Hobby Master HA6013 | SU-27SM Flanker B "Black Sea " Blue 26, Russian Air Force, 2016

General Background:

The Su-27S (NATO reporting name – Flanker) is a single-seat highly-maneuverable fighter aircraft built by Sukhoi Design Bureau as the Soviet response to the U.S. F-14 and F-15 and entered service in 1985. The primary role of the Su-27 was to provide defense against American bombers, USN ships and provide Soviet bomber escorts. There have been many improvements over the years resulting in numerous variants of the Su-27. The export variant, the Su-27SK was sold to China and eventually developed into the license-built Shenyang J-11.

The Aircraft:

Su-27SM Flanker B "Black Sea" Blue 26 is one of the aircraft assigned to the Southern Military District’s 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Command headquartered at Rostov-on-Don. The task of this unit is to protect the Black Sea region which is Russia’s smallest military district. One aircraft based there is Su-27SM Blue 26 RF-92417. The Su-27SM looks almost identical to the previous Su-27P but has more advanced technologies, new engines and is considered to be the main aircraft in the region to defend against intruders.

Aircraft Type Su-27
Manufacturer Sukhoi OKB
Role Multi-role Air Superiority Fighter
Crew 1
Dimensions
Maximum Length 21.935 m (71.96 ft)
Wingspan 14.7 m (48.2 ft)
Height 5.932 m (19.45 ft)
Weights
Empty 16,300 kg (35,935 lbs)
Normal Takeoff 23,000 kg (50,706 lbs)
Maximum Takeoff 28,000 kg (61,730 lbs)
Performance
Engines 2 X Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-31F afterburning turbofans
Dry Thrust Per Engine 75.22 kN (16,910 lbf)
Afterburner Thrust Per Engine 122.6 kN (27,560 lbf)
Fuel Capacity 11,975 l (3,163 U.S. Gallons)
Maximum Speed @ Altitude 2,500 km/h (1,553.43 mph)
Maximum Speed @ Sea Level 1,400 km/h (870 mph)
Maximum Mach 2.35
Service Ceiling 18,500 m (60,696 ft)
Range @ High Altitude 3,900 km (2,423 miles)
Range @ Sea Level 1,400 km (870 miles)
Maximum G-Load .9
Takeoff Run 650 m (2,132 ft)
Armament
Gun 1 X 30 mm GSh-301 Cannon with 149 Rounds
Hardpoints 8 X External
Plus 2 X Wingtip Rails Missiles Air-To-Air R-60/AA-8 Aphid, R-27/AA-10 Alamo,R-73/AA-11 Archer, R-33/AA-9 Amos Air-To-Ground NONE Bombs Dumb, Cluster Pods Rocket and ECM