Su-27 Flanker Introduction

The introduction of the F-15 and F-16 in the mid-1970s placed Russian air force at a significant disadvantage. To counter the US's growing Air Superiority, the USSR began a series of programs that eventually lead to the high maneuverable Su-27 Flanker. The first "Flanker-A" prototype flew on May 20, 1977, and so began the first plane in an entire family advanced aircraft. The Su-27 Flanker and its later variants shocked the world at the airshows performing stunning maneuvers like the Cobra maneuver and concreted the top positions of Russian aerospace engineers. To learn more about this amazing plane and it's variants, just follow the links!