Tupolev Tu-154M

The Tupolev Tu‑154M is a three‑engine, medium‑range airliner built by the Soviet design bureau Tupolev between 1970 and 1992. Developed from the original Tu‑154 series, the “M” (for Modernized) incorporated more powerful Kuznetsov NK‑24 turbofan engines, a reinforced airframe, and upgraded avionics, allowing a maximum cruising speed of Mach 0.84 and a range of roughly 5 200 km with a typical payload of 150 passengers. Its distinctive T‑shaped tail and high‑mounted wings gave the aircraft excellent short‑runway performance, making it suitable for operation from poorly equipped airports across the vast Soviet territory.

First entered service with Aeroflot in 1970, the Tu‑154M quickly became the workhorse of Soviet and later Russian civil and military fleets, as well as a favorite of many Eastern‑European airlines. Over 1 000 airframes were produced, and the type saw extensive use in both passenger transport and cargo conversion, including as a platform for aerial refueling, surveillance, and scientific missions. Though safety concerns and the rise of more efficient Western jets led to its retirement in many countries, the Tu‑154M remains a symbol of Soviet aeronautical ambition and continues to fly in limited capacity for special missions and historic commemorations.

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