LockstockNL777 From Netherlands, joined Feb 2008, 99 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 3 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1419 times:
Reading the A vs B threads and having a particular interest in russian/ukranian built airplanes I started wondering about the same question but then applied to western compared to russian/ukranian airplanes.
So what are the main differences between the two? And I am not talking about differences like ''the russian had triple slotted slats and the western equavalant had double...", but in what areas did they completly go the other way? Where are the differences the most noticable?
LockstockNL777 From Netherlands, joined Feb 2008, 99 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 3 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1419 times:
PS: This is not a East-bashing or West-bashing topic, I am just looking for different approaches to the same problems/challenges, not a confirmation on who is superiour...
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8754 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1383 times:
I would say the most notable differences are in the controls of the airplanes. It amazes me how a Russian airplane can require 4-5 people in the flight deck whereas no western jets required more than three. However that might be a product of the different levels of infrastructure.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
LockstockNL777 From Netherlands, joined Feb 2008, 99 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1324 times:
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 2): I would say the most notable differences are in the controls of the airplanes. It amazes me how a Russian airplane can require 4-5 people in the flight deck whereas no western jets required more than three. However that might be a product of the different levels of infrastructure.
I seem to remeber that on the TU-154 it was due to the complex navigation system, have to look that one up though..
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15873 posts, RR: 66 Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 months 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1307 times:
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 2): It amazes me how a Russian airplane can require 4-5 people in the flight deck whereas no western jets required more than three. However that might be a product of the different levels of infrastructure.
You half answered your own question. As I see it there are a couple of reasons for the large flight deck crews:
- Lack of domestic navigation aids.
- Lack of language skills. A comms officer who speaks English is needed for international flights.
- Flight Engineer was eliminated later than in the West.
- Many aircraft were designed to do double duty as military transports. This forced a certain design ruggedness. Up to a point, it's easier to just add a person than design more complex systems.
- The ability to do field repairs independently was a design consideration. So the F/E and possible loadmaster become important people.
I would also note that unless I'm much mistaken modern Russian airliners like the Il-96 have two man flight crews.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
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