MOSCOW. April 11 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sukhoi design bureau has started flight tests of the SU-26M3-1 modernized sports plane, Stanislav Rubanov, director of the bureau's sports plane programs, said on Friday.
"The SU-26M3-1 is, in fact, a new plane intended for taking part in the world aerobatics championship that will be held in the United States in summer this year," Rubanov told Interfax- Military News Agency.
"The entire design of the SU-26M3-1 is new, the wing is modernized, its aerodynamic specifications are improved, but load- bearing units are preserved," he said.
The plane is powered by the new M-9F piston engine of the first series developing 420hp.
Thanks to the new engine, the plane has a thrust of 900kg, which decreased its flight weight and brought the thrust-to- weight ratio up to over one point, Rubanov noted.
According to him, the SU-26M3-1 boasts the SKS-94M modernized ejection seat with the weight 10kg less than that of its predecessor.
Test pilots of the Sukhoi design bureau, including famous pilot Yevgeny Frolov, are engaged in testing the plane.
"Sports pilots will try the SU-26M3-1 next week. After preparations, the plane will be sent to the United States for taking part in the world championship," Rubanov said.
A competent source in the aircraft building industry told Interfax-AVN on Friday that the Sukhoi bureau was developing a new sports plane called the SU-126 using the experience in designing the SU-26M3-1.
"The SU-126 will have its weight decreased by 30-40kg from that of the SU-26M3-1, it will also have new chassis and an engine such as M-9F developing 450hp," the source said.
About 100 SU-26 planes have been manufactured. Russia operates less than 10 of them, the rest have been exported. In particular, SU-26s have been sold to the U.S., Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The planes won 150 medals, including 90 gold medals, in various competitions.
The mass produced SU-26 single-seater is powered by the M-14 piston engine developing 360hp. The take off weight of the aerobatics variety is 770kg and that of the training variety is 830kg.
The maximum piloting speed is 450kmph, maximum speed of near- ground horizontal flight is 310kmph, maximal ferry range is 800km with suspended fuel tanks for 140l. Its take-off/landing run is 160/250m, maximum rate of climb near the ground is 18mps, and overload in the aerobatics mode is +12/-10g.