First Flight of the T-50-1 Prototype / Photo: © UAC Press Service

To the Anniversary of the First Flight of the Su-57 Fighter

First Flight of the T-50-1 Prototype / Photo: © UAC Press Service

The development process of the Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation (PAK FA) involved a series of sequential stages, including the creation of prototypes and the first flight of the prototype. In early 2009, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO) was working on assembling the first three units of the new fighter. The airframe of the so-called zero prototype (T-50-0) was transferred to the Sukhoi Design Bureau for static testing, which was an integral part of the structural strength verification program. Additionally, the plant was actively preparing to assemble two more prototypes.

The next stage was the creation of a comprehensive full-scale test bench (KNS), designated as T-50-KNS. It was intended for ground testing of the main onboard systems, including the integrated control system KSU-50 and the new power plant, known as “Product 117.” This bench also tested the hydraulic, electrical, fuel, and other systems, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the aircraft’s components. The T-50-KNS design fully matched the flight models, but the “non-flying” status of the used units excluded its operation in the air, significantly speeding up and reducing the cost of preparation for flight tests.

In the autumn of 2009, after the installation of the standard power plant, the T-50-KNS began workshop and then airfield tests. On December 23, 2009, the first taxiing and runway tests were conducted at the KnAAPO airfield, allowing for the evaluation of all aircraft systems under real conditions. Test pilot Sergei Bogdan checked the functionality of the onboard systems, including the deployment of brake parachutes at the end of high-speed taxiing.

The assembly of the first flight model, T-50-1, was completed with a slight delay about a month after the KNS. Immediately after, ground testing of the aircraft’s systems began. Initially, the first flight was planned for the end of 2009, but the extensive testing and refinement required for the fundamentally new aircraft design necessitated a postponement to the beginning of the next year. Plant and design bureau specialists worked almost around the clock to ensure the reliability and safety of the first flight.

In January, the T-50-1 was rolled out to the airfield, and on January 21, 2010, Sergei Bogdan performed the first taxiing and runway tests. According to existing regulations, obtaining permission for the first flight of a new aircraft with a new engine required several flights of a similar engine on a flying laboratory, which were conducted on the Su-27M №710 flying laboratory. At the same time, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Sergei Bogdan continued a series of taxiing and high-speed runs on the T-50-1, including acceleration to the nose gear lift-off speed and braking using brake parachutes.

Before the first flight of the T-50, it was necessary to obtain a conclusion from the methodological council of the Flight Research Institute (LII), which took place on January 25 in Zhukovsky. The council reviewed all submitted materials, including the results of ground tests of the T-50-KNS and T-50-1, strength tests of the T-50-0, as well as bench and flight tests of the “Product 117” engine. In preparation for the flight test program, other aircraft, such as the Su-27M №708 and S-37 “Berkut,” were also used as flying laboratories.

After evaluating all test results, the methodological council issued permission for flight tests of the T-50. To avoid delays associated with relocating the aircraft to Zhukovsky, it was decided to conduct the first flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Two possible dates were set: January 28 or 29, depending on weather conditions at the Dzyomgi airfield and the aircraft’s readiness.

On January 29, test pilot Sergei Bogdan was appointed to perform the first flight of the PAK FA. After engine start-up and rechecking all systems, the escort aircraft, an Su-27UB piloted by KnAAPO test pilot Alexander Pulyenko, took off. The rear cockpit was occupied by the deputy airbase commander, who conducted video and photo recording. Many employees gathered at the airfield to witness the historic moment.

At 11:19 AM, Sergei Bogdan lifted the PAK FA prototype off the runway. The aircraft quickly gained altitude and, accompanied by the Su-27UB, headed to the test zone. The flight plan included checking the functionality of the main systems, performing the first retraction and extension of the landing gear, and executing some maneuvers. Simultaneously, the aircraft’s performance parameters were recorded.

The flight proceeded as planned, and after about three-quarters of an hour, the pair of fighters returned to the airfield. After passing over the runway, the T-50-1 made a smooth landing at 12:06 PM. The first 47-minute flight was successfully completed. The second flight of the T-50-1, now in the camouflage paint scheme of the Russian Air Force, took place on February 12, 2010.

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