MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian aerobatics team won 22 of 24 gold medals at the 14th European aerobatics championship, piloting the Sukhoi design bureau SU-26M3 sport aircraft, an official of the Sukhoi press service told Interfax- Military News Agency Thursday.
"The sport/aerobatics aircraft designed by Sukhoi have proved to be the best for training aerobatics pilots and winning world class aerobatics championships. One can do almost everything in the air with the aircraft. It is incredible," a member of the Russian team Mikhail Mamistov, many times prize winner of world and European aerobatics championships, told reporters.
The press service official said that the Sukhoi design bureau's air club has been functioning for 19 years now, and has prepared over 220 masters and candidate to masters of aerobatics.
Its pilots are many times prize winners of Russian, European and world championships in individual and team contests. They won 122 gold, 102 silver and 62 bronze medals with their SU- 26, SU-29 and SU-31 aircraft, says the press service.
According to specialists, the SU-26M3 aircraft propelled by the M-9F engine made at the Voronezh mechanical plant boasts the best acceleration and rate-of-climb characteristics. It is distinguished for superb controllability, high g-loads and unprecedented rigidity (withstanding g-load of 23). With the seat back inclined by 35 degrees, the aircraft allows pilots to fly at +12/-10 g-loads, which ensures the advantage of controlling the high-speed plane in limited airspace. The pilot can bale out in emergency with the help of the SKS-94M ejection seat, developed by the Zvezda Scientific and Production Enterprise.