We reach today number seven in our most important aeronautical designer’s top ten list. This rank goes for his own efforts to another Russian, Pavel Suhkoi (1985 – 1975). His major achievements were made from his design office (OKB) during the cold war with the development of some of the most important air fighters of the time, including some variable geometry wing ones, like the Su-17 and the Su-24. Nevertheless his name will always be related with the Su-27, although he did not live for the first flight. This jet fighter is the paradigm of maneuverability and being the first “Flight by wire” aircraft of the USSR. Its amazing control capabilities, also at low speed and high attack angles, made it legendary for maneuvers like the “Pugachev’s Cobra”, a classic in all air shows. In this maneuver an attack angle of up to 120 degrees is reached (during a short period of time).
My place number 7 in the ranking goes therefore to Suhkoi.
In previous entries, we have discussed about big engineering companies. We will go today to the other side, speaking about the small companies.
