Gas powered aircraft move closer to operation with agreement between Tupolev and Gazprom

Published: 1/5/2000

The long held desire of Russian design bureaux to power large aircraft with liquefied natural gas (LNG) appears to have taken a step closer to fruition, with a preliminary agreement between Gazprom and Tupolev concerning the creation of a LNG aviation fuelling infrastructure, according to Tupolev. Tests using an LNG powered aircraft took place with a modified Tu-154 in the late eighties, but the programme was halted due to funding difficulties. Previous ground installations were planned to be located in Samara. Valery Solozobov, from Tupolev, said the agreement was signed after Gazprom financed tests using a modified Tu-154, redesignated the Tu-155 with Kuznetsov NK-88 engines (powered by kerosene/LNG). According to Solozobov, the tests proved that use of the fuel was viable and offered savings of 30% over conventionally fuelled aircraft in terms of maintenance and fuel cost. These savings are, however, lower than the 50% quoted in earlier reports. Solozobov added that Tupolev was preparing to build the full LNG powered conversion of the Tu-154, designated Tu-156. This is scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2000 and is reported to be powered by Samara NK-89. He claimed that the market for the aircraft will be in Russia"s Northern Regions and the Far East, where the shortage of aviation fuel has been causing recurring problems for operators, particularly for Russian gas producing giant Gazprom. Gazprom has been a major driver for the development of the aircraft and has provided much of the financing, reported to be at least $14m in the middle of 1998. Tupolev has also proposed a number of other LNG powered or mixed fuel aircraft, with cyrogenic projects developed for a derivative of the Tu-204, called the Tu-206 using the Aviadvigatel PS-92, on which the bureau has spent a considerable sum, according to reports. Given the full costs of development (estimated to be over $100m) there is still some way to go before the aircraft is produced at Aviastar. Other LNG powered aircraft projects include the Tu-306, derived from the stretched Tu-204, the Tu-304 derived from the Tu-334 regional airliner. Associated articles: www.concise.org 1st February 1999, 23rd August 1999

Article ID: 1284