Tupolev Tu-154

Tupolev · Soviet Union · first flew 1968 · airliner

The Tupolev Tu-154 is a Soviet three-engined, rear-mounted-jet narrowbody airliner that became the workhorse of Aeroflot and Eastern Bloc carriers for decades.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	3 × turbofan, tail-mounted
F — Fuselage	47.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Three rear-mounted engines
T-tail
Centre engine S-duct intake at fin base

Look for the trijet rear-engine layout with a T-tail and a centre engine fed by an S-duct intake at the base of the fin, mounted on a slim swept-wing narrowbody.

Specifications

The Tupolev Tu-154 has a length of 47.9 m (157 ft).
It has a wingspan of 37.55 m (123 ft).
Its maximum speed is 950 km/h (590 mph).
Typical crew: 3-4 flight crew.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown on 4 October 1968, the Tu-154 entered Aeroflot service in the early 1970s. Rugged and able to operate from rough, gravel and unpaved airfields, it was produced in large numbers and served across the Soviet Union and its allies until well into the 2000s.

Variants

The major Tu-154M brought quieter, more efficient Soloviev D-30 engines and aerodynamic refinements over the earlier Tu-154A and Tu-154B. A handful served in specialised government and military roles.

Where you'll see it

The Tu-154 was rarely if ever a scheduled visitor to UK airports and was not operated by British carriers; UK enthusiasts mostly encountered it on occasional charters or at airshows rather than in everyday service.

Related aircraft

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