Some interesting shots from Akhtubinsk

[flateric]

Colonel Igor Malikov awaiting take-off for one of Su-27 test flights (sans canopy) for 7 and 11 km altitude at The State Flight-Test Center of the Air Force (GLITz) at Akhtubinsk. T was -59 C. For these flights, intended for evaluation of ability of pilot to survive such an extreme conditions, and flight tests of S-37 and Su-32MF, he was awarded Hero Of Russia rank.

 

[flateric]

Not quite successful fuel tanks drop tests from Frogfoot.

 

[SOC]

Col. Malikov is actually sitting in an Su-27M, note the offset IRST and the tell-tale Bort Number.

 

[Scorpion82]

It's the T-10M-8 used for article 117S engine tests.

 

[Trident]

I thought they were using 710 as the engine testbed?

 

[flateric]

Trident is right, Scorpion82 is wrong. T-10M-8 was Su-27M (Su-35) so-called etalon for series production .

 

[Scorpion82]

Yes that's right. The T-10M-8 was in fact used for trials with the KSU-35 flight control system. Sorry for mixing things up.

 

[flateric]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuOwDqZLnvs