Tu-134A

The Tupolev Tu‑134A is a Soviet‑designed twin‑engine short‑range jet airliner that first entered service in 1967. Developed from the original Tu‑134, the A variant incorporated a stretched fuselage, a redesigned wing with a 4‑degree sweep and enlarged fuel tanks, allowing a higher maximum take‑off weight and a range of roughly 3,200 km. Powered by two Soloviev D‑30 turbofan engines, the aircraft could cruise at Mach 0.78 and carry up to 72 passengers in a mixed‑class layout, a modest increase over the baseline model’s 64‑seat capacity. Production at the Kazan and Ulyanovsk factories continued until 1991, delivering more than 1,200 airframes to airlines across the Eastern Bloc, the Middle East and some Western carriers. The Tu‑134A gained a reputation for rugged reliability, simple maintenance, and the ability to operate from austere airports with unpaved runways. Its widespread use in civil transport, as well as adaptation for military liaison, navigation training and VIP transport, made it a workhorse of Soviet‑era aviation and an iconic symbol of Cold‑War air travel. The type remains in limited service with several operators, underscoring its lasting legacy and continues to be studied by aviation historians.

Tupolev

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Design & Classification