The Russian Tupolev Tu-404 model is the largest passenger aircraft ever designed, yet it has never entered service.
The striking design of the Tupolev Tu-404 recalls several modern military aircraft and prototypes like JetZero’s Pathfinder. This colossal aircraft has never been operational but remains an intriguing design, according to Simple Flying.
The shape of the Tupolev Tu-404 aircraft in the blended wing body version. (Photo: Simple Flying).
The Tu-404 was designed by the aerospace manufacturer Tupolev in 1991, at the end of the Cold War. This aircraft could carry 1,214 passengers with a range of nearly 13,500 km. The Tu-404 was an ambitious project as Tupolev proposed a bold design that could revolutionize passenger transportation. According to AeroTime, the Soviet Union hoped that the Tu-404 would enable them to dominate the wide-body passenger aircraft market. Even compared to the largest passenger aircraft currently in operation, its capacity remains impressively high. The Airbus A380 typically carries 400 to 600 passengers, and the Boeing 747-400 is similar.
In addition to the two-deck version, the Tupolev Tu-404 also features a blended wing body version. The massive fuselage accommodates 1,214 passengers in six compartments. Most of the fuel in this version is stored in tanks located in the wings. The large wings have a leading-edge sweep angle of 35 degrees and feature enormous control surfaces.
The blended wing body version of the Tu-404 is powered by six turbofan engines located at the tail, nestled between two large V-shaped vertical stabilizers. Each engine produces nearly 18,000 kg of thrust at takeoff. The modern design of the blended wing body version promises superior aerodynamic characteristics. Tupolev hoped to reduce fuel consumption and increase range with this new version. Compared to the two-deck variant, the blended wing body design would significantly reduce drag.
Despite its advanced design, the Tu-404 faces major technical, economic, infrastructure, and market challenges. Ensuring efficiency in such a large aircraft is very difficult. After the Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991, Russia plunged into economic instability. The estimated development cost of the aircraft reached tens of billions of USD, making the construction of the Tu-404 unattainable. Even major airports at that time lacked the necessary infrastructure to handle large aircraft like the Tu-404. Moreover, airlines were not enthusiastic about the burden that comes with such costly large aircraft. Most airlines had little demand for an aircraft with a capacity of 1,200 passengers, and filling flights on certain routes became a challenge.
