Russian fighter jet (inverted wings)

[Midnight Mike]

Su-47 Berkut Experimental Fighter Jet
xDt9KY0xDHY

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/s37/
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/MidnightMike/img3s.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/MidnightMike/img1s.jpg

The Sukhoi Design Bureau of Moscow, Russia has developed the Su-47 (previously called the S-37 Berkut or Golden Eagle) fighter aircraft, which first flew in September 1997. Su-47 is in a forward swept wing configuration and uses a highly unstable triplane (with three main lifting surfaces) aerodynamic configuration. The Su-47 completed the first stage of flight trials in December 2001. In May 2002, Sukhoi was selected as prime contractor for the next-generation Russian PAK FA fighter programme. The PAK FA will be a development of the Su-47 but without the forward swept wings.

[PhilDernerJr]

That's actually really wild. GI Joe had something like that.

[T-Bird76]

Put it up against the F22 and watch what happens. Before she could even arm her weapons the 22 will blow her out of the sky. Problem with Russian fighter/interceptors are they are generation 3 technology using generation 2 and 3 design. The Raptor is based on generation 4 design with generation 5 technology, nothing can touch it.

[PhilDernerJr]

I heard that on F-22 training flights ,that they send two in the air against 6 F-15s....and the F-22s win.

[T-Bird76]

I heard that on F-22 training flights ,that they send two in the air against 6 F-15s....and the F-22s win.

Yeah if you read up on the F22 it’s almost unreal what this plane can do. They are worth every penny and ensure the U.S's hold on air superiority in any arena. Could you imagine what an entire squadron of them can do!!

[PhilDernerJr]

I don't understand the benefit of the inverted wings. It still creates lift of course, but as efficiently?

[Midnight Mike]

I don't understand the benefit of the inverted wings. It still creates lift of course, but as efficiently?

Grumman had an inverted wing project many years ago called the X-29, now that was where GI Joe got the idea for the airplane :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/MidnightMike/8a30ce24.jpg

[Midnight Mike]

I don't understand the benefit of the inverted wings. It still creates lift of course, but as efficiently?

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/x-29.htm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/MidnightMike/8b0610eb.jpg

Research results showed that the configuration of forward swept wings, coupled with movable canards, gave pilots excellent control response at up to 45 degrees angle of attack. During its flight history, the X-29's were flown on 422 research missions 242 by aircraft No. 1 in the Phase 1 portion of the program; 120 flights by aircraft No. 2 in Phase 2; and 60 flights in a follow-on "vortex control" phase. An additional 12 non-research flights with X29 No. 1 and 2 non-research flights with X-29 No. 2 raised the total number of flights with the two aircraft to 436.

Reverse airflow-forward-swept wing vs aft swept wing. On the forward-swept wing, ailerons remained unstalled at high angles of attack because the air over the forward swept wing tended to flow inward toward the root of the wing rather than outward toward the wing tip as on an aft-swept wing. This provided better airflow over the ailerons and prevented stalling (loss of lift) at high angles of attack.

[PhilDernerJr]

So why was this concept not carried along?

[Midnight Mike]

So why was this concept not carried along?

If I remember correctly, I read that the aicraft was expensive & needed numerous computers to assist in keeping the aircraft stable, mind you this was back in the 80's....

[PhilDernerJr]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info!

[Tom_Turner]

Well, there were the Hansa Jets flying around some years back..... slightly forward swept wings.

[airlinerstp://www.airliners.net/open.file/0747500/L/[/airlinersTom