Tupolev Tu-154M "Open Skies"
As the Tupolev Tu-104 was becoming obsolete by the 1960s, Tupolev began work into a replacement. It was a daunting challenge: not only would the new design have to replace the Tu-104 and some turboprop designs on short to medium range airliner routes, it would have to operate from unimproved airstrips, as well as be at least somewhat comfortable to passengers. Though there was no intent to directly compete with similar Western designs such as the Boeing 727 and Hawker-Siddeley Trident, Tupolev was aware that any new airliner would be exported to Soviet client states who might be interested in the Western designs.
The Tu-154 first flew in October 1968, and testing went smoothly. Aeroflot used the aircraft first to haul mail, but in 1972 it was cleared for passenger service. Like its Western counterparts, it used a trijet design, with a tail layout broadly similar to the Trident. Despite perhaps Tupolev's efforts, the Tu-154, while comfortable enough, did not have anywhere near the headroom or storage space of the 727 or Trident, and its engine noise, while not truly noticeable to the passengers and crew, was earsplitting on the ground. It was also the first Tupolev airliner to be produced without a dedicated navigator or clear nose for the navigator to use for visual cues; though navigators were later added to Tu-154s (shoehorned into the cockpit), navigation was done electronically for the most part. Finally, the Tu-154 could indeed operate from gravel strips and was also quite fast for a passenger airliner.
By any estimation, the Tu-154 proved to be a successful design. It was estimated that over half the total number of Aeroflot's passengers from the 1970s to the 2000s flew on Tu-154s. It was originally designed to be replaced in the 1990s, but the end of the Cold War and severe cutbacks by Tupolev in the wake of the breakup of the Soviet Union meant that the Tu-154 would stay in production until 2013, by which time 1026 were built. Aeroflot did not retire its last Tu-154 until 2010, and a good number remain in service, though the majority are flown by the Russian Air Force in various roles. The type has become rare outside the former Soviet bloc, as noise restrictions limit its passenger use.
It is extremely rare to see a former Soviet bloc airliner in the United States, much less in Montana, so the arrival of RF-85655 at Great Falls, Montana in 2019 was a big surprise--though in retrospect, it shouldn't have been. One of the roles the Tu-154 is used for by the Russian Air Force is the Open Skies program, first proposed in the 1950s and implemented after the end of the Cold War in 1991. Open Skies allows the United States and Russia to fly aircraft fitted with cameras openly over each other's territory, to photograph military facilities such as missile fields and airbases. The idea behind Open Skies is that neither country could prepare a Pearl Harbor-style buildup and surprise attack without being noticed.
RF-85655 arrived in Great Falls in late March 2019, and I tried hard to get to see it, going up to Holman Aviation at Great Falls International Airport twice whenever I heard engine noise (Russian engines do indeed sound different than American ones). Both times I was unsuccessful, as it was gone long before I got there. I didn't think I'd get to see it at all until my friend Nate called me at 5 AM on March 30. It was rather cold that morning, but totally worth it, as the sun was coming up and the tarmac was empty. Even the crew had not arrived yet!
Nate and I got some pictures and waited around a bit until the crew arrived, then headed back home. I shared this picture on Facebook, and was surprised when one of the Great Falls Tribune's feature writers spotted the picture. They had not been able to get a good shot either, so they asked if they could use this one. It was published a few days later, so I guess I can now say I am a professional photographer. Maybe? Hopefully?
I had not seen any Russian airliner since the occasional glimpse of Aeroflot or Interflug when I lived in Germany. It helps that RF-85655 is beautifully painted in the colors of the Russian flag. This aircraft likely belongs to the 390th Independent Composite Transport Regiment, based at Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Tupolev Tu-154M "Open Skies"
As the Tupolev Tu-104 was becoming obsolete by the 1960s, Tupolev began work into a replacement. It was a daunting challenge: not only would the new design have to replace the Tu-104 and some turboprop designs on short to medium range airliner routes, it would have to operate from unimproved airstrips, as well as be at least somewhat comfortable to passengers. Though there was no intent to directly compete with similar Western designs such as the Boeing 727 and Hawker-Siddeley Trident, Tupolev was aware that any new airliner would be exported to Soviet client states who might be interested in the Western designs.
The Tu-154 first flew in October 1968, and testing went smoothly. Aeroflot used the aircraft first to haul mail, but in 1972 it was cleared for passenger service. Like its Western counterparts, it used a trijet design, with a tail layout broadly similar to the Trident. Despite perhaps Tupolev's efforts, the Tu-154, while comfortable enough, did not have anywhere near the headroom or storage space of the 727 or Trident, and its engine noise, while not truly noticeable to the passengers and crew, was earsplitting on the ground. It was also the first Tupolev airliner to be produced without a dedicated navigator or clear nose for the navigator to use for visual cues; though navigators were later added to Tu-154s (shoehorned into the cockpit), navigation was done electronically for the most part. Finally, the Tu-154 could indeed operate from gravel strips and was also quite fast for a passenger airliner.
By any estimation, the Tu-154 proved to be a successful design. It was estimated that over half the total number of Aeroflot's passengers from the 1970s to the 2000s flew on Tu-154s. It was originally designed to be replaced in the 1990s, but the end of the Cold War and severe cutbacks by Tupolev in the wake of the breakup of the Soviet Union meant that the Tu-154 would stay in production until 2013, by which time 1026 were built. Aeroflot did not retire its last Tu-154 until 2010, and a good number remain in service, though the majority are flown by the Russian Air Force in various roles. The type has become rare outside the former Soviet bloc, as noise restrictions limit its passenger use.
It is extremely rare to see a former Soviet bloc airliner in the United States, much less in Montana, so the arrival of RF-85655 at Great Falls, Montana in 2019 was a big surprise--though in retrospect, it shouldn't have been. One of the roles the Tu-154 is used for by the Russian Air Force is the Open Skies program, first proposed in the 1950s and implemented after the end of the Cold War in 1991. Open Skies allows the United States and Russia to fly aircraft fitted with cameras openly over each other's territory, to photograph military facilities such as missile fields and airbases. The idea behind Open Skies is that neither country could prepare a Pearl Harbor-style buildup and surprise attack without being noticed.
RF-85655 arrived in Great Falls in late March 2019, and I tried hard to get to see it, going up to Holman Aviation at Great Falls International Airport twice whenever I heard engine noise (Russian engines do indeed sound different than American ones). Both times I was unsuccessful, as it was gone long before I got there. I didn't think I'd get to see it at all until my friend Nate called me at 5 AM on March 30. It was rather cold that morning, but totally worth it, as the sun was coming up and the tarmac was empty. Even the crew had not arrived yet!
Nate and I got some pictures and waited around a bit until the crew arrived, then headed back home. I shared this picture on Facebook, and was surprised when one of the Great Falls Tribune's feature writers spotted the picture. They had not been able to get a good shot either, so they asked if they could use this one. It was published a few days later, so I guess I can now say I am a professional photographer. Maybe? Hopefully?
I had not seen any Russian airliner since the occasional glimpse of Aeroflot or Interflug when I lived in Germany. It helps that RF-85655 is beautifully painted in the colors of the Russian flag. This aircraft likely belongs to the 390th Independent Composite Transport Regiment, based at Yekaterinburg, Russia.