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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia | |
| The Most User Friendly Fighter Bomber Ever Built | |
| 2006-03-28 | |
March 28, 2006: The Russian air force is buying 24 new Su-34 fighter bombers. This is the latest variant of the Su-27. The Su-34 is somewhat like the American F-15E, a high performance fighter modified to act as a very effective bomber. Aside from it's similarity to the F-15E, the Su-34 has one very distinguishing characteristic. The cockpit for the two man crew not only allows for tandem (side-by-side) seating, but is spacious enough for the pilots to stand up and, standing behind their seats, stretch a bit. There is also a toilet and cooking facilities back there as well. The cockpit itself is protected with 17mm lightweight armor. The canopy does not open, as the pilots enter via a hatch near the front landing gear. The cockpit is pressurized for operations under 33,000 feet (above that, they have to wear the usual flight gear). Although the Su-34 looks like a fighter, it's as heavy as a bomber (44 tons max) and can carry up to eight tons of weapons. It's 77 feet long, with a wingspan of 48 feet. By comparison, the F-15E is 36 tons, 64 feet long and with a 43 foot wingspan.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #12 It's not a fighter USN. Think 15E. But you're right, it's a pretty target. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-03-28 16:49 |
| #11 Real fighters don't need toilets or cooktops, that is more for long endurance flights ( Like a P-3 maybe), but bombers could, this whole airplane is a compromise and if you could lose that widow's hump, it might just be a pretty airplane, but IMHO, it's Fugly. Side by side seating is bomber stuff, also (think Intruders or BUFFS). I think anything the US has could wax it in a dogfight. Well if you try to perform some violent maneuvers like high G turns or loopings in a plane equipped with toilets you are going to understand the full meaning of "being in deep shit" |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-03-28 16:48 |
| #10 Real fighters don't need toilets or cooktops, that is more for long endurance flights ( Like a P-3 maybe), but bombers could, this whole airplane is a compromise and if you could lose that widow's hump, it might just be a pretty airplane, but IMHO, it's Fugly. Side by side seating is bomber stuff, also (think Intruders or BUFFS). I think anything the US has could wax it in a dogfight. |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-03-28 14:53 |
| #9 " . . . and can carry up to eight tons of weapons." That doesn't sound like much for a plane that big. Here's what www.fas.org has for the F-111 (a similar-sized plane): "Up to four nuclear bombs on four pivoting wing pylons, and two in internal weapons bay. Wing pylons carry total external load of 25,000 pounds (11,250 kilograms) of bombs, rockets, missiles, or fuel tanks." |
| Posted by: Tibor 2006-03-28 14:52 |
| #8 Probably the same thing we'd come up with if we wanted to make a modern-day mediuum bomber like the 'vark. IIRC the Aussies still fly the F-111s. Great aircraft. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2006-03-28 13:09 |
| #7 Wonder if the plane will someday be featured on a very special episode of Pimp Your Ride. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-03-28 13:07 |
| #6 F-111 is 73 feet, 6 inches (22.0 meters) lond with a wingspan of 63 feet (19 meters) full forward; 31 feet, 11 1/2 inches (11.9 meters) full aft. The Su-34 does have an aardvark look to it. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-03-28 12:52 |
| #5 The Russians need to build an economy, not an air force. It seems sometimes they try to do both at the same time: a few years ago a local airshow I attend was scheduled to host a Russian demo team flying Su-27's (I believe). At the last minute the the show's sponser dropped the Russians, announcing in a very angry letter how they will never again even attempt to host a Russian team. Apparently the Russians were trying to |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-03-28 12:50 |
| #4 good looking plane. |
| Posted by: Gleaper Jort3500 2006-03-28 12:28 |
| #3 The Russ are learning to build 'em purdy |
| Posted by: 6 2006-03-28 12:19 |
| #2 The cockpit for the two man crew not only allows for tandem (side-by-side) seating, but is spacious enough for the pilots to stand up and, standing behind their seats, stretch a bit. There is also a toilet and cooking facilities back there as well. The cockpit itself is protected with 17mm lightweight armor. The canopy does not open.. which means the Ruskies can't use the kitchen sink as a in a fight. engineers, can't trust 'em! |
| Posted by: RD 2006-03-28 12:00 |
| #1 The Russians need to build an economy, not an air force. They still have the wrong people in charge. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-03-28 11:23 |