St Petersburg to Moscow on tu-154

[smala01]

Hi All,
Im taking an internal flight on aeroflot tu-154 from St Pete to Moscow this Friday.

Whats the experience like? Should i be afraid? :confused:

Smala01

[SXB]

I'm sure it will be fine, maybe a bit more noisy than a western jet though. I believe some 154's have hush kits and some don't.

As an alternative there is a fast train which serves Peter and Moscow, I believe it's called the Aurora and journey time is about 5 hours. This is probably quicker than taking the plane, getting to the airports in and around Moscow can take a long time.

There is also a luxury overnight train called the Grand Express which I've been meaning to take for years but schedules never fitted. It's like a hotel with private cabins. The last time I looked, which was about 2 years ago, it was about €100 each way, like everything in Russia it's probably a lot more expensive nowadays....

[WHBM]

What an extraordinary question.

If you are concerned about your safety in Russia there are many things to have greater thoughts about, like driving on the road.

Rossiya/Pulkovo Tu154s include some of the last built, into the 1990s. They are fine aircraft, robustly built, notably diferent to western products. Nice powerful engines and a well-developed landing gear that makes for nice touchdowns, like most Soviet designs.

Most of their skippers are high-time ex-Russian/Soviet Air Force pilots.

Rossiya have also started using 154s again into Heathrow and Gatwick, you will see them in Heathrow on Saturdays and at Gatwick other days of the week.

[Pax Vobiscum]

notably different to western products

Notably similar to the Trident (of blessed memory :{) IMHO, WHBM.

I completely agree with the comment about gentle touchdowns. In part I understand this is because Russian types have a much wider spacing on the landing gear, in order to allow landings on uneven surfaces (even grass strips).

[smala01]

"What an extraordinary question"

Forgive me - I was being a little flippant and a little curious of the experience :)

The question was prompted by my Russian colleagues refusing to travel internally by air - insisting on the train!

[SXB]

The question was prompted by my Russian colleagues refusing to travel internally by air - insisting on the train!That's a perfectly valid question. There were many western corporations, including my employer for a while, which specifically prohibited their employees from using internal flights within the Former Soviet Union. Some flights which I took in the 1990's were truly appalling, seats without belts, overcrowding etc. Whether FSU internal flights are/were any safer than western flight routes I don't know, I suspect there probably isn't/wasn't much in it. Also, bear in mind, when looking at safety statistics, some of the bizarre circumstances of crashes in the FSU, things like planes being shot down by missiles, terrorist incidents, air traffic control (and not just their own ATC). I would hazard a guess that the actual planes are as reliable and safe as those manufactured in the west

[Evening Star]

WHBM has about got it, in that the roads in Russia scare me more than any flying (well, almost) experience in Russia. Cannot comment upon the toughness of TU154's, although anything built to cope with Russia and not fall to pieces has to be massively over-engineered. Interiors are appallingly old fashioned, with the Formica finishes a dead give-away. Older ones have open luggage racks, which is fine until somebody nails it onto the runway and all the boxes precariously wedged in place rain down. Seats are often shot and the escape slide is fold out canvas (nice...). Also, should you be unlucky enough to get the windowless seat about halfway down on the right hand side with the air conditioning (or something cold) instead, ask for a blanket or you will freeze.

And that is all better than the TU134, which I admit to having a soft spot for on visual appearance as not an Airboeing clone blob.

Perhaps not giving a good impression. Look at it like this, even though there are still a lot of them around, I have a feeling their days are numbered and fly one while you can. They may be faded and old-fashioned, but the major airlines do look after them so do not really expect anything to go wrong. I fly in them and to be honest, the taxi journey to the airport is the most terrifying bit ... wasn't that how I started?:cool:

[spiney]

I'd say not a problem, but it depends on the airline. Have flow both UT Air and Aeroflot and their 154's are fine. A bit noisier than western jets but everything is just that bit more 'solid' than what you might be used to. I like them... would I want to fly the North Atlantic in one? No. From St Petersburg to Moscow? Not a problem. Most risky part of the trip would probably be the taxi to and from the airport.

[cavortingcheetah]

:hmm:

Why on earth don't you take the train? First Class is excellent, the food is brought to your cabin, it takes about six hours and it should be daylight all the way. Last time, there were a couple of delicious whores in the compartment next door and much mirth and merriment of an entirely innocent sort was engaged in.
The scenery is extraordinarily interesting, reflecting a sort of miniature but panoramic view of Russia since before the Second World War. You are sure to remain riveted to the window throughout the journey.:)

[foxile]

No worries.
Did this trip in 2002 (in a 154) and still here to tell the tale, having done the reverse journey a few days previously in a 134 and loved every minute. It makes a real change from the monotony of A320s and 737s...
Also, I'm sure there has been a few flights since mine without incident :}
I'm doing the same later this year and have no concerns whatsoever.
Hope that helps put your mind at rest.
Foxile
:)

[WHBM]

In recent times I have noticed more Aeroflot A320s at St Petersburg on the Moscow run. Aeroflot are steadily taking delivery of more of these so don't be surprised if you get one.

The seat backs folding forward is a standard feature of Soviet types. Should the unoccupied ones fall forward on touchdown/braking, as they can tend to do, it is no issue, just put them back up again if you wish. I can't see how you could feel trapped at all. They are done like this because when boarding/disembarking it makes access to the seat row behind easier. Just one of those things where Soviet designers did it differently.

The 154 feels notably larger than a Trident, it's bigger than the Trident 3, higher off the ground, and the rear empennage is notably larger. I think they have been coming into Heathrow for the best part of 35 years now (although all the earlier models are replaced).

The runway at St Petersburg, notably the southern one of the parallel pair which tends to be used by domestic flights, is certainly rough. In fact it's probably the most undulating I know, including any grass fields I have flown into. When international flights were using it in recent times while the northern runway was out of service BA skippers on the London flight used to make a comment about it before departure. It is fun - like a roller coaster. At least you won't have the enjoyment of departing from it in a blizzard as I have done.

[Phileas Fogg]

One feels trapped because of the 'domino' effect, one cannot put the seat back into the upright position because the seat back behind, and the one after that, and the one behind that, perhaps 20 behind that, are pinning the bl00dy thing down :)

[Evening Star]

A bit noisier than western jets

And how! For a special treat make sure you visit the netty at the back which, being neatly amongst the three engines, are beset by an amplified 'whirring' noise from the engines.:ooh:

[Tolsti]

The seats folding forward actually have a great function... they serve as the picnic tables for your fellow passengers to lay out their tomatoes, cucumbers, sausage and bread along with the inevitable bottles of vodka and mineralnye, or cartons of Sok. Contribute something yourself and you'll be invited to have a feast. Ever noticed those coat hooks that seem not to work as they are upside down?... thats because they are bottle cap openers!!! and some people thing that Russians are backward!!!:cool: