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on each photo below to enlarge it.] |
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Front
Cockpit. The cockpits of both Su-27s have been
completely Westernized, with the retrofit of new Com/Navs,
GPS, MFDs, transponders, flight instruments, and more. Every
instrument, switch and gauge has been re-labeled in English.
Many hundreds of hours were spent ensuring clarity and
accuracy of all controls. |
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Rear
Cockpit. Most of the controls in the front are also
found in the rear. The aircraft can be flown safely from
either cockpit, but it is flown solo from the front. The
rear seat is nearly two feet higher than the front, and
forward visibility is excellent. |
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The
Heads-Up Display (HUD) is fully functional. (In the
background, you can see this aircraft's sister-ship, Nose #31.) |
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Detail view
of the main instrument panel. As with many Russian
fighters, spin-recovery stick position is indicated by a white
stripe painted vertically down the center of the panel. |
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Details of
Right Side Console. Pride Aircraft is known for our
attention to detail on cockpit marking and labeling. It's
very evident here, and throughout the airplane. |
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Details of
Left Side Console. Visible at bottom is a UHF comm
radio. |
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Details of
Stick Grip and Panel. |
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Aft View.
This is the magnificent view looking aft, between the
20-foot tall vertical stabilizers. |
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Ladder
View. Standing near the top of the front ladder, you get
a sense of how large the Su-27 is. The ladders hook into
integral sockets in the airplane's skin. |
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The
Business End.
Each of the twin Saturn AL-31F turbojets puts out more than
27,000 pounds of raw, roaring thrust. An auxiliary drag
chute is located in the spike between the engines.
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Burner Can.
You're looking into the depths of some of the most powerful
engines ever designed for a fighter jet. They are works of
mechanical and aeronautical art. |
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Overall
View. The average person can walk under the Su-27, from
the tip of the nose straight back to the tail, without
bumping their head. |
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External
Markings #1. Restoration of these aircraft included the
addition of hundreds of exterior servicing stencils, in
English. |
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External
Markings #2. Everything was painstakingly translated. |
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External
Markings #3. Even the hydraulic accumulator pressure
charts were translated and stenciled onto the aircraft. This
attention to detail makes maintenance much easier.
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Into the
Mouth of the Tiger. The gaping engine inlets are more
than four feet off the ground. They are fitted with movable
ramps that optimize airflow at high speeds. |
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Front View.
Su-27 Flanker: The Ultimate Warbird. |
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Fluid
Lines. Sticking your head up inside the gear wells gives
you and idea of the level of detail in these Su-27
restorations. The fuel and hydraulic lines were
factory-overhauled, as was the aircraft's structure.
Everything looks, well, new. |
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Ladder
Sockets. One of the many maintenance-friendly features
of the airplane is the set of ladder sockets located on each
side of the fuselage, just below the vertical stabilizers.
These allow easy access to the top of the wing, and other
parts of the airplane. |
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Fly. We
tend to spend a lot of time and words describing the
physical and mechanical aspects of these aircraft. But it's
important to remind you that these special aircraft were
restored to do what
they do best -- fly. And rip the sky asunder.
These
magnificent flying machines have now found a new home, and
for that, we are very happy! |
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