New Tupolev tu-204

[speedbird1960]

The all new TU-204 has been doing test runs.

www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/28/351369/tupolev-rolls-out-first-tu-204sm.html

[Biggles]

Test Flight video from You Tube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0QpfLotD-s

[Beemer]

We have had two in LJLA on freight flights,

SU-EAG Tupolev Tu-204 120 Air Cairo Cargo/TNT Con No 1450743164029

SU-EAJ Tupolev Tu-204 120 Air Cairo Cargo/TNT Con No 1450743764028

[Beemer]

SU-EAJ departing 27 @ 05:37hrs. 20-07-2004


SU-EAG on cargo ramp @ 22:10hrs. 04-07-2006


Regards Beemer

[johnoakes]

:(How the hell does the average spotter with aged mk1 eyeball distinguish these from the 757?
I ask because one just may drop into Chambery this year and I would not want to confuse it and miss a shot of just another 757.
Any offer however simple would be appreciated--remember I may only get a few seconds on take off if I arrive late.LOL

[Beemer]

John if you painted it in say, British Airways or Thomson colours you would not know the difference unless it parked next to a 757. Beemer.

[mickey]

Having flown on one I can say they're little different inside either. That said, it was the best flight I've ever been on - lovely, quiet and smooth (despite also being the longest - an overnight trek from one side of Russia to the other), and an off-duty pilot I got chatting to said they're great to fly too.

Only downside is the crap internal plumbing - all but one of the toilets were blocked for most of the flight.

[Beemer]

This model, the Tupelov Tu-204-120C has Rolls-Royce RB211 engines. Regards Beemer.

[Biggles]

Regarding the ID of these aircraft I have to agree it is most difficult, which is probably why most of the new airliners produced today have the model number printed on the body somewhere, it can`t just be for decoration purposes, it must be an aid to spotters of a certain age . I remember when you could ID an aircraft by sound only and hardly ever be wrong.

Slightly pointless post this but it did get me up to my 1000th. ;D

Happy New Year to all. ;D

[Beemer]

SU-EAJ tu-204 and 4X-EBI (now G-STRZ) 757-200 to compare.



Regards Beemer.

[Deleted]

The cockpit windows are a dead giveaway. Unfortunately, they look like airbus windows so, other than the tail which is slightly more squared where it meets the body and the engines there is very little difference between this and the A321. Another difference is the winglets, the TU-204's are similar to boeings. Therefore, if you see what looks like an A321 with boeing winglets, an RB211 engine, and a slightly squared tail it could well be a TU-204.

[johnoakes]

Thanks guys for that useful, and practical advice.
I found the photos sent by Beemer to be especially useful.Thanks Brian.
Like many of our members I could tell aircraft form sound alone in the old days--(Vikings and Dacs were always easy.LOl)--but these even share the RB 211 engine.
I still regret the demise of the Observers book of Aircraft which kept me up to date with silouettes and information--I have an ever expanding collection of old copies I still refer to.
My spotting skill were once well honed but these days I have to admit I do struggle at times--thank God as someone said they print the name on the side---I still don't know who benefits from this other than our clan of spotters.

Hope we get one at Chambery next year--I will be down there in the New Year to take a few photos--I can sometimes hear the aircraft if they throttle back before they decend to the lake and behind the ridge that separates us from Chambery.
Watch this space--thanks again for your comments and a Happy New Year.
John

[Beemer]

Two things I noticed different is the 204 fuselage is flat right to the end while the 757 tapers to a pencil point and the tail is more up-right to the 757 but would you notice the difference when on their own. Beemer.