Tu-144: busting myths

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Don't be afraid. I assure you, your fears are absolutely groundless. Because you yourself demonstrate a vivid example of a biased approach and completely unfounded statements. You have not read the books I refer to and cannot judge the reliability of these sources. Your only argument is "these Russians could not write anything truthful!". If you do not speak Russian, use automatic translators. Books are quite available in libraries. If you have claims to the figures, I am ready to listen to them and even to change my point of view, but only if you provide references to sources of similar level - memoirs of developers, research articles or reports, articles in mass-media are beyond the consideration. So far you have not substantiated your doubts in any way, and they do not represent the slightest value within the discussion, not even reaching the one of the hip pocket.
Report made by NASA test pilots...
...who were Russian!
painted a crude aircraft system wise, throttle forces were so high that only two could be moved at a time
Heavy control was a typical for the majority of Soviet airliners. This drawback is not always related to aerodynamics, although the connection is quite common. And this drawback - as well as many others - is fairly well described in the sources I mentioned. But you have not read them and do not know what is written there. So you cite the same information as some kind of revelation, which amuses me personally. I read NASA reports available on the Internet, written from the words of Russian pilots, who were these "NASA test pilots". Hence the conclusion: you have not read these reports by yourself.
, brakes had to be heated prior to take off, engines had to undergo a 30 minute ground run prior to take off, and repeated again after 90 minutes if take had not been made in time, control forces and harmony left a bit to be desired.
It has nothing to do with aerodynamic quality.
Lets have verifiable facts please
Totally agree. Let's discuss verifiable facts relevant to the core of the problem. You have not provided any such facts. But you can try again with at least one. I doubt you'll succeed.
 
The NASA test pilots were Russians? I'm sure Gordon Fullerton and Rob Rivers would be surprised to hear that.
Oh, yeah, they got to hold the wheel as co-pilots in three flights.
I hate to disappoint you but Sergei Borisov is not a NASA employee.
I hate to disappoint you but Sergei Borisov and his crew did the whole job.
I've already done that. It's not my fault that you don't understand printed text well. Once again: the Tu-144 had a higher L/D ratio at cruising supersonic speed than the Concorde. That indicates its higher aerodynamic quality as an SST. If you have other figures supported by sources, please cite them. If not, your opinion will be considered unsubstantiated.
You yourself demonstrate a vivid example of a biased approach and completely unfounded statements
It's just a lie. You've not cited a single substantive fact within the scope of the discussion.
 

We've been over this. That figure amounts to nothing if the aircraft's range is poorer. Concorde had a greater range that the Tu-144, so regardless of that L/D ratio figure, it is worthless as a measurable metric simply because it amounted to very little in the real world. The Tu-144 did not enjoy as long a career as Concorde, its "superior aerodynamics" did not help it achieve the necessary performance, reliability or longevity in service, therefore it is a pointless metric. Clearly the Tu-144's aerodynamics were inferior, why redesign it following the prototype? Why the need for high lift devices retro-fitted aft of the cockpit if its aerodynamics were superior to the Concorde's? The Concorde didn't require anything like that and its design remained the same throughout its career. You're gonna have to let this go. It is simply and demonstrably not true.
 
I am afraid that I don't have access to those books atm, any chance you could me the the L/D ratio for the Tu144 at design cruise and the L/D ratio for Concorde at its design cruise? It would help to compare if you also posted weights and speeds. I expect that the weights vary quite a deal between TOC and TOD, so ideally the figures will allow apples to apples comparison.
 
Nope. You just don't understand the subject. Wait your time - you will get an adequate answer for your rudeness.

Actually, I'm gonna tell you to pull your head in and grow up. There is no need for such behaviour, mate. No one is being rude. You need to calm down.
 

According to Gordon and Rigmant in Tupolev Tu-144 Russia's Concorde, the Tu-144's L/D ratio is a figure of 8 in the later production variants only, while Concorde's according to Orlebar in The Concorde Story is 7.5 at Mach 2 during the cruise and 12 at Mach .95. It is worth noting that the Concorde's wing was a compromise between high speed cruise and low speed efficiency, which meant it did not require high lift devices, something retro-fitted to the Tu-144. It is also worth noting my original point, the use of the L/D ratio as a metric of efficiency has its flaws as it does not tell the whole story of an aircraft's aerodynamic efficiency. The Concorde, it must be remembered had greater range than the Tu-144 (by a significant amount) and its engines had better fuel consumption despite the Soviet engines being low bypass turbofans.
 
Prove it. If not, your opinion will be considered unsubstantiated.

K_max = max(L/D)
Aerodynamics, stability and controllability of supersonic aircraft /Ed. by G.S.Bushgens. - Moscow: Nauka. Fizmatlit, 1998.

No they didn't, the sole reason for the NASA pilots was so they could make handling assessments of the aircraft ie they were flying the thing hands on, and duly wrote up their assessments, which are available on the web.
Six flight and two ground experiments were conducted during the program's first flight phase, which began in June 1996 and concluded in February 1998 after 19 research flights. A shorter follow-on program involving about seven flights began in September 1998 and concluded in April 1999. All flights were conducted in Russia from Tupolev's facility at
the Zhukovsky Air Development Center near Moscow.
You've not cited a single substantive fact within the scope of the discussio
Lies again.
 
Enough, everyone!

Knock it off with all the snide and arrogant comments and insults. You are all ruining what could be an interesting discussion about the Concorde and the Concordski.

In all seriousness, though, its really tiresome and boring to constantly have this kind of uncivil debate. Everyone chill out, debate with data and facts rather than childish insults. If you can't do that, than don't participate.
 
The food was better on the Concorde too. Everyone forgets that.
 

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