It is an unfortunate fact of flybut sometimes, plane crash. Some even do it more than others, but only one person has ever experienced the problem with such terrifying frequency. Soviet Union Folk songs have been written about it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a Tupolev Tu-104.
Between 1956 and 1960, the aircraft manufacturer built 201 of these flying coffins. It was introduced to the public in 1956 and made its final flight in 1981. At that time, 16 Tu-104s had been lost in accidents out of a total of 37 that had been wiped out. That results in a hull loss rate of around 18 percent, which is a complete myth. A total of 1140 people died from Tu-104, according to statistics United States Flight Safety Foundation.
It would suffice for the braves of the Soviet Union to write an entire jet-air folk song to our tune. Deputy editor, Lalita Chemello, tell me Chopin’s Marche Funèbre. I tend to believe her.
The song is – as you can imagine – in Russian. It’s a language I don’t speak, but a YouTube commenter was kind enough to translate it. Is it right? Who will say? Believe them.
The Tu-104 is the best aircraft that ever existed.
It can take you to heaven in five minutes.
I should have gone by train.
I should have gone by train.
The Tu-104 is the best aircraft that ever existed.
I should have gone by train.
I should have gone by train.
Tu-104 will never fall from the sky.
The lyrics are lovely, aren’t they? At this point, you’re probably wondering why this thing falls from the sky so easily. Well, the main reason is that the design is so bad. First, it was based on a Soviet strategic bomber. It’s not the best way to start your new passenger manufactures jet aircraft.
Based on Mustarda great YouTube channel that dives into the background of other ill-fated machines, the controls are said to be heavy, and the pilots will need to make the final approach at too fast a speed to be safe. In addition, the Tu-104 has a tendency to stall at low speeds due to its very high swinging wings, and it is known for its Dutch roll. Think of it like a slap, but on a jet plane. Not good.
None of that compares to the Tu-104’s biggest problem. It can – without any warning – plunge violently, stall and fall into an irreversible dive. Two accidents are attributed to this problem alone.
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So, if you ever wanted to hear a creepy song about a shit piece of Soviet technology, this one is just for you.
