Su-27 Flanker - Civilian style!

[Air]

Wow, one of my all time favourite aircraft, an SU-27 Flanker, has been successfully test flown in CIVILIAN hands in north America.

Love this aircraft, just the shape looks bloody awesome too.
Apparently they've got two of these beasts, and they're both for sale. Now where's my cheque book?

http://www.prideaircraft.com/flanker.htm

Test flight:



Engine tests:

[Dan4th]

Well! That first flight was just recently, and
they're out near Chicago. Ex-Ukkranian, I
guess. Hope your pockets are deep, as the
pricetag is $5 million (or) only about 3 million
pounds -- and that's just the aircraft with no
"accessories".

A truly superb aircraft, but I noticed the silly
Ruskies forgot to reverse engineer the little
wheels on the cockpit ladders!

"Eeez honely theeng vee meesed, Komrade!"

Danf.

[Saracenman]

I've always liked the Su27 - amazing that one's now flying, in civvy hands, in Murka

sm

[Thumper]

One of my all time favourites that I would love to see fly despite it's grim track record at Airshows. Pilot has some skills, that was a nice little test flight!

Do you think the owner will display it?

[Saracenman]

i would imagine, given the enormous costs involved, he'd do ANYTHING to earn from it!

i wonder if he'll rent himself out to the USAF/USN as 'enemy'

sm

[Dan4th]

Well, if someone winds up buying both
of them, there's a ready-made display
team right out of the box!

Cheaper per unit to maintain two, I'd
think, plus they're a matched set, after all....

Danf.

[Stevieboy]

Me wanty.

[Air]

One of my all time favourites that I would love to see fly despite it's grim track record at Airshows.

The accidents I've seen from Flankers at airshows have all been pilot error tbh. Don't think there was any inherent safety issues with them in general though.

Do you think the owner will display it?

It'd be damn rude not too.

[Xplumberlives]

I thought the two of them were originally purchased with a view to conducting research and the world slump has led to them becoming available! Would be nice to see them flying and displaying in civilian colours, maybe even Redbull!

[Dan4th]

I kind of received the impression from the
website that the firm would perhaps be
hopeful to get the contract to maintain
them for the lucky buyer(s). Of course,
who else would you get to keep 'em flying?
Probably far more profit in that end of
things than in selling them....

I agree that it will be VERY interesting to
find out what ultimately happens to the
lovely Sukhoi Twins!

Danf.

[Thumper]

One of my all time favourites that I would love to see fly despite it's grim track record at Airshows.

The accidents I've seen from Flankers at airshows have all been pilot error tbh. Don't think there was any inherent safety issues with them in general though.

Well it's either the aircraft or the pilot but 99% of the accidents have been during a loop, the aircraft has stalled and pancaked. You are probably right though because the Russians and Ukrainians have very little training and flight time compared to other countries before becoming a display pilot.

I think RIAT need to put in an early bid to get the SU over here for 2010