Tupolev Tu-134

The Tupolev Tu‑134 is a twin‑engine, narrow‑body jet airliner developed in the Soviet Union during the early 1960s. Designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau as a short‑range complement to the larger Tu‑124, its first flight took place on 29 July 1963 and series production began at the Kazan and Voronezh factories the following year. Powered by two Soloviev D‑30 turbofan engines mounted on the aft fuselage, the Tu‑134 featured a conventional low‑wing layout, a pressurised cabin for up to 80 passengers, and a distinctive T‑shaped tail. The aircraft incorporated an all‑metal construction, a hydraulic flight‑control system, and a simple, robust avionics suite that made it well suited to operation from austere airports across the Eastern Bloc. Over 800 units were built, serving both civil airlines and military transport units in more than 30 countries. Its reliability and relatively low operating costs helped modernise Soviet regional air travel, and it remained in commercial service well into the 2000s. The Tu‑134’s long service life and widespread use cement its place as one of the most successful Soviet‑era airliners, influencing later designs such as the Tu‑154 and the Yak‑42.

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