1970-73 Vintage Su-27 Proposals....Compared to Rockwell's (V)FX Contender?

[TinWing]

Before anyone makes an accusations, it should be noted that there are more than a few examples of "convergent evolution" in the realm of aerospace. Still, the blended body wing planform is fairly unusual, as is the compound curve on the wing's leading edge.

http://www.suchoj.com/ab1953/T-10/galerie.shtml

These drawings do bear a superficial resemblace to the failed Rockwell VFX contender that Deino posted in 2003:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15292&highlight=deino+vfx

In particular, the 1973 proposal bears, which differs the most with the final T-10, bears the most remarkable visual similarity - right down to the ventral intake.

http://www.suchoj.com/ab1953/T-10/riss/Entwurf-1973_mit_kompaktem_Lufteinlauf_15.jpg

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Re: 1970-73 Vintage Su-27 Proposals....Compared to Rockwell's VFX Contender?

The likeness to the Su-27 of the Rockwell VFX (F-14) is shared by the Rockwell FX (F-15) design.

Particularly notable is the intakes in the second picture.

The main difference is they never considered a single tail in the Su-27 design.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Re: 1970-73 Vintage Su-27 Proposals....Compared to Rockwell's VFX Contender?

Interestingly, Rockwell persevered with this design lineage up until the ATF program of the mid 1980s, and in some ways it became more Su-27 like.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

According to Oleg Samolovich, who was in charge of preliminary design section at Sukhoi at that time, his team were closely watching the FX program, and they expected Rockwell's design to win. When McDonnell-Douglas won, they were convinced that the US was unduly influenced by the MiG-25, and that they had a good chance to create a fighter to out-perform the F-15 based around similar aerodynamic principles to the Rockwell FX (underslung intakes, gothic wing).

 

[Archibald]

there are more than a few examples of "convergent evolution" in the realm of aerospace

Bf-109 and spitfire, concorde and tu-144, MiG-15 and F-86...

 

[Skybolt]

Regardng the USSR-West design relationship, expecially in aerospace, has been created the concept of "mirror policy"... As an interpretative tool, sometimes it works (Buran wing shape vs. Rockwell Shuttle) , sometimes not (USSR bomber lineage and B-52, e.g.)

 

[elmayerle]

there are more than a few examples of "convergent evolution" in the realm of aerospace

Bf-109 and spitfire, concorde and tu-144, MiG-15 and F-86...

And a fair arguement can be made that both teh Spitfire and the Bf-109 were inspired by the He-70 (yes, there was one in the UK, bought by RR as an engine testbed).