Tupolev continue to develop LNG powered aircraft with the Tu-206 programme

Published: 8/23/1999

According to Lev Lanovsky, General Designer of ANTK Tupolev, the company is continuing to develop the dual fuel twin turbofan airliner, the Tu-206, spending to date an unspecified amount, but reportedly several million dollars. The cost of developing the full programme, to allow the Tu-204 derived aircraft to fly on liquefied natural gas as well as aviation fuel, is estimated to be in the region of $200m by some sources. According to ANTK Tupolev, the price of the new aircraft will be 5-10% higher than the $22-25m price of the existing Tu-204-100. It is intended that the aircraft will be produced at Aviastar. Given current conditions, the concept of a natural gas powered aircraft may seem a little fanciful. It does, however, have a long tradition in Russian aerospace, climaxing in the flight of an adapted Tu-154 - designated the Tu-155 - in 1988-89. Subsequent programmes have suffered funding problems, although the recent support of Gazprom, the huge company dominating Russian gas production, has revived the prospects of a Tu-154/156 powered by natural gas (www.concise.org 1st February 1999). The benefits for the operator of such an aircraft are claimed to be significant reductions in both NOx and CO2 emissions, together with significantly lower fuel costs, estimated to be as much as 50%. Powered by Aviadvigatel PS-92 turbofan, the Tu-206 also has a sister programme, using Samara NK-94s, designated the Tu-216. The physical changes to the LNG aircraft are quite significant. The gas is carried in four composite material tanks above the aircraft cabin, in order to provide sufficient space to carry 22,500 kg of gas. This gives the aircraft a bulbous appearance, akin to that of a large load cargo carrier.

Article ID: 774