Sukhoi done at last!

Howdy everyone!

After two years putting it off, I've finally finished my Sukhoi Su26. Tigre .51 power, Z-tron throttle, 65(gulp)ounces. Please enjoy the pics. Scheme based on an actual Sukhoi from Okalahoma flown by a guy named "Tiger" Tom Klassen. I understand he sold the Sukhoi recently and is flying a Mig Jet fighter now! First flight tomorrow...

Has to be one of the best looking CL Sukhoi's out there. Super nice nice job!
P.S.
I happen to have a S.T. 51 control line motor.

OK, this one's definitely not a Beringer.. ^_^

A really nice plane!

Hey Rocket

That is a professional piece of work
Wish I could build and finish to your standard.
Did you build from a plan or kit or other?
Will you post sizes please?
By now you have had a superb first flight
Every best wish
Vincentzo

It's a Tom Dixon design based on the Rabe Bearcat. The wing is foam and the fuse is built up. It was a semi kit I obtained from Bill Hummel. I think Tom designed it around '85 or so. Alot of the weight comes from the spun aluminum cowl and chunky Pitts style muffler. Fortunately I built a hatch under the stab where I can tuck weight for trimming, but even now it's only a little nose heavy. (I'm gonna take a file to that muffler eventually.) I've got the makings of an entire second ship standing by, so if this one ends up being a wallflower I should have a list of don'ts for the next one!

Oh yeah span is 58 1/2" , LOA about 40".

Now if I can just figure out how to rearrange the nose for a Saito...

Flew the Sukhoi tonight... Hey, not bad! The Z-Tron works perfectly... flight trim not too bad, definitely nose heavy. Flipped it over once taxiing and broke the rudder, oh well. Wind was blowing a gale so I didn't do too much aerobatics. Went inverted, did some loops and squares and a few wingovers.I'm gonna put bigger wheels for the grass, the little scale-like ones are part of the nose over problem. Otherwise my initial impression is "not bad". Went like stink on a 12x5, switched to an 11x5 and got better low speed performance, especially for landing approaches. It's definitely wierd using both hands separately (for the z-tron box).

Off to the laboratory...

Alan

Hi,

I have a kept foam wing and profile fuse /stab/elevator already made
as well as one half of the mold to make a molded fuse for the design.
Mine is 3" longer moments wing hingline to elevator hingline per
John Wrights suggestions . John had a profile Hellcat that he flew
at the nats several times with this set up. How did you build the fuse? Was it molded? Did you use a jig? I was going to use the
profile fuse mount the wing etc hollow out the back end and add
formers and use a molded skin. I love the Sukhoi but what a pain to
build a fuse. Any help on how you built the fuse would be appreciated. W Hicks

Hi Al It looks like you stayed very close to scale. I have a Russian set of plane in front of me and your plane looks very close to the 1984 prototype plane. My plans are dated 1987.
Ed Ruane