Motherload of Russian "what-ifs"

[overscan]

Sorry Nev- my friends and I have had broadband access so long I don't even think about such issues any more...

[Nick]

AFAIK, in the early 60s all work on new fighters/bombers ceased due to Khrushchev's missile obsession. The only work allowed was on upgrades to existing programs.

So it wasn't just us Brits having trouble with Government Ministry daft ideas like 'rockets instead of manned aircraft' then?!

Nev, I'm on a 56k modem and the pics took about 1 minute per page so it's not as bad as it looks. You'll love some of the stufff Overscan's found.

Nick B)  

[overscan]

I think the whole world went a little missile crazy at that time.

I believe the US was saved by the Navy's development of the F-4 Phantom II- after all they cancelled quite a few fighter projects.

[overscan]

Some Su-27 studies.

This is the first Su-27 design from 1970...

[overscan]

Same version, model pic

[overscan]

1972 design

[overscan]

This is the "conventional" backup design

[overscan]

This version was prepared by engineers freed from the T-4MS program  

[overscan]

Model of this version

[overscan]

front view

[overscan]

Underside view, plus another config with inlet centrebodies.

[overscan]

another variant

[overscan]

another view

[overscan]

More than 15 configurations were studied...

[overscan]

The Su-27 used more windtunnel tests than any previous aircraft except the Tu-144..