Aerospace

Russia's T-50 Fighter Shows Off New Moves At MAKS Air Show

Sukhoi’s T-50 stealth fighter showed off its heritage from the Su-27 series on the opening day of the MAKS air show, sharply contrasting with a low-key demonstration at the 2013 show.

The new fighter replicated some of the characteristic moves of the Su-35S, including the “bell” – a dynamic high-alpha deceleration followed by a near-flat, very-low-speed 180-deg. turn, reversing the fighter’s course. The T-50 performed sequences of descending flat-spin-like turns and – rather than doing tailslides – demonstrated its ability to climb vertically and under control at slow speed, eventually pitching down and decelerating out of the maneuver.