Do You Know That? Higher, Farther, Faster

After longer break we are returning to technology in transport and aviation in particular, which is still one of the most attractive forms of travel. While in recent years was the main requirement for carriers to maximum capacity and machine safety, end of 70th years it was just right again respectively emphasis was on speed and regardless of the noise, cost, or costs associated with the operation of supersonic transport aircraft. Among the major players in this field were the Soviet Tupolev, Boeing and the U.S. especially the Anglo-French Concorde. Era of supersonic flights survived only the last mentioned and probably the best known representative of such machinery and it is the Concorde, which flew continuously between years 1976 - 2003. If we should carefully analyze the history of each of these aircraft, we definitely would not fit into the limits of this article, since the actual development, testing, airplane crashes and achievements from the time of development itself is spread on an area of almost twenty years of hard work of engineers and pilots. Today we try to show you the main players in this field. On the Russian side it was a Tu-144, a predator whose development was challenged by the Soviet economy and will. Requirements for the development of a new type of aircraft what should overtake the western countries it was the main plan of the Soviet Politburo. As soon as possible put into operation a supersonic engine, surpassing all limits of civil aviation it was a task for Tupolev airline offices. In 7 years of development between years 1968 - 1975 was created several variants of the Tu-144, but soon stuck to the floor construction defects, accidents or unsustainable costs associated with thirst efficient engines. All in age of coming oil crisis which significantly affected or otherwise bottomless Russian treasury that the technical progress never too lavish. The Golden Age of industrial espionage between East and West or allegations of copying European Concordum, all underscored the infamous fate of Tu-144.

The main showdown between Tu 144 and the Concorde should come in 1973 during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport, the first time where these rivals should clash in a straight fight in front of thousands of spectators. Samples of aerial ability, movement and handling and sounded were clearly better for the Concorde. The reaction of the Russians was not long in coming. At the direction of the Soviet command crew, at that time still unfinished Tupolev, had to show a presentation far from its possibilities, which during the dive finished by air disaster, when the plane actually destroyed. The death crew and residents of nearby village where fall the wrecks were just another nail in the coffin of the Soviet supersonic project. The Tupolev 144 was after many alterations for the short time put into normal operation. On the start flew with mail between Moscow and -Kazakh Alma Ata so then after obtaining airworthiness between years 1976-1978 could also fly with passengers. High costs and low transport capacity could hardly compensate for speed (about 2 hours) at which went over a distance of 3300 km. The fuel consumption per passenger / 1 km 10 times higher than this “drier” which was famous Tu-154 ... The Concorde also had a lot of problems, but in comparison with the "Tuck" was a few classes elsewhere.

The Americans at that time developed a prototype named Boeing 2707. Strong statements of politicians, fighting against east and necessity to be first everywhere -  these are properties practically same as eastern main rival - the USSR. Pledged U.S. government subsidies, however, the entire project, from the years 1967-1974, suspended and continues to invest in aviation devoted primarily to the development of giant ocean-going aircraft, which was the legendary Boeing-747 jumbo jet. In the country of its birth were supersonic flights only the domain of military machines. Even today there is practically no effort to restore these plans, but contrary, its revival has an airships and air ark for more than 700 passengers - preferring comfort, price and environmental requirements.

In the next part we´ll be closer to some of the technical parameters, maximum speed, and other attractions...

Text: Jan Chaloupka

Photo: Wikipedia Commons: Christian Volpati , James.Gordon , Christian Kath a Joe Mabel