , USSR (now Russia)
Products	Aircraft, including Tu-116 airliner and Tu-95 bomber

The Tupolev Tu-116 (Russian: Туполев Ту-116) is a long-range airliner powered by turboprop engines, developed by the Tupolev design bureau and produced in the USSR.

Development

Derived from the Tu-95 strategic bomber, the Tu-116 was developed alongside the Tu-114 airliner. Priority was given to the Tu-116 due to the frequent international trips of the General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev during the period known as the Khrushchev Thaw. Its primary role was to serve as a transport for the Soviet head of state, his security team, and accompanying officials. The concurrent development of both aircraft was driven by Khrushchev’s planned visit to the United States, anticipating that the Tu-114 might not be ready in time.

The project aimed for rapid completion within just over a year, leveraging the relatively straightforward modifications required. Nevertheless, delivery was postponed from an initial target of September 1956 to 1957 because the Tupolev Design Bureau faced a heavy workload from military contracts.

Internally designated as Tu-114D ("Diplomatic"), this designation later caused some confusion since Tu-114D also referred to a long-range version intended for transatlantic routes, featuring 64 passenger seats. The letter "D" in that context stood for "dalniy," meaning "long-range" in Russian.

Design

The aircraft was intended to carry 24 passengers, which included a cook, a flight attendant, and a navigator-announcer responsible for providing flight information to travelers. Additionally, it could accommodate 10–12 armed security personnel when required.

From a technical standpoint, the aircraft closely resembled the original Tu-95 model. All defensive and bombing systems were removed, and the area behind the wings was converted into two passenger compartments, a lavatory, a wardrobe, and a service area totaling approximately 70 square meters (750 sq ft). Windows were installed along the fuselage to provide natural light. The forward cabin was designed to seat six to eight passengers, while the rear cabin catered to three VIP passengers, furnished with beds and sofas.

A pressurized cabin connected to a short corridor featuring a retractable staircase that extended downward for ground access. This staircase also functioned as an emergency evacuation route.

The flight crew was composed of two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, a flight mechanic, and a radio operator.

Operational history

The pair of Tu-116 aircraft were conversions of two standard Tu-95 airframes, specifically MSN 402 and 409. Neither aircraft was ever utilized for transporting the Soviet head of state.

Following completion of their flight testing phase, both planes were assigned to the Soviet Air Force and remained in service for various roles until the early 1990s. One Tu-116 is preserved and exhibited at the Ulyanovsk Aircraft Museum, situated at Ulyanovsk Baratayevka Airport.

References

• The 11 worst Soviet aircraft, Hush-Kit, published on 2016-05-25, accessed 2016-06-16