Sukhoi Su-31

  The Sukhoi Su-31 is the latest single seater from Sukhoi.  It has the highest performance of any piston engined aircraft made today.  As well as being flown by members of the Russian aerobatic team it has been ordered by the 1994 World Aerobatic Champion, Xavier de Lapparent, as well as the then current Swiss, French, Italian, Spanish, Australian and South African champions.

Although the Su-31 is physically similar to the Su-26, it is actually really quite different.  The main difference being that the entire fuselage, ie everything behind the cockpit, is composite rather than tubular steel.  This reduces the weight by some 30kgs, which is very significant in an aircraft of this sort.  Other differences are:

O      The aircraft has a similar fuel system to the Su-26 in that it has a fuselage 70 litre tank, which is the aerobatic tank.   Long-range fuel tanks can be installed in the wings (total of 206 litres extra), which is very convenient, but with some weight penalty.  Conversely, the extra fuel can be in long-range detachable ‘belly tanks’ of up to 200 litres.

O      There are 3 additional luggage areas built in the Su-31, which make it quite exceptional for an aircraft of this sort:

1.     A bay behind the pilot

2.     A separate compartment in front of the pilot, above the fuselage fuel tanks.

3.     In a separate bay in front of the instrument panel, where a specially designed ‘suitcase’ can be quickly installed and then carried away from the aircraft.

O      In terms of flying qualities, the –31 is designed to be somewhat more unstable than the Su-26 – although this is only really a matter of degree – which makes it more suitable for free-style flying, and certainly a great deal easier to snap-roll than the Su-26.

O      The canopy is side-opening, which means that it can be opened with the engine idling, which can be a great benefit in very hot weather while an aircraft is waiting for take-off.

O      Like all other Sukhois, the Su-31 can use either the 360hp M14P or the 400hp M14PF, as well as the more powerful 430hp M9F and 450hp M14R engines, although as a practicality most aircraft have the more powerful engines fitted.

The Su-31 has continued the extraordinary competition track record of the Su-26, winning successive World and European championships in both men’s and women’s categories as well as successive Breitling Championships.

Production of the Su-31 continues (but extremely slowly) at the Lukavitzy factory, and some thirty-five aircraft have been manufactured.

Performance

• Length                       22.7 ft

• Wingspan                   27 ft

• Engine (radial)            360 or 400 hp

• Empty weight             1560 lbs

• Gross Weight             2420 lbs

• G limits                     +12G/-10G

• Spar factory test         ±23G

• Roll rate                    400º sec

• Rate of climb            3600 (4200 with 400 hp)

• High speed                185 mph

• Stall speed                 66 mph

• Takeoff run @ sl  

• Minimum weight        120 yds

Sukhoi Su-31M

A major advance by Sukhoi has been the installation of the Zvesda Pilot Extraction System, which is a remarkable system and the latest version adds only 12kgs to the total weight of an aircraft, yet provides the ability for the pilot to be totally free of an aircraft in difficulty in ¼ of a second. This is only available during manufacture of the Su-31 and costs an additional Euro 15,000.  We can provide full technical details of the system.

For Sukhoi Service Bulletins Click Here