Tupolev

«404» (Tu-404)
extra large passenger transport

    The work on the Tu-404 was initiated in 1991 along with another large passenger aircraft project - the Tu-304. The Tu-404 was designed to transport more than 1,200 passengers to destinations 12,000 - 13,000 km away. The Tupolev Design Bureau was working on several variants of the new heavy passenger transport.Tu-404 mockup
    One of the possible configurations for the aircraft was that of a flying wing. In this configuration the aircraft's powerplant would consist of six pusher turboprop engines developing 18,000 kg of thrust each during take-off and each consuming only 0.644 kg/kgf-h of fuel in cruise mode. The engines are located in the tail section of the flying wing fuselage between two large V-shaped vertical stabilizers. 
    The central fuselage contains six passenger compartments accommodating 1214 passengers. The leading edge of the central fuselage has a sweep of 45 degrees. Two large removable wings containing fuel tanks have the leading-edge sweep of 35 degrees and are attached to the central fuselage. The wings hold most of the aircraft's fuel.
    Another version of the Tu-404 is of a more conventional design: a two-level passenger aircraft capable of transporting 1,200 people to destinations of up to 10,000 km. The lower level of the fuselage is designed as a multi-section cargo compartment for transporting cargo in standard aviation containers. Two sub-variants of this design have been developed: a mixed passenger-cargo aircraft with the enlarge cargo section and a dedicated cargo model. 
    The massive low-level wing with a leading-edge sweep of 35 degrees and vertical wingtips has massive control surfaces: multi-section leading-edge control surfaces, low-speed control areas, multi-section flaps. Each half of the altitude control surface is made of two sections.
     The aircraft is designed to be powered by four NK-44 or Rolls-Royce "Trent" engines installed on underwing pylons. The aircraft's undercarriage consists of several carts with multiple wheels in each cart. It is retracted into the central fuselage section of the aircraft.

Description
Design ANTK Tupolev
Designation «404» (Tu-404)
Function Long-range passenger aircraft of extra-large capacity
Variant conventional flying wing
Dimensions & Weight
Length, m 86,6 59,7
Wing Span, m 77 110
Overall height, m 27,3 18,8
Fuselage, m Length 86,4  
Height 9,4  
Width 8,0  
Wing Leading Edge Sweep 35° 35°
Max. Take-off Weight, kg 605000  
Max. Landing Weight, kg 460000  
Max. Payload, kg 126000  
Passenger Capacity Business Class 750  
Economy Class 1200 1214
Power-plant
Number of Engines 4 6
Engine Type Turbofan NK-44 Turboprop
Thrust on Take-off per engine, kgs 40000 18000
Fuel Consumption in Cruise Mode, kg/kgf h 0,54 0,644
Fuel Consumption for Passenger, g/passenger-km for 750 passengers 20  
for 1200 passengers 14  
Performance (project)
Cruise speed, km/h (M=) 900
Cruise altitude, m 11000
Practical range with payload, km normal 13500
max 9200
Required Runway Type Class "A"
Take-off Run, m 3200

Схема "404" - летающее крыло

References and Credits:

  1. Under designated «ANT» and «Tu» / V.Rigmant. Aviatsia i Kosmonavtika № 10.2000 /
  2. Tupolev Tu-404 / Venik's Aviation Page /