Sukhoi Su-26

Sukhoi · Soviet Union · first flew 1984 · light aircraft

The Sukhoi Su-26 is a single-seat unlimited aerobatic competition aircraft that established Soviet and Russian aerobatics on the world stage. It is highly manoeuvrable and was designed specifically for international aerobatic competition.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.83 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Single-seat aerobatic monoplane with mid-mounted tapered wing
Large radial or air-cooled piston engine in a short nose
Symmetrical aerofoil for unlimited aerobatics

Short compact fuselage, mid-mounted tapered wing, large cowled piston engine, and a purposeful aerobatic stance on the ground with a pronounced nose-up attitude.

Specifications

The Sukhoi Su-26 has a length of 6.83 m (22 ft).
It has a wingspan of 7.8 m (26 ft).
Its maximum speed is 450 km/h (280 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and first flown in 1984, the Su-26 was created to compete against Western aerobatic aircraft at world championship level. It introduced advanced composite construction and a symmetrical wing section capable of equal performance in upright and inverted flight. Soviet and later Russian pilots achieved numerous world aerobatic titles flying the type.

Variants

The Su-26 family includes the Su-26M with improved engine and airframe refinements, and the two-seat Su-29 trainer derivative; the Su-31 is a further developed single-seater.

Where you'll see it

The Su-26 and its variants are used by competition aerobatic teams and private pilots worldwide, and continue to compete at international aerobatic championships.

Related aircraft

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