Su-27UB Flanker
Two-seat Flanker that trains pilots without giving up any of the fighting ability.
- Tandem two-seat
- Taller vertical tails
- Full combat capability
- Instructor cockpit
Specification
- Origin
- Russia
- Manufacturer
- Sukhoi
- Role
- Trainer
- Generation
- 4
- Introduced
- 1986
- Combat type
- Air
- Spawn code
- su27u
On the server
The Su-27UB is the tandem two seat conversion trainer, in service from 1986. Adding a second cockpit raised the spine of the aircraft, which cost some directional stability, so the vertical tails were made taller to compensate. Unlike many trainers it lost almost nothing else: the radar, weapons and performance are those of the single seat Flanker, and the type was used operationally as well as for instruction. Some airframes served as the basis for later multirole developments. On MCS the UB is the aircraft to take when someone is learning. The rear seat has a genuine view forward, the handling is unchanged from the standard Flanker apart from marginally more drag, and it can fly a real mission rather than a training circuit. It is slightly heavier and the raised spine is a little more visible. Recommended for teaching new pilots and for anyone flying with a passenger.