Cockpit visibility and Sukhoi factories

Look at Su-27 family, MiG-29K/35 and MiG-29 to a lesser extent. Soviet designers clearly appreciated good cockpit visibility in their modern fighter designs.

yes they did improve cockpit visiblity! I agree with you. but not so much 360 view as you can see by that giant metal piece in the back

same for Mig-29K

bubble canopy does not equal full view

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“360” vision is either way next to useless in combat and in practice, and good luck tilting your head all the way back with a flight suit and helmet on.[/QUOTE]

yes you are right. Russian helmets are heavy so its difficult on the head. thats why malaysian and indian pilots are switching to western helmets

Malaysian pilots flying SU30 MKM to use IAF model of helmets

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian pilots flying the Sukhoi 30 MKM aircraft will use the Indian Air Force model of flight helmets.

“We understand the weight issue for the Malaysian flyers and the Indian Air Force SU30 MKI helmet suits their requirements,” Russian Federal Service Military cooperation director Mikhail Dimitriev was quoted by a daily here.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force also took note of the French MSA Gallet LA100 flight helmet and Ulmer ECT-76VD oxygen mask as standard equipment for the 18 SU-30MKMs to replace the Russian Zsh-7AP/KM34DII sets used by the RMAF’s Mig-29N fleet, the New Straits Times said.

In 2004 the RMAF complained that the Russian equipment was too heavy, the daily said.

In a high-G environment, the Zsh-7, which wieghs 2.3 kg, exerted tremendous load on the neck and spine. Added to this a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) and the helmet weighed a neck-snapping 4.8 kg, the paper said.