Tupolev Tu-134

what is it?

The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain other Russian airliners (including the Tu-154), it can operate from unpaved airfields. One of the most widely used aircraft in former Comecon countries, the number in active service is decreasing because of operational safety concerns and noise restrictions.

🔎How to recognise it: 2 jet engines · low wing · retractable tricycle gear · 29 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 950 km/htop speed
• range 1,900 kmwithout refuelling
• seats 84passengers
• size 47.6 tmax take-off weight
• built 854made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 63 years ago, in 1963.
• 🏎️Top speed is 7.3× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 29 m: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🐘Fully loaded it can weigh as much as 8 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 🌍Range of 1,900 km: 11× Amsterdam to Brussels.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.4× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

jet: Gas turbine pushing air out the back (turbofan or turbojet): fast and high-flying.

spec sheet

first flight

1963-07-29

introduced

1967

number built

854

role

airliner

origin

🇷🇺 Soviet Union

makers

Tupolev, KhAZ

engines

2× Soloviev D-30-II / Soloviev D-30

crew

3

passengers

84

length

37.1 m

wingspan

29 m

height

9 m

max take-off weight

47.6 t

top speed

950 km/h

cruise speed

850 km/h

range

1,900 km

ceiling

12,100 m

wings

low wing

landing gear

retractable tricycle gear

ICAO code

T134

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.