Hi, I’m a bit confused about naming of Kuznetsov’s NK-32 engines. I’m desperately searching for the answer, but with every other new source the situation is even more confused. Sources are often mixing NK-32, NK-321, NK-32-1, NK-32 Phase I/II, NK-321 Phase I/II together. Some facts I’ve collected:
Yefim Gordon in his book about Tu-160 from 2003 talks about NK-32 which was choosen for Tu-160, was tested on Tu-142LL. First flight of Tu-160 occured on 18.12.1981. Serial production of NK-32 started in 1986. He never mentiones NK-321. Oh, yeah, once – and it’s only under one image of NK-321. And there is written – “NK-321, on of the versions of NK-32”.
Janes.com (http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Aero-Engines/Kuznetsov-NK-321-Russian-Federation.html) says there was NK-32, tested in 1980, but abandoned in advantage of improved NK-321. Improvements included “overhung first fan stage, agead of intake frame”. To be honest I can’t really imagine what does that mean – if I compare NK-32 and NK-321 pictures (like they are presented as 32 and 321), engine fans seem to be identical.
One articles from 2008 says something about upgrades from NK-32 phase I to NK-32 phase II to be started around 2009 (for Tu-160 bombers). Other articles from 2010 about reopening the serial production calls the engine NK-32 also.
NK-32 article on airwar says the Tu-160 has NK-32 and Tu-144LL has NK-32-1 since 1996. But NK-321 article on the same web says the Tu-144 uses NK-321-144.
If I look on the developer’s web (sntk-odk.ru), there is NK-321, NK-321 phase I, NK-321 phase II. They mention NK-32 only once but only in some insignificant note. http://www.metallist-s.ru, the developer/producer of some high temperature components talk about the engine like NK-32. On one image from MAKS 2005 I can clearly see the cut of the engine and NK-321 written below it.
Well, as you can see, the information are very very confused – both on amateur’s webs and official producer’s websites. Is simple NK-32 just the early developement version? Are all the serial engines NK-321? And what about the different Phases. Is NK-321 equivalent to NK-32-I or how is it? I went through many online newspapers articles and they all are mixing NK-32, NK-321 etc.
Please help or redirect me to some other sources, thanks.
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November 22, 2010 at 9:18 pm