Originally Posted by M2dude
The TU144D used in the 1990's as a joint NASA/Russian experiment was a different beast altogether however, with far better engines and systems, but as far as I am aware the only western pilots to fly it were American chaps.
Originally Posted by
atakacs
I wasn't aware of the significant upgrades - devised to the tune of $300mn - that were applied to this airframe.
To conclude this slightly o/t story :
The Tu144D was the last production model of the Tu144.
With improved engines and other refinements, it was capable of supercruise (Mach 2 without afterburners). Only five were built, and they came too late ; the aircraft went out of service, and were put into storage.
Tu-144D s/n 77114 was brought out of mothballs (with less than 83 hours "on the clock") for the joint NASA/Russian program in the '90s and modified, with completely new more powerful engines (same as those of the 'Blackjack' Tu-160 bomber) and a fit of sensors and test equipment, to become the Tu-144LL (flying laboratory). A total of 27 flights were made.
The entire "High Speed Civil Transport" study indeed cost over $300M, but the actual work on the Tu-144LL reputedly cost less than $20M, although it's not known exactly what that bill represents.
CJ