GarryB Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:03 am
But did you notice the video and the one R-27 in the same place as the pic I posted a couple of posts ago? Why during an airshow? What do you think? Is there a purpose for that or it probably just happened and is it inert or active? Could it be a smoker? Never seem those act as smokers and not the right place anyway. Plus it's not only this video, I've seen it in several airshows which means it's for a reason..
Actual operational Su-27s often operate with wing tip R-73s and centreline R-27s... the wing tip and centreline positions are low drag as they don't have pylons fitted which makes them lighter.
Aircraft in Syria often have wing pylons fitted and missiles on their wings but rarely have full pylons as shown above...
For an airshow sometimes they have smoke generators in the dummy missiles carried... again having wing tip mounted missiles emphasises the manouvers the aircraft performs and a smoke generator between the two engines creates a centreline line of smoke to show where the aircraft is moving in terms of loops and lines and turns etc etc.
That's pretty cool, and what a friggin weapon's load! Looks like those center line pylons are fine for R=77s an R-27s as well which makes it quite versatile.
As mentioned the R-77 is relatively new to the Russian Air Force and recently a twin mount has been seen on the centreline of the Su-35 I think... so four R-77s between the engine nacelles... a boost in weapon potential.
See that area on a lot of the models painted black and trying to figure out the purpose.
Same reason some sports players put black paint under their eyes... reduces glare when looking towards lights or sunlight...
Western cockpits are generally black for the same reasons but Soviet and Russian cockpits are pale green to reduce glare but also make the cockpit lighter and easier to see in lower light levels...