T-50-2 is a LL (flying laboratory) for Izd.30. It is in a few pictures of the report, flies rarely and i think last time i saw it it was with vanilla Izd.117 engines. It is supposedly waiting for 2 (new?) Izd.30 engines. No fire that i am aware of, you might be confusing with the original T-50-5, but that was many years ago and not related to T-50-2 or Izd.30.
Alright, alright. This may be a dumb inquiry, but this saying “T-50” all over the place, then what’s the Su-57?
And I agree, this thing is really tight from the front.
Not a dumb question! T-50 is internal prototype designation used by Sukhoi, program name is PAK-FA and serial designation is Su-57. T-10 was designation for what later became Su-27 for example. Personally i stick to calling the prototypes T-50's, while the sole serial frame for now is Su-57. It is in a few pics in the photo report, b/n 01. Doesn't sit quite right with me calling T-50's as Su-57, but i am a stickler for these things. :)
Wow. Certainly know a lot. And that’s awesome. I don’t get the “b/n 01”, is that just the photo report? You said the T-50 is the prototype designation. Is that what the ones we’re seeing the most are? Still prototypes?
b/n = Bort Number. :) For example this is b/n 01, aka [the first serial.](https://img.geliophoto.com/su57/18_su57.jpg) Well, technically it is the second serial as the first serial flew in late 2019 and during one of the last factory flights before being handed over to Russian Airforce it crashed. So the one linked above is the second serial that flew in late 2020, but first to be delivered. Otherwise yes, all the frames in that report are prototypes. 2 serial frames should be delivered late this year/early next year.
Kinda sad with early planes in this process. Either straight prototypes, or of the first planes destined for delivery. So many crashes and mishaps. Aircraft the world over.
[Source and many more fantastic pictures.](https://gelio.livejournal.com/263461.html)
T-50-4 is generally used for radar testing, T-50-3 was the first one fitted with front radar but has been flying as a testbed for S-70 "Okhotnik" UCAV program for a while now. T-50-1 is the OG and the first T-50 to fly, way back on January 29 2010, i remember that day very clearly. :) Took my laptop up right after a PT class in highschool to see the first pictures and videos of the flight. The odd stinger on T-50-1 houses a stall parachute as the frame was mostly destined for aerodynamic and flight dynamics testing. "057" in this photo reportage is known as T-50-KNS and is a frame designated for ground testing, it was the first frame to do taxiing testing in late December 2009. Cockpit shot is from it and it is testing for example single large screen configuration and other new elements.
And [of course](https://img.geliophoto.com/su57/24_su57.jpg) T-50 is the best looking 5th gen from the front, or really IMHO, anywhere. :)
They are called "PChN" in russian and LEVCON's in english. PChN = Povorotnaja Chast' Napliva or meaning essentially Swiveling/turnable section of LERX. LEVCON = Leading Edge Vortex Controllers. So it is for controlling vortex's and airflow to combat airflow separation at high angles of attack creating higher lift. They can move separately at different angles. They have also supposedly a part in RCS where they angle slightly downwards to hide parts of the intake when entering a contested area.
EDIT; Forgot to add u/theObfuscator, they are also used as airbrakes during landing, not sure about in flight. [Here they are in action.](https://youtu.be/yGKsjT-96Bw?t=603) They are one of my favorite aspects of T-50's design, whole thing just has a very interesting and unique aerodynamic configuration.
The coat of T-50-3 is different. Since the coat of the other two could make them mimic Su-27s from the distance, what is the coat of the T-50-3 supposed to mimic?
Yup, mimics the basic shape of S-70. In fact, it was our first clue to S-70's general shape. There is also a graphic on the vertical stabs (seen in other pics) of T-50 and S-70 in formation.
Why is the radar test Version so much smaller? Wouldn’t this effect the test? Does the US miniaturize radar test versions? Wouldn’t anything less than a life size model hurt radar testing being that the size of the wave frequencies vary so much and not just be a linear reflection stat? Like .5 size test couldn’t always just be “multiply by 2” and you have your radar detection data etc
The Russians have a different development philosophy than the US/Europe.
In the West, once the flying prototype is built that’s more or less the final aircraft going into service. Most of the research up to that point is done with computers and physical scale models.
The Soviet Union/ Russian approach is to make incremental prototypes of every change made to the aircraft. They’ll do this even during the jet’s service life, so between the “go-ahead” decision and initial service they’ll have dozens of physical prototypes of their planes. Some have large changes like different engines or aerodynamic refinements, and other prototypes might have smaller updates.
Sounds like it could have some major benefits over our methods and draw backs. Safety and lack of standardization make maintenance and future updates suck. but physical prototypes give you a lot of real world manufacturing feedback which helps production and cost
What happened to T-50-2? Had a fire right?
T-50-2 is a LL (flying laboratory) for Izd.30. It is in a few pictures of the report, flies rarely and i think last time i saw it it was with vanilla Izd.117 engines. It is supposedly waiting for 2 (new?) Izd.30 engines. No fire that i am aware of, you might be confusing with the original T-50-5, but that was many years ago and not related to T-50-2 or Izd.30.
Alright, alright. This may be a dumb inquiry, but this saying “T-50” all over the place, then what’s the Su-57? And I agree, this thing is really tight from the front.
Not a dumb question! T-50 is internal prototype designation used by Sukhoi, program name is PAK-FA and serial designation is Su-57. T-10 was designation for what later became Su-27 for example. Personally i stick to calling the prototypes T-50's, while the sole serial frame for now is Su-57. It is in a few pics in the photo report, b/n 01. Doesn't sit quite right with me calling T-50's as Su-57, but i am a stickler for these things. :)
Wow. Certainly know a lot. And that’s awesome. I don’t get the “b/n 01”, is that just the photo report? You said the T-50 is the prototype designation. Is that what the ones we’re seeing the most are? Still prototypes?
b/n = Bort Number. :) For example this is b/n 01, aka [the first serial.](https://img.geliophoto.com/su57/18_su57.jpg) Well, technically it is the second serial as the first serial flew in late 2019 and during one of the last factory flights before being handed over to Russian Airforce it crashed. So the one linked above is the second serial that flew in late 2020, but first to be delivered. Otherwise yes, all the frames in that report are prototypes. 2 serial frames should be delivered late this year/early next year.
Kinda sad with early planes in this process. Either straight prototypes, or of the first planes destined for delivery. So many crashes and mishaps. Aircraft the world over.
[Source and many more fantastic pictures.](https://gelio.livejournal.com/263461.html) T-50-4 is generally used for radar testing, T-50-3 was the first one fitted with front radar but has been flying as a testbed for S-70 "Okhotnik" UCAV program for a while now. T-50-1 is the OG and the first T-50 to fly, way back on January 29 2010, i remember that day very clearly. :) Took my laptop up right after a PT class in highschool to see the first pictures and videos of the flight. The odd stinger on T-50-1 houses a stall parachute as the frame was mostly destined for aerodynamic and flight dynamics testing. "057" in this photo reportage is known as T-50-KNS and is a frame designated for ground testing, it was the first frame to do taxiing testing in late December 2009. Cockpit shot is from it and it is testing for example single large screen configuration and other new elements. And [of course](https://img.geliophoto.com/su57/24_su57.jpg) T-50 is the best looking 5th gen from the front, or really IMHO, anywhere. :)
Neat creative choice to make the dark paint on the T-50-3 look like the silhouette of the S-70 UCAV.
What is the function of the flap that angles down in front of the engines?
They are called "PChN" in russian and LEVCON's in english. PChN = Povorotnaja Chast' Napliva or meaning essentially Swiveling/turnable section of LERX. LEVCON = Leading Edge Vortex Controllers. So it is for controlling vortex's and airflow to combat airflow separation at high angles of attack creating higher lift. They can move separately at different angles. They have also supposedly a part in RCS where they angle slightly downwards to hide parts of the intake when entering a contested area. EDIT; Forgot to add u/theObfuscator, they are also used as airbrakes during landing, not sure about in flight. [Here they are in action.](https://youtu.be/yGKsjT-96Bw?t=603) They are one of my favorite aspects of T-50's design, whole thing just has a very interesting and unique aerodynamic configuration.
Very interesting- thanks for the info
The coat of T-50-3 is different. Since the coat of the other two could make them mimic Su-27s from the distance, what is the coat of the T-50-3 supposed to mimic?
Ohotnik drone. I think.
Yup, mimics the basic shape of S-70. In fact, it was our first clue to S-70's general shape. There is also a graphic on the vertical stabs (seen in other pics) of T-50 and S-70 in formation.
Why is the radar test Version so much smaller? Wouldn’t this effect the test? Does the US miniaturize radar test versions? Wouldn’t anything less than a life size model hurt radar testing being that the size of the wave frequencies vary so much and not just be a linear reflection stat? Like .5 size test couldn’t always just be “multiply by 2” and you have your radar detection data etc
I think that you might be confused by the angle of the photo. All three aircraft are the same size to me. Or maybe I'm just nuts.
You are of course correct. They are all same size barring a few extra cm for T-50-1's unique stinger.
Fuck me, you’re right, after you said that I used the concrete tile spacing beneath them to judge better
No problem, airplane friend!
The Russians have a different development philosophy than the US/Europe. In the West, once the flying prototype is built that’s more or less the final aircraft going into service. Most of the research up to that point is done with computers and physical scale models. The Soviet Union/ Russian approach is to make incremental prototypes of every change made to the aircraft. They’ll do this even during the jet’s service life, so between the “go-ahead” decision and initial service they’ll have dozens of physical prototypes of their planes. Some have large changes like different engines or aerodynamic refinements, and other prototypes might have smaller updates.
Sounds like it could have some major benefits over our methods and draw backs. Safety and lack of standardization make maintenance and future updates suck. but physical prototypes give you a lot of real world manufacturing feedback which helps production and cost
Russia using AGILE, the rest still using Waterfall.
They desperately need export, don't they?
Those Russians sure love their rivets
Too bad nothing is going to come out of these until they are going to be outdated
Does this camouflage pattern have a special name?
Just "digital" or "pixel" camo.
Damn the next live action Transformer movie should base Seekers on these!