The Sukhoi Su-31 is a Russian single-engined aerobatic aircraft designed by Sukhoi as a lighter and more powerful version of the Sukhoi Su-29.

Su-31
Jurgis Kairys in his Sukhoi Su-31
General information
TypeSports aircraft,
National originRussia
ManufacturerSukhoi
StatusActive
History
First flight1992
Developed fromSukhoi Su-29
2008 World Aerobatics Champion Ramón Alonso in a Sukhoi Su-31.

Design and development

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The design of the aircraft started in 1991 as a single-seat development of the earlier Sukhoi Su-29 with a more powerful Vedeneyev M14PF engine and new landing gear. The low-wing cantilever monoplane first flew in June 1992 as the Su-29T and the first production aircraft flying in 1994.

Variants

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Su-29T
Prototype single-seat aerobatic monoplane
Su-31
Production variant with fixed landing gear, sometimes known as the Su-31T.
Su-31M
Improved variant with a pilot extraction system.
Su-31M2
Further improved variant of the Su-31M with weight reduction, single piece canopy/windscreen and larger wing introduced in 1999.
Su-31U
Proposed retractable landing gear variant of the Su-31T.
Su-31X
Export variant of the Su-31T

Specifications

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Data from Su-26, 29, 31 Specifications[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.83 m (22 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 2.76 m (9 ft 1 in)
  • Wing area: 11.83 m2 (127.3 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 700 kg (1,543 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Vedeneyev M14PF 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 300 kW (400 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 331 km/h (206 mph, 179 kn)
  • Stall speed: 106 km/h (66 mph, 57 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 450 km/h (280 mph, 240 kn)
  • Range: 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi)
  • g limits: +12 -10
  • Roll rate: 401 deg/s - 7 rad/s
  • Rate of climb: 24 m/s (4,700 ft/min)

See also

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Related development

References

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