Tupolev Tu-404
| Industry | Aerospace manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 |
| Headquarters | Moscow , Russia |
The Tupolev Tu-404 represented a concept for a wide-body superjumbo blended wing jet airliner envisioned by the Russian aerospace manufacturer Tupolev.
Development
Template:Ref improve The Tu-404 project commenced in 1991 alongside the development of the Tupolev Tu-304, another wide-body aircraft. This model aimed to carry upwards of 1,200 passengers over distances ranging between 12,000 and 13,000 kilometers. The Tupolev Design Bureau explored multiple configurations for this airliner, including both a flying wing layout and a traditional fuselage design. The flying wing variant was to be powered by six pusher-type turboprop engines, each delivering 18,000 kilograms of thrust at takeoff and achieving a fuel consumption rate of just 0.644 kg/kgf-h during cruise. These engines were planned to be mounted at the rear fuselage section, positioned between two large V-shaped vertical stabilizers. The central fuselage incorporated six passenger compartments with a total capacity of 1,214 seats. The leading edge of this central body featured a sweep angle of 45 degrees. Attached to it were two substantial detachable wings, with leading edges swept back at 35 degrees, which housed the majority of the aircraft’s fuel reserves.
In contrast, the conventional design proposed a double-deck passenger plane capable of transporting approximately 1,200 travelers over distances up to 10,000 kilometers. The lower deck was designed as a segmented cargo area suitable for standard aviation containers. Within this framework, two sub-variants were considered: one combining passenger and cargo functions with an expanded freight section, and another dedicated solely to cargo transport. The aircraft’s expansive low-level wings had leading edges swept at 35 degrees and featured vertical winglets. These wings incorporated extensive control surfaces including multi-segment leading-edge devices, low-speed control areas, and multi-section flaps. Each half of the altitude control surface consisted of two distinct sections.
For propulsion, the design proposed four engines either from the Kuznetsov Design Bureau’s NK-44 series or Rolls-Royce "Trent" models mounted on pylons beneath the wings. The landing gear system comprised multiple bogies with several wheels on each bogie, retracting into the central fuselage compartment.
Ultimately, the Tu-404 project did not advance beyond promotional scale models.
Specifications (flying wing)
See also
- Airbus A380
- Antonov An-225
- Boeing 747-8
- Boeing New Large Airplane
- C-5 Galaxy
- McDonnell Douglas MD-12
- Sukhoi KR-860