Sukhoi Su-26 Aerobatic Airplane

The Su-26 performing paratrooping operations.

The Su-26M Red Bull Matadors taking off from Kemble Airport in Gloucestershire, England, in 2008.

Red Bull Matadors showcased at the Duxford air show.

The Su-26 performing its maiden flight.

The Su-26 is powered by a Vedeneyev M-14P radial engine.

The Su-26M was showcased at St. Catherine Airport's airshow.

The Sukhoi Su-26, a single-seat aerobatic aircraft, is designed and manufactured by Sukhoi Design Bureau, Russia. The Su-26 is principally used for training, state-of-the-art aerobatic competitions and expos.

The development of the Su-26 began in 1983 and it completed its maiden flight on 30 June 1984. The aircraft was first revealed at the world championship held in Hungary in August 1984.

The Su-26’s rate of climb, performance and controllability allow the pilot to control the high-speed aircraft within a limited space. About 153 Sukhoi brand sport aircraft had been constructed by 2003.

Sukhoi Design Bureau is also developing a two-seat aerobatic aircraft (Su-29) to provide intensive training to pilots in aerobatics.

The Su-29 is designed and developed principally to teach and train pilots and participate in aerobatic competitions.

Sukhoi Su-26 variants

The Su-26 has four variants, namely Su-26M, Su-26M2, Su-26M3 and Su-26Mkh.

The Su-26M is an upgraded version of the Su-26 and features a polished tail surface as well as a three-bladed Hoffman propeller. Wing fillets and increased rudder deflection angles enhance the aerodynamics and controllability of the Su-26M. Modifications in the fuselage, wing profiles and engine cowlings reduced the weight of the variant by 30kg.

The Su-26Mkh aircraft’s ferry range is increased by an extra fuel tank fitted in the wing section. As of 2010, a total of 11 Su-26Mkh aircraft have been delivered to the US, Switzerland and other countries.

The Su-26M2 is manufactured by adding an extra fuel tank and smoke flight tracer in the fuselage section of the Su-26. Russia, Australia, the US and other countries are currently operating 13 Su-26M2 aircraft.

Another variant, the Su-26M3, is powered by a M9F (430hp) engine and was distributed to Argentina in 1990.

Su-26 design

The Su-26 was designed to keep the weight of the airframe at a minimum. The tough design of the aircraft attains a high power to weight ratio.

The aircraft was designed by upgrading current standards of high-manoeuvrable aerobatic sports craft to an advanced level of pilot performance.

The use of more composite materials enables the pilot to perform aerial stunts safely during forward acceleration of up to +12g. The aircraft provides high manoeuvrability and controllability compared with other sports craft.

The Su-26 achieves a high-piloting performance through aerodynamic symmetric-profile wing configuration. The aircraft comprises mid-mounted straight wings and fixed-landing gear fitted on a solid titanium arc.

Aircraft construction

The aircraft is constructed by using robust and light composite materials, which include carbon fibres made of plastics, organoplastics and glass fibre made of strengthened plastics, stainless steel, titanium and aluminium alloys. The incorporation of these complex composite materials sustained high acceleration (g-loads) to extend its limits.

Su-26 cockpit

The aircraft features an ergonomic cockpit equipped with a 35° back-tilt anthropometric seat for pilot with a unique safety harness. The entire all-round field can be viewed through the canopy. The design of the cockpit allows the pilot to accurately control the aircraft’s position in space.

Vedeneyev M-14P radial engine

The Su-26 is powered by a single Vedeneyev M-14P radial engine. Each engine produces a maximum of 270kW of power. The nine-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled petrol M-14P engine is developed based on the Ivchenko AI-14. The engine features a carburettor, two magnetos, a mechanical fuel pump, a generator and oil pump. The dry weight of the engine is 214kg and its diameter is 9.85m.

Su-26 performance

The Su-26 can climb at a rate of 18m/s. The maximum and cruise speed of the aircraft is 450km/h and 310km/h respectively. Its landing speed is 115km/h. The range and service ceiling of the Su-26 is 895km and 4,000m respectively. The aircraft weighs around 736kg and its maximum take-off weight is 962kg.