@nymph.aero: Improved the old one a little. The Sukhoi Su-27 was developed by the Soviet design bureau Sukhoi in the 1970s and entered service in the mid-1980s. It was created as a direct response to the American McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, because the Cold War was basically two superpowers staring at each other and saying, “Nice jet. We’ll build one that turns tighter.” And turn tighter it does. The Su-27 is a twin-engine, supermaneuverable air superiority fighter built around raw aerodynamic performance. It has a blended wing-body design, huge leading-edge root extensions, widely spaced engines, and those massive twin vertical stabilizers that make it look like a predatory sea creature with anger issues. The airframe is designed to generate lift from almost the entire body, not just the wings. That’s why it can pull insane high-angle-of-attack maneuvers like the Cobra, where it briefly points its nose at the sky like it forgot how physics works. Power comes from two Saturn AL-31F turbofan engines, each producing around 27,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner. Combined, they let the jet reach roughly Mach 2.35 at altitude. It can climb like it’s trying to escape Earth’s gravity and operate above 59,000 feet. Not space. Calm down. The cockpit was advanced for its time, with a heads-up display and a look-down/shoot-down radar system capable of tracking multiple targets. The original N001 radar allowed it to detect and engage enemy aircraft at long range using radar-guided missiles like the R-27, while also carrying short-range infrared missiles like the R-73, which became infamous for its extreme off-boresight capability when paired with a helmet-mounted sight. Basically, if the pilot could look at you, you were in trouble. Range is another big deal. Unlike many Western fighters of the era, the Su-27 was built with long legs. It can fly over 3,500 kilometers without refueling, and much more with external tanks. The Soviets needed something that could patrol vast stretches of territory. Russia is not exactly a small backyard. Visually, the Su-27 is elegant in a brutal way. Long nose, wide engine spacing, curving wing roots, and that almost organic flow from fuselage to wing. It doesn’t look assembled. It looks grown. That design became the foundation for an entire family: the Su-30, Su-33, Su-35, and even the chunky duck-faced Su-34 you keep bullying. In combat philosophy, the Su-27 was built to dominate air superiority through energy maneuverability and close-in dogfighting prowess. Western pilots who flew against export versions in exercises often came away with a healthy respect for its agility. It was not a clumsy Soviet brick. It was a knife with wings. So in short, the Su-27 Flanker is one of the most iconic fighters ever built. Fast, maneuverable, long-ranged, and visually unforgettable. It wasn’t just a response to the F-15. It was a statement. #fyp #fypppppppppppppp #aviation #warthunder #sukhoi

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Friday 20 February 2026 05:21:47 GMT