#Tu104
#tupolevTu-104
#TU104
#tupolev
#airliner

The Tu-104. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Soviet Union faced a pressing need for modern civil airliners, as existing aircraft such as the Lisunov Li-2 and Ilyushin Il-12 were outdated compared to Western counterparts. Traveling across the vast Soviet expanse meant days of journey with multiple refueling stops and unpredictable weather conditions. Tu-104

In 1953, plans were initiated to address this airliner deficiency. Andrei Tupolev, a pioneering aircraft designer, was determined to propel Soviet civil aviation into the future. While the British de Havilland Comet had begun proving itself in passenger service with its remarkable speed and ability to fly above most weather, Soviet leadership remained skeptical of jet power due to concerns about reliability, fuel consumption, and pilot retraining. Tu-104

Recognizing this skepticism, Tupolev proposed a unique solution. Leveraging his recent design of the jet-powered Tu-16 heavy bomber, Tupolev suggested converting it into a civilian airliner. This approach would save considerable time and resources, allowing for the airliner's introduction within just three years. Moreover, existing Tu-16 components such as engines, wings, landing gear, and avionics could be reused, significantly reducing costs. This strategy paved the way for the new jetliner to enter service in 1956, years ahead of American counterparts. However, similar to the British experience, the Soviet Union would face challenges for pioneering jet travel. Tu-104