The MKI is in essence an advanced Su-27UB version. But it still have the same elevated cockpit feature, so how can it be so draggie and still perform on par with singel station fighters?

What do you mean by ‘on par’ with single station fighters? Which single station fighters? using what parameters for comparison?

If you’re talking about low speed turning ability, perhaps canards, TVC and powerful engines? If you’re talking about BVR capability, perhaps a big bad ass radar? However, that doesn’t mean to say all of that doesn’t come with a significant drag penalty due to its stepped tandem seating arrangement and canards…swings and roundabouts…the SU-30 series delivered on what was requested: a large twin seat fighter bomber based on a trainer with great forward visibility and significant space for fuel, ordnance and radar…but poor rear visibility, high drag and a large RCS. Take your pic what your priority is.

Those are clearly ‘A’ models, they have square tipped fins, as opposed to the enlarged rounded fairing housing the ECM equipment of the ‘B’ models.

BTW, weren’t a lot of the IAF MiG-21 crashes put down to new pilots having too difficult a transition from relatively low performance trainers to the MiG-21?

That hasn’t really changed to this day, even the most recent Mig-21 crashes have been blamed on poor pilot training. How long has india been operating the Mig-21? You would have thought pilot training and flight hours would have been addressed over that time? 😮

http://twocircles.net/2011oct07/yet_another_mig21_crashes_pilot_bails_out.html

Yet another MiG-21 crashes, pilot bails out
New Delhi : A MiG-21 fighter plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in the Barmer district of Rajasthan Friday.

This is the sixth air crash of an IAF combat jet this year and the fourth of Soviet-era MiG-21 variants, which are likely to be phased out of service in 2016.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/pilots%E2%80%99-inexperience-behind-mig-crashes-iaf-chief-367

Pilots’ inexperience behind MiG crashes: IAF chief
“Unfortunately except for one case, the other cases point towards inexperience of young pilots who were not been able to handle the landing and approach (of the aircraft),” IAF chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said on Saturday, when asked by reporters about a string of three recent MiG-21 crashes including one on Friday.

http://telegraphindia.com/1111009/jsp/frontpage/story_14602137.jsp

MiG crash blame on training gaps
New Delhi, Oct. 8: The Indian Air Force chief today said the crashes of the MiG-21 fighter jets this year was largely because of the “inexperience of young pilots”, a consequence of gaps in training.

Too bad PAF retired them early should have kept them around like India did its MiGs.

The PAF only had about a squadron worth of Starfighters (~14 aircraft) and due to US sanctions, it meant that it wasn’t worth keeping these going. I think the F-6 largely replaced it.

how many mig-21 and derivatives are flying in the world today ? how many starfighters ?
how many air forces of major military powers fly mig-21 family aircraft ?
I rest my case.

I can’t ; imagine upgraded starfighters in IAF i.e.
the newest mig-21bis in IAF is 25 years old. I don’t think the F-104 would have survived as long, IOW India could not have kept upgrading starfighters. even PAF, no slouch at maintaining old aircraft types retired the type in mid 70’s. heck, even few years back they still flew some F-6.
didn’t they switch to mig-21’s in the form of F-7’s ? what more proof do you want ? :diablo:

I think the success of the Mig-21 has been due to its relatively cheap cost of acquisition and operation, most of the major Mig-21 operators had some form of tech transfer, or in the case of india and China, production of the type in significant numbers, thus justifying its continued upgrade and operation. Hence why it’s been so popular with airforces that don’t have the resources for more costly sophisticated fighters, or other restrictions such as sanctions and lack of other options, as in the case of the PAF.

In contrast, the Starfighter wasn’t really produced to anywhere near the same numbers as the Mig-21 and its varients, and most, if not all operators of the Starfighter moved on to different Western types due to shifting ORBAT priorities. I think Italy was the most recent operator of the Starfighter.

Hey Hotdog dude, you’re the single most reason why I ever frequent this otherwise falace measuring forum…lol, man, you’re too much sometimes, keep up the witty work! 😀

ooh, how about a Sukhoi for the F-14 replacement :diablo:

Well the design of the Flanker was inspired by the Tomcat; under-slung podded engines, central lifting body design, twin fins, big radar…seems like a natural progression. Flanker looks great in USN colour scheme.

Great video report on the recent Izmir Air Show, celebrating 100 years of the TuAF;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ohR_zD4Y8k&feature=youtu.be

Absolutely serge, tell u what the Queen looks tightly packed into the drydock.

That’s no way to talk about Her Majesty! 🙂

I do wish they had chosen better names though.