Tupolev Tu-155 facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;" ! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em;" | Tupolev Tu-155 |-
|- | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | .jpg)
|-
|colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;text-align:center;" |
|-
! Role | Experimental Alternative fuel testbed |- ! National origin | USSR |- ! Manufacturer | Tupolev |-
! First flight | 15 April 1988 |-
! Status | Retired |- ! Primary users | Aeroflot (former)
Soviet Air Force |-
! Number built | 1 |-
! Developed from | Tupolev Tu-154 |-
The Tupolev Tu-155 (Russian: Туполев Ту-155) was a very special airplane built in the USSR. It was an experimental aircraft, which means it was made to test new and exciting ideas. This plane was unique because it was designed to fly using different types of fuel, especially a very cold fuel called liquid hydrogen. It was one of the first planes in the world to do this.
Contents
What was the Tupolev Tu-155?
The Tupolev Tu-155 was not a regular passenger plane. It was a testbed, which means it was used for experiments. Its main job was to explore new kinds of fuel for airplanes. This was important for the future of flight. The plane was built by Tupolev, a famous aircraft company.
Why was it Special?
This aircraft was special because it could run on alternative fuels. Most planes use jet fuel, which is made from oil. But the Tu-155 was designed to use liquid hydrogen or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- Liquid Hydrogen: This is hydrogen gas cooled down to a very low temperature (about -253 degrees Celsius or -423 degrees Fahrenheit). When hydrogen burns, it produces only water vapor, which is much cleaner than regular jet fuel.
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): This is natural gas cooled down to a liquid. It is also a cleaner fuel than traditional jet fuel.
Using these fuels could help reduce pollution from airplanes. It could also help save oil resources.
How it Worked
The Tu-155 was actually a modified version of a regular passenger plane, the Tupolev Tu-154. Engineers changed one of its three engines to run on the new fuels. The other two engines still used regular jet fuel as a backup.
To hold the super-cold liquid hydrogen or LNG, a special fuel tank was placed in the plane's rear passenger cabin. This tank was heavily insulated, like a giant thermos, to keep the fuel extremely cold. The fuel was then pumped to the modified engine.
The first flight of the Tupolev Tu-155 happened on April 15, 1988. This was a big step in aviation history. It showed that planes could fly using these new, cleaner fuels.
Its Legacy
Only one Tupolev Tu-155 was ever built. It completed many test flights, proving that alternative fuels could power aircraft. While these fuels are not widely used in planes today, the Tu-155 showed what was possible. It helped scientists and engineers learn a lot about future aircraft designs and cleaner energy for flight. The plane is now retired, but its work was very important for aviation research.
Images for kids
-
The alternative fuel Kuznetsov Engine
See also
In Spanish: Tupolev Tu-155 para niños
