The problems Concorde experienced ?ere due to regulations and market ?orces, rather than shortcomings inherent to the air?rame itsel?.
âAThe Soviet-built Tu-144 actually ?le? be?ore its supersonic rival Concorde, though it had a number o? ?la?s inherent to the design that severely limited its use?ulness.
Part o? the problem ?ith the Tu-144 ?as its ?eight. Not only ?as it heavier than the Concorde—by around 20 tons, or 40,000 pounds—it ?as longer too, by about 12 ?eet. The Tu-144’s extra ?eight stemmed ?rom the extra ?heels it had to carry under its ?ings. Unlike the ?rench-Anglo Concorde, the Soviet Tu-144’ landing gear had a ?hopping 12 ?heels. The Soviet-built plane used synthetic rubber ?or its tires, ?hich ?as structurally ?eaker and more likely to ?ail than natural rubber. A quick ?ix—more ?heels. More ?eight, meant more ?heels, ?hich meant more ?eight again.
Still, the Tu-144’s engines could compensate ?or the extra pounds. Each o? the Tu-144’s engines produced 6,000 more pounds o? thrust than those o? Concorde. But they ?ere less re?ined. At one point the Tupolev design bureau approached the Concorde team in order to try and negotiate an engine-management computer system ?or use ?ith their Tu-144. They ?ere rebu??ed, as it ?as ?eared the technology could be used to improve Soviet bombers as ?ell as jet airliners. The Tu-144’s per?ormance su??ered accordingly.
Overall, the Tu-144 ?as less re?ined than the Concorde. In order to slo? do?n ?hen landing, the Tu-144 had a brake parachute group at the tail instead o? thrust reversers. Another less-re?ined aspect o? the jet airliner ?as the noise generated by its enormously po?er?ul engines ?or those in the cabin. Noise inside the cabin ?as apparently so immense that passengers ?ere reduced to passing hand?ritten notes to communicate.
Design ?la?s
Part o? the Tu-144’s myriad problems are attributable to the very high level o? aerospace engineering that needed to go into a viable supersonic jet airliner design. One estimate said that the Tupolev design ?as 10 to 15 years ahead o? ?hat the Soviet aerospace industry ?as capable o? at that time. Obvious parallels have been made bet?een the Concorde and the Tu-144, ?hich hint at the danger o? trying to copy a design that isn’t ?ully understood. The Soviet Union had a long history o? aerospace espionage, ?hich may have contributed to the Tu-144’s lack o? commercial success.
The Tu-144 reportedly ?le? a paltry 102 ?lights, only 55 o? ?hich actually carried any passengers. Compared to its arch-rival Concorde, the Tu-144 ?as a ?iasco, draining precious time and rubles ?rom other projects. The ?rench-Anglo venture on the other hand served just under 30 years. Though it too could not be considered a commercial success, the problems Concorde experienced ?ere due to regulations and market ?orces, rather than shortcoming inherent to the air?rame itsel?. Though unsuccess?ul, the Tu-144 ?as nevertheless impressive as the ?orld’s largest supersonic commercial airliner.