Found an excellent documentary on the development of the Su-27 fighter. Even for non-Sukhoi-tragics like myself, it is interesting to watch for showing the kind of testing that modern combat aircraft undergo. Great narrating and great footage too. Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_BhphS3 ... ed&search= Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o8ZNct_ ... ed&search= Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o8ZNct_ ... ed&search= Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-shRi62i ... ed&search= Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS8Wn0Ww ... ed&search= Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjYFQFkB ... ed&search= Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjYFQFkB ... ed&search= Part 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAX-lnUm ... ed&search=
. About 500 with all the variant , the indian airforce got them too and it is used on air carriers in the russian and indian , i'll be checking but the chinese will be using it too For sheer pleasure of a gorgeous design look at the berkut " golden eagle " http://youtube.com/watch?v=mg2QI9AnHwg .
You forgot to mention: - Venezuela ( they just recived first few planes), - Vietnam ( early version) - Ethiopia ( around 10 Su-27S and a few Su-27US) they also have some confirmed kills (5 confirmed and 2 claims. capt. Asther Tolossa became first female fighter pilot with jet to jet victory on 26. feb. 2000 shooting down MiG-29UB ) Also Mexican navy AF wanted to equip 2 sqadrons with Su-27 but deal was not finalised becouse of US.
Acctualy this is according to Mexican sources. My theory is rivaliry berveen AF and Navy. With Su-27 nay would take over some work from the AF. Also Mexico is traditional US client in such matters and certain ammount of pressure is understandable.
Well if US would stop pushing nose into internal affairs of other states nobody could blame them for it. It is not blame US moment, but stating the facts. If you don't like it you can write a complain to your goverment humbly asking that they stop doing that (fat chance for that)
Of course this would also require other nations to stop complaining that the US should solve all world problems but won't (usually beacuse of monetary or power based US conspiracy).
TISO: The Mexican government may be grappling with their ability to keep two different and viable lines of airframes, supplies, stores and spares. (American supplied aircraft, versus Russian-supplied.) I suspect that the reason the Mexican airforce uses USA-made aircraft is we make them great deals on aircraft, spares, technical oversight and support. And we're just across the border if they need us. It could be as simple as money and common sense. Tim
Each type of aircraft has its own set of spares, supplies and stores. Only big difference in manitenance of US vs. Russian build equipemnt (airframe wise ) would be metric system of tools. Basicly even a same basic aircraft can be completly different during series thus having completly different set of spares... Good example would be Agusta 109 helicopter. A version vs. E version has completly different airframe, engines ( depends on the buyers demands), coresponding gearboxes and most important part i.e. rotor hub not to mention electronic components, instruments... As i said earlier IMHO in Mexico case it is more AF Navy rivaliry and monetrary interests of lobbies than real US goverment pressure. US put Sukhoi and Rosbronexport on embargo list ( no deals with the firms and hevy penalties for all who would dare to make bussines with them). Sukhoi was put on the list becouse of their Su-27 deal with Venezuela and Rosbronexport ( state owned monopoly company trough which all Russian weapons are sold) becouse of the same deal as well as their deal with Venezuela for light weapons factory, Mil-35 gunships and their at the time attempt (later sucesfull) to buy the largest Titanium producer in the world which was also in the sights of Boeing. Since in the end embargo hurt US firms more than it did Russians ( Boeing-Sukhoi joint ventures and Titanium purchases from Russia) both firms were taken from embargo list after a few months.
