LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Su: Su-37
built 239 days ago
Mikhail Simonov, Sukhoi's famous General Designer, truly believes that the Su-37 is a fifth-generation "super maneuverability aircraft". The Su-37 prototype was designated the T-10M-11. It was given the side numerals of "711", made its maiden flight on 02Apr96, first moved the nozzles in flight on the sixth sortie, and has evolved as one the most heavily modified Russian designs. As the Su-37, it is characterized as a single-seat, multi-role, all-weather air superiority fighter configured with the advanced AL-37FU (forsazh-upravlaemoye-sopo or "afterburning-articulating/steerable-nozzle") turbofan engines for thrust vectored control (TVC). The axi-symmetric nozzles are controlled by the MNPK Avionika full-authority, digital fly-by-wire flight control system (FCS). It can fulfill a variety of roles with its advanced avionics suite and new weapons.
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Su-37 Super Flanker is a super-maneuverable thrust vectoring fighter derived from an Su-35 prototype. The last Su-35 prototype - number 711 - was fitted with Lyulka Saturn AL-31FU engines that incorporate two-dimensional thrust-vectoring (TVC) nozzles. Externally similar to the Su-35 - apart from the nozzles - the Su-37 has a side-stick controller and has demonstrated some amazing manoeuvres, including a complete 360deg Cobra - known as a Kulbit.
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The Farnborough experience of the Su-37 took some time "to-get-off-the-ground", sort of speaking, because the demonstration flown by Yevgeny Frolov had difficulty getting approved due to the radical nature of the maneuvers. The first demo was flown on Thursday evening (29Aug) and it shocked everyone because it was too low, way forward of the foul-line, in fact almost over the first chalet row, and far too dangerous for the British Farnborough safety monitors. But to watch it was amazing, because it clearly showed what was in store. The next day saw a benign practice. The next day started with a "flat" show in the morning but a "vectored show" was performed in the late afternoon that experimented with various heights and directions to the show-line. The next day was more benign work.
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Su-37 Super Flanker is a single-seat and/or two-seat multi-role combat aircraft that was first shown in model form at 1991 trade shows. Some wind tunnel tests completed as the aircraft entered the basic design stage in 1992, with foreign partners being sought for development. Unlike the other twin-engine Su-27 derivatives, the Su-37 concept originally featured a single Soyuz/Tumansky turbofan engine rated at 180 kN (40500 lb st) thrust with afterburning. What finally emerged from the design process was a supermanoeuvrable version of the Su-35 with a pair of AL-37FU afterburning turbofans with axisymmetric, steerable nozzles and thrust vector control (TVC). When the Su-37 was shown at Farnbrough in 1996 it stole the show, performing an astounding aerobatic display.
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The inlet diameter on the Su-37 is measured at 0.932 meters (3.05 ft) which is essentially the same in the Su-27 and Su-35. The two-dimensional variable geometry multiple-shock intakes utilize movable ramps deflected from the upper intake area. Air flow data, throttle settings, and flight parameters determine settings. Both the sidewalls and the upper movable ramp are covered with 96,000 holes that form a porous surface to bleed low-energy boundary layer air outboard, via the intake inner and outer side lourves. A meshed titanium screen raises from the bottom of the inlet housing to protect the engines from foreign object damage (FOD) during taxi, takeoff, and landing. The screens operate in conjunction with the landing gear.
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Sure, the Su-37 may be currently the best dogfighter in the world, but who's dogfighting? Let the su-37 dogfight with the amraams fired from a cpl of dozen miles away. And another thing. Test pilots who get all the flying time in the world are a far cry from the rank and file Russian pilots who are hardly getting any. There is no substitute for flying time and experience.
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