A couple of days ago, Steven Den Beste had a post that talked about the use of forward-swept wings on jet fighters.
America isn't the only to work with this technology. See the following profile (and pictures) for Russia's Sukhoi S-47 Berkut ("Golden Eagle"), which just resumed flight testing. According to Interfax, testing is expected to continue through 2003.
For some of us, this Russian beauty ranks right up there with Anna Kournikova.
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Oh you betcha.. the satisfaction at watching one of these babies fly overhead is deep!
It's a pretty plane. The linked article reported that one of the main advantages the new plane had over older designs was maneuverability. Fair enough, but I thought most jet fighters now had already reached the point of being pilot limited rather than airframe limited--the plane can make maneuvers that would cause the pilot to black out. Is this true? And if so, wouldn't any future improvements in maneuverability be pretty much irrelevant? Am I wrong, or am I missing something?
There are many kinds of maneuverability. When the whole plane has to move, that's lots of Gs. But if you can slide the plane, or use vectored thrust nozzles, etc., then you can often "point" it rather than swinging it all the way around.
Even with cannon, that's a big plus. Combine that with accurate infared missiles that can home in from any angle, and it's deadly.
You realize that you've just jinxed it... Anna K? Geez now it'll be the aircraft that looks cute and chokes.
On the other hand, pilots would be lined up to fly the SU-47 "Anna". And think of the export sales when she goes on tour with it.
Does it choke? Well, the article does say that the next generation Russian fighter probably won't use the swept-forward design. In other words, attention-grabbing but no champion.
Hmmm... it's also sexy, ample, slightly dangerous-looking, built for dynamic instability, and requires a highly skilled flyer.
Yup, that's our girl!
Ladies and (especially) gentlemen, I give you the SU-47 "Anna"!
Looks like a revolutionary plane, that will be a root of the planes of the fifth generation. I'm impressed with this plane.
Russia - rulezzz. Good work comrades :).
Although neither stealth fighter the Su-47 or the Mig 1.42/1.44 design will enter service do to its high price tag and the current economic situation in
Russia it will be used for technology demonstrater for a lighter more stealthier 5th generation fighter the LFS which Russia is producing with India and will put into production.It will fly 2006 and enter service 2010-12 time frame.It will use A Russian Built Lyulka Saturn Al-41F2 turbofan.The Pak-Fa will be around 30 million a plane,In comparison to 70 million for the Su-47 or the Mig-1.44 it will have superior stealth and manueverability then the Su-47 and more advanced avionics.There will be similiaritys in the vstol(vertical short take off and landing)To the American Joint Strike fighter but remember the Lockeed company hired Russian desingers and workers to make technology on the JSF do to there sucess with the Yak-141 freestyle.So its actually us who compied some technology from them not the other way around.
THIS IS THE REAL FUTURE FIGHTER JET ,IT CAN CHANGE THE GENERATION OF FUTURE PLANES. I LIKE IT ,GOOD JOB