Sukhoi Su-27: Design And Development Of Russiaвђ™... Guide
: The first Soviet fighter to use an operational fly-by-wire system to manage its inherent instability, granting it "supermaneuverability".
The , known to NATO as the Flanker , stands as a definitive icon of late Cold War aviation. Originally designed to reclaim air superiority from Western fourth-generation fighters like the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle , its development was a grueling journey of radical redesigns that ultimately produced one of the most agile and versatile platforms in military history. From Failure to a "Clean Sheet" Masterpiece Sukhoi Su-27: Design and Development of Russia’...
: Twin Lyulka AL-31F turbofans providing a 2:1 thrust-to-weight ratio in record-setting variants, allowing the jet to reach speeds of Mach 2.35 . A Legacy of "Supermaneuverability" Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Famous Russian Aircraft - Sukhoi Su-27 & 30/33/34/35 : The first Soviet fighter to use an
Rather than settling for a mediocre aircraft, Chief Designer took the bold step of scrapping the original design. The result was the T-10S , a "clean sheet" redesign that debuted in 1981 and became the foundation for the production Su-27. This reworked model featured: From Failure to a "Clean Sheet" Masterpiece :
The Su-27's story began in 1969 as the Soviet "PFI" (Perspective Frontline Fighter) program. The initial prototype, the , first flew on May 20, 1977 , but it was a disappointment. It suffered from poor stability and couldn't match the performance of its American counterparts.