Late in 2008 we were able to purchase the four Sukhoi Su-29 aircraft from the Italian Red Bull Team.

Although new Sukhoi aerobatic aircraft are no longer being manufactured, they are still World and European Aerobatic Champions and there continues to be huge demand for these aircraft.  We meet some of this requirement by selling previously-owned aircraft from existing customers, but this is only four/five aircraft a year and does not meet the demand!  Also we are finding that the values of good Sukhois is increasing very steadily on both sides of the Atlantic, possibly because pilots recognise that Sukhois are the most wonderful aerobatic aircraft, whether for serious competition, displays or just for enjoyment.  Given the limited numbers of aircraft available and the extraordinary quality of the engineering, we expect that the values will continue to increase.

We originally supplied these four aircraft, and have continued to oversee their maintenance programme over the last years. All are relatively low-time and have been maintained without regard to expense.   Because we have a wide range of engines and propellers (we are sole factory agents for Vedeneyev engines, as well as being main agents for MT Propellers), we can be very flexible as to what we offer potential customers.

Breitling/Red Bull Team

The aircraft were first operated as the team sponsored by Breitling and subsequently, with the same aircraft and pilots, sponsored by Red Bull.  All the pilots were members of the Italian 'Freche ‘Tricolori’ Air Force Team and since all the displays were done in formation, none of the aircraft needed to be flown at all hard.  We know from the engineers that they seldom saw more than 5G on the aircraft after displays.

Kobo Coop KFT, Gyor , Hungary

Because the Su-29 was Fully Type Certificated in Hungary, most European Sukhois have been registered in Hungary.  Because of this the principal Operator in Hungary, Kobo Coop KFT and ourselves have built up a very good relationship in which Kobo Coop have overhauled and obtained Lifetime Extensions as well as obtaining the new EASA Certifications for many Sukhois.

The Hungarians are very skilled; very experienced on Sukhoi aircraft, and do lovely cosmetic work.  For these reasons we have entrusted all five aircraft to Kobo Coop to undertake whatever work our customers might need.

Lifetimes

Sukhoi Su-29 have initial factory “Lifetime” of 1250 hours or 12 years.  Although the total times flown by these aircraft  is far less than 1250 hours, 3 of the Su-29s will need new “Lifetimes” because of calendar time and as part of the procedures that we will undertake in Hungary, all aircraft will be given new Lifetimes, according to the formal procedures from Sukhoi, which have now been approved and formalized by EASA.   This will give each aircraft a further “Life” of 6 years or 600 hours, and then this can be automatically renewed at a cost of approximately Euro 3,500, when needed in 6 years time.

EASA Certification

A very positive development is that, from June 2009 all Su-29 and Su-31 obtain EASA Restricted Certificates of Airworthiness. This is excellent for owners of Sukhois, because this documentation allows the aircraft to fly anywhere within Europe, virtually without restrictions (the only effective restriction is that preventing taking a paying passenger from A-B, although paid aerobatic instruction or air shows are permitted).   Also maintenance can be handled at any EASA 145 organization anywhere in Europe.  As a practicality all these aircraft will obtain initial Hungarian registrations and indeed have already been allocated these.  However these can relatively easily be transferred to any other European country, or as with most European Sukhois, the owners have decided to keep them on the Hungarian register which is relatively cheap; un-bureaucratic and simple.  The only negative is that the aircraft either need to go back to Hungary to have them inspected after an Annual inspection each year, or the Hungarian inspectors can come to visit the aircraft wherever they might be.   

The work to be undertaken at Kobo-Coop

The following work will be undertaken on all aircraft:

• Obtaining a new factory Lifetime.

• A very detailed Annual check.

• Replacement of all normal wearing items such as flexible hoses;  tyres; brakes; engine mounts; rudder cables etc.

• Bringing the aircraft up to the latest “Type Standard”.

• Incorporating all recent Service Bulletins, including a stronger rear wing-mounting for Su-29s. 

• Re-painting the aircraft to a high standard to the owner’s specification.

• Obtaining a new EASA Restricted Certificate of Airworthiness and Hungarian Registration. This is not needed for aircraft being sold outside  Europe, and we will reduce the price for such aircraft.

The asking price for such an aircraft would be Euro 235,000, again including European VAT.

The current position

The aircraft were identified in the Red Bull Team by their ‘tail number’ and we continue to use these for easy reference.

Following these and giving the aircraft serial numbers, the position is as follows:

Su-29 No. 1 – s/n  76-03, Hungarian registration HA-HUK

This aircraft had done 627 hours since factory new and has been sold to Pascal Beauchet of Paris, France. He decided to have the aircraft overhauled as our first option (above) and also to upgrade the engine to a ‘PF’ 400 hp specification, together with an MTV-9-260 propeller.  

In addition we have installed quite sophisticated avionics with a large ‘Blue Mountain’ instrument in the rear cockpit (it only just fits!) and a small Blue Mountain in the front cockpit.

The aeroplane was delivered in the middle of July and the aircraft is now being enjoyed in France.

Here is a picture of Pascal during test flying at Gyor.

Su-29 No 2 s/n 80-01  Hungarian registration HA-HUO

This aircraft was sold to Caffe Gabriele of Durham in the UK.  Again, he has chosen the overhaul but not to ‘new’ aircraft standard, and again with the 400hp ‘PF’ engine and MTV-9-260 propeller.  However his avionics are relatively simple with lightweight radio and transponder.

No. 2 has been totally finished and Paul came to do acceptance flights on 18^th/19^th July, subsequent to which it has obtained its EASA Certificate of Airworthiness and is about to be ferried to the UK.

Here are pictures of No. 2 during test flying at Gyor

Su-29 No 3 s/n 77-02, Hungarian registration HA-HUM

This aircraft is now sold to a French customer for March 2010 delivery.

Total time on this aircraft is only 381 since new.  However during a display over the sea in Italy the throttle connection to the carburettor became disconnected and the aircraft was landed on a beach.  The landing was skillful but with soft sand the undercarriage legs were pulled out of the fuselage and there was a variety of other damage to one wing tip; one aileron; bottom engine cowls and clearly engine and propeller.   However the aircraft was inspected by Sukhoi and they confirmed that there is absolutely no structural damage – this has been confirmed with x-ray of all metal components and ultrasonic testing of all composite ones.

Because of the damage, we have made the decision to totally restore No. 3 to ‘as new’ condition, and the wing is already with composite specialists in Hungary for restoration prior to paint removal and new painting.

We are fortunate to have No. 4 (see below), which will be used as a precise pattern when replacing the damaged fuselage tubes and engine mount.

A photograph of No. 3 fuselage is below – it can be seen that there is relatively little damage

Another good point about No. 3 is that we will put a larger oil cooler in the aircraft.  This is quite a complex procedure and very expensive to do as a modification of a flying aeroplane, but since we need to make new bottom cowlings and ducting for the oil cooler, it is not much greater work to make them larger to match the big oil cooler. This will be particularly useful since a 400hp engine will be installed and it will be  flown in very hot conditions.

Su-29 No. 4 s/n 76-04, Hungarian registration HA-HUL

Total time since factory new 350 hours. 

When the four aircraft were first received  we had no customers for them and decided to begin the work on No. 4 with a TOTAL restoration, so the aircraft has been totally dismantled; some minor cracks in the fuselage repaired; the fuselage completely stripped; all paint removed and now repainted.

At that stage we of course sold the other three aircraft and so the emphasis has been on those, so No. 4 is waiting for a customer and, as it happens, to act as a ‘jig’ for the repairs needed on No. 3 (above) 

However this represents one of the last chances to obtain a Su-29 in what will be genuinely perfect condition and of course with a totally open specification for engine/prop/avionics/extras.

No. 4 fuselage as it is today.

Extras etc

We have been very flexible in what we offer customers, so each customer will of course choose their own colour of paintwork and other issues such as avionics etc.  However every aircraft will be sold including:

• Long range fuel

• Smoke

• One radio

• Transponder

In addition all will include valuable extras which are:

• Lightweight electrical system

• Automotive spark plug conversion

• Water drain in the cockpit

• New hooker harnesses

• One wingtip sight

• Manifold oil drain

• Set of control locks

• Set of tools

• Full set of  manuals

• Cockpit canopy cover

• Cockpit lock

• Smoke tank opening tool

• Leather seats  

(in total about Euro 6,000 worth)

Our asking price for No. 4, finished to better than factory new condition and including all the above work and extras is Euro 235,000, including a new EASA Certificate of Airworthiness and European VAT.

So the only items needed are those related to personal choice :  parachutes and headsets.

In addition each aircraft will of course have a new EASA Certificate of Airworthiness and then Hungarian registration but for those aircraft being sold outside Europe, where this will not be necessary the price will be reduced.