Russian Su-57 Aircraft Thread (PAK-FA and IAF FGFA)
- Thread starter A Bar Brother
- Start date
Just wanted to ask ... but what are these 9 aircraft??
All we know so far are ...
1. T50-1
2. T50-2
3. T50-3
4. T50-4
5. T50-5 no longer but now T50-6 = T50-5R
6. T50-7 = static test specimen
8. T50-8
9. T50-???
If they also include the static test specimen like T50-KNS and T50-7 it's a bit lame IMO....
Deino
Exactly, and do we in fact have a picture of T50-7 and a first flight picture of T50-8?? I had read -8 flew, but to my mind we have received no photo confirmation??
in the case of the Russians we are def entitled to say "pix or it didn't happen"?
Concerning this aleged T50 no. 9 I did some research behind .... and it seems as if indeed some sort of typical Russian-media hype is involved:
Following the original Zvezda statement, "Девятый самолет ПАК ФА выходит из опытной партии" = "Ninth aircraft PAK-FA exits/leaves from the experimental batch" he actually said nothing that it flew, maybe not even that it is finished: More likely it seems as if he is saying that ninth T-50 will be more serial-like, which is in line with what the infamous Azohen Vey said that T-50-9 should be complete in terms of electronics. Borisov didnt say directly a new prototype has joined the ranks.
So this is not ninth T-50 prototype in total, and even less 10'th flying (like some fan-boys already assume) T-50 because in reality there were two different T-50-5's, but it is simply easier to refer to T-50-8 as ninth.
1. T50-0
2. T50-1 (051)
3. T50-2 (052)
4. T50-3 (053)
5. T50-4 (054)
6. T50-5 no longer but now T50-6-1 = T50-5R (055)
7. T50-6-2 (056)
8. T50-7 = static test specimen (??)
9. T50-8 unconfirmed (??)
As such he is even most likely counting these 9 aircraft not as flying prototypes but simply the 6 flying as of now (T50-1, 2, 3, 4, 5R, 6-2) and the two static frames -0 and -7 and now T50-8.
But as usual ... all what sounds good is fine even if the truth is a bit different.
Deino
Following the original Zvezda statement, "Девятый самолет ПАК ФА выходит из опытной партии" = "Ninth aircraft PAK-FA exits/leaves from the experimental batch" he actually said nothing that it flew, maybe not even that it is finished: More likely it seems as if he is saying that ninth T-50 will be more serial-like, which is in line with what the infamous Azohen Vey said that T-50-9 should be complete in terms of electronics. Borisov didnt say directly a new prototype has joined the ranks.
So this is not ninth T-50 prototype in total, and even less 10'th flying (like some fan-boys already assume) T-50 because in reality there were two different T-50-5's, but it is simply easier to refer to T-50-8 as ninth.
1. T50-0
2. T50-1 (051)
3. T50-2 (052)
4. T50-3 (053)
5. T50-4 (054)
6. T50-5 no longer but now T50-6-1 = T50-5R (055)
7. T50-6-2 (056)
8. T50-7 = static test specimen (??)
9. T50-8 unconfirmed (??)
As such he is even most likely counting these 9 aircraft not as flying prototypes but simply the 6 flying as of now (T50-1, 2, 3, 4, 5R, 6-2) and the two static frames -0 and -7 and now T50-8.
But as usual ... all what sounds good is fine even if the truth is a bit different.
Deino
Thank you Deino for the clarification, that's pretty much as I suspected?? it seems that the Russians are more often than not "ambiguous" in these statements...
Does anyone have a recent photo of 056?? or at least the latest photo, it would be interesting to say the least to see the paint and know some details of flight testing on the -2?? I would think we would have been seeing more of it by now?
Thanks Deino, and a beautiful picture of a beautiful bird, did she "first flight" this past spring in March or April?? just trying to get my mind wrapped around this program again as the details have escaped me.
I was just thinking that we didn't really have anything very recent and trying to nail down that there were 6 flying prototypes.....also has anyone noticed any external differences between the -2 and the -1??
Thanks again Bub, very thankful to have such a faithful "reporter" and friend on the forum!