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Pilot lauds thrust, aerodynamics of smooth-flying Su-57 fighter jet

According to Sergey Bogdan, this fighter jet flies smoother than anything out there today

ZHUHAI /China/, November 14. /TASS/. Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft is an aerodynamic marvel, with powerful thrust capacity and the ability to carry out tough maneuvers smoothly, Sergey Bogdan, an honored test pilot and Hero of Russia title holder, told TASS.

Bogdan is flying the aircraft in demonstration flights at Airshow China in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China.

"The plane has been perfected in terms of aerodynamics and maneuverability. As for how it handles, it mirrors jets in the 4++ series, which includes the Su-30SM and Su-35 aircraft. The aircraft control system is mostly the same here, the only difference being that this plane has more control panels. That said, moment characteristics are better for piloting," he said.

According to the pilot, this fighter jet flies smoother than anything out there today. "The jet is incredibly comfortable to fly. I know that the pilots who have flown the Su-30SM and the Su-35 describe this aircraft as very comfortable for piloting, and I concur," he added.

Furthermore, Bogdan pointed to the Su-57’s powerful thrust capacity. According to him, when performing a maneuver known as the tailslide, where the aircraft stands on its tail for nearly half a minute, its thrust capacity is strong enough to keep it from falling backwards.

"We are doing some new maneuvers with this plane. In particular, the ascending corkscrew. This one’s a doozy. In fact, many aircraft with a thrust vector will be able to perform it, but the thrust-weight ratio is better here, which is an advantage," the pilot said.

Asked if there were any tricks in the air that only this plane was capable of performing, Bogdan noted that the Su-57’s thrust-weight ratio was very high, meaning it can quickly recover and accelerate with proper piloting, allowing it to take angles in the air that most planes can't.

Su-57 fighter jet

Russia’s Rostec state corporation describes the Su-57E aircraft as the star of the national exposition at the Zhuhai air show, highlighting its ability to deploy advanced precision weapons and low radar signature. The aircraft can achieve a supersonic cruise speed; it carries inboard weapons, is covered with a special radio-absorbing coating based on the stealth technology and is also equipped with cutting-edge onboard electronic systems. AI systems enable the Su-57 to perform some of the pilot’s functions, including piloting and preparing weapons for use.

The export version of the Su-57 jet is on display at Airshow China in an open-air area near the airfield. On November 12, the aircraft took to the air on the first day of the airshow, making its international debut.