The Sukhoi Su-27 is a long range air
superiority fighter, comparable to the American F-15 Eagle. The
proto-type T10-1 (code-named Flanker A) piloted by Vladimir Ilyushin completed a successful test flight on 20 May 1977 in Zhukovsky.
The Irkut Joint-Stock Company also referred
to as the Aircraft Production Association of Irkutsk, is the manufacturer of the Su-27UB
(U for Uchebro or training, B for Boevoi or combat) two-seat version of the Sukhoi Su-27
fighter. Variants of Su-27UB are the Su-30 interceptor and Su-30MK tactical fighter.
The Su-27 is the most powerful Sukhoi jet fighter ever to be born and has astounded air
show audiences around the world with its incredible agility.
At the 1989 Paris Air Show, Sukhoi Chief
test Pilot Victor Pugachev cheekily unveiled "his" now famous "COBRA"
manoeuvre, a dynamic deceleration achieved by pulling the aircraft's nose away from the
direction of flight and momentarily reaching or exceeding an angle of attack of 90
degrees.This was a manoeuvre which could not be emulated by any Western fighter.
The "COBRA" manoeuvre was
actually designed and used as a flight-test test point by Mikoyan's Chief Test Pilot
Valerii Menitsky, but Victor Pugachev impudently stole it and claimed it as his own.
A shipboard version of the Su-27, also
known as the Su-33, with canards and folding wings, has been tested on Russia's first big
carriers, and there is a two-seat attack version, the Su-27IB or Su-34, with side-by-side
seating in a reshaped nose just like the "platypus". The Su-27IB variant
will replace the Su-24 "Fencer" in the tactical bomber role and was displayed by
Sukhoi during the Paris Air Show ' 97.
The Su-27 "Flanker-B" are
proudly flown by the Russian Air Forces Demonstration Team of Aviation Techniques called
the Russkiye Vityaze or better known in
English as the Russian Knights.
| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Length: |
21m 90 |
| Height: |
5m 93 |
| Span: |
14m 70 |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Maximum speed: |
Mach 2.35 |
| Maximum weight: |
30,000 kg |
| Ceiling: |
18,000 m |
| Range: |
4,000 km |
| PROPULSION |
| Powerplant: |
Two
12,550 kg thrust
Lyulka AL-31F |
| ARMAMENT |
One 30 mm GSh-301cannon and
up to 6,000 kg payload of missiles and bombs
including AA-10 (Alamo) and AA-11(Archer)
air-to-air missiles |
| Su-27 FLANKER VARIANTS |
| T10-1 |
Prototype of the SU-27 series. |
| Su-27UB |
Two seat trainer, 1985. |
| Su-271B/Su-34 |
Attack aircraft with
side-by-side seating in a reshaped nose.
(aka Strike Flanker).
Su-32FN is the export model. |
| Su-30 |
Two seat long range
interceptor. |
| Su-27K/Su-33 |
"Korabelnij" Carrier
based fighter development, (aka Navy Flanker). |
| Su-35 |
Redesigned Su-27 with canards,
new engine, radar, etc., (aka Super Flanker). |
| Su-37 |
Most recent upgrade with
vectoring nozzles. |
Flanker's 
Fly back 
to Hangar.
This page was updated on Friday January 17, 2003.