TU-142 Aircraft Museum, RK Beach Road, Vishakhapatnam..

 TU-142 Aircraft Museum, RK Beach Road, Visakhapatnam.

When the Navy went for modernisation and was re-equipped with better aircraft for Maritime Reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, TU-142, four-engined turboprop aircraft of Russian origin, were decommissioned and disposed of as per existing procedures. One of the aircraft, tail number IN 312, a decommissioned TU 142, was flown in from the Navy's Arakkonam base to Visakhapatnam International Airport, dismantled, and transported to RK Beach Road. “ TU 142 Aircraft Museum” is built around the very same aircraft.

The museum, in addition to this real TU 142 aircraft, has many aircraft parts, instruments, and one of the engines on display with information boards. 

Photographs and information boards give the history and the stellar role played by this versatile aircraft in the wars fought by India.

The museum is well-maintained. 

Visitors, mainly those who do not have any knowledge of the role of the Indian Navy in general and Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine warfare aircraft, in particular, will emerge as much better-informed people.

Very informative and well worth a visit.

TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

The years 1988, 1992, and 2017 mark the core milestones of the TU-142M "Albatross" aircraft's lifecycle in the Indian Navy:

• 1988 (Induction): The TU-142M was formally inducted into the Indian Navy's INAS 312 squadron on April 16, 1988, at INS Hansa, Goa. 
• 1992 (Relocation): To align with India's Look East policy and secure the eastern maritime boundary, the squadron permanently relocated its base to INS Rajali in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, in April 1992.
• 2017 (De-induction): After nearly three decades of service, the iconic "Flying Destroyer" was officially decommissioned and de-inducted on March 29, 2017, at INS Rajali, making way for the modern Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft. 

At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

Pilot Station.  Partially reconstructed cockpit of TU 142 aircraft.At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

Escape Mural. At TU142 Aircraft Museum.

Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprop engine on display at the TU 142 aircraft Museum. The Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12MV or NK-12MP turboprop engines. Each engine produces approximately 14,795 to 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,033 kW) and drives distinctive eight-blade contra-rotating, reversible-pitch AV-60N propellers.

Unveiling the fin model of TU 142 by the Hon'ble President of India. The fin and Rudder assembly with the Albetross logo on display in the background. At TU 142 Museum.

The Tupolev Tu-142 is a Soviet/Russian maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. 

 The Tu-142 was designed by the Tupolev design bureau and manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery Plants from 1968 to 1994. 

Developed in response to the American Polaris programme, the Tu-142 grew out of the need for a viable Soviet ASW platform. The Tu-142's capability was incrementally improved while the type was in service, eventually resulting in the Tu-142M3, the final long-range Tu-142 with highly sophisticated combat avionics and a large payload.

View of the top portion of the starboard wing and the starboard side of the fuselage.At TU 142 Museum.

At TU 142 Aircraft Museum.

The TU 142 Aircraft Museum is a preserved Tupolev Tu-142 located in Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Built as part of Vizag city tourism promotion, it was formally inaugurated by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in December 2017 

Service 

This aircraft served 29 years with the Indian Navy and had 30,000 hours of accident-free flying by the time of its retirement on 29 March 2017 at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. 

The aircraft was flown from Arkonam to Vishakhapatnam airport, disassembled 

transported to the museum site and assembled again. 

Aircraft Museum 

The Government of Andhra Pradesh decided to preserve the aircraft in a museum. The project development cost was around ₹ 14 crores, which was funded by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

The Tupolev Tu-142 is a Soviet/Russian maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. 

The Tu-142 was designed by the Tupolev design bureau and manufactured by the Kuibyshev Aviation and Taganrog Machinery Plants from 1968 to 1994. 

Developed in response to the American Polaris programme, the Tu-142 grew out of the need for a viable Soviet ASW platform. The Tu-142's capability was incrementally improved while the type was in service, eventually resulting in the Tu-142M3, the final long-range Tu-142 with highly sophisticated combat avionics and a large payload.

Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprop engine on display at TU 142 aircraft Museum. 

The Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12MV or NK-12MP turboprop engines. Each engine produces approximately 14,795 to 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,033 kW) and drives distinctive eight-blade contra-rotating, reversible-pitch AV-60N propellers.