Sukhoi Su-9

This article describes the first aircraft to carry the Su-9 and Su-11 designation. For the later supersonic interceptors, see Sukhoi Su-9 and Sukhoi Su-11 respectively.

The Sukhoi Su-9, or Samolet K (Russian: Aircraft K), was an early jet fighter aircraft built in the Soviet Union shortly after World War II. The Su-9 also served as the basis for the Su-11 (Samolet LK) and Su-13 (Samolet TK).

Design and development

Su-9

While it bore a superficial resemblance to the German Messerschmitt Me 262, the Su-9 was not directly related to that aircraft. The first flight took place on 13 November 1946 and trials the following month proved promising.[1] Su-9 was an advanced design for the time with an ejection seat and a provision for JATO rockets (2x 11.27 kN {2,530 lbf} thrust for 8 seconds).For the first time on a Soviet aircraft, the Su-9 utilized a brake parachute and unique wing-mounted air brakes. These were mounted between the ailerons and the engine nacelles and split above and below the wing.[1] The aircraft was revealed to the general public on 3 August 1947 at the Tushino Airfield.

Development of the Su-9 was hampered by the stigma associated with its resemblance to the Me 262. Competing aircraft designer Aleksandr Yakovlev played this fact against Sukhoi with Joseph Stalin.

The Su-9 was abandoned in favor of the more advanced Su-11 (LK).

SU-11

In early 1947, it was decided to modify the prototype two-seat Su-9 trainer then under construction. The resulting Su-11 (Samolet LK) was completed in May 1947. The most important modification was replacement of the German Jumo 004B engines with more powerful Soviet-designed Lyulka TR-1 turbojets developing 12.7 kN (2,865 lbf) thrust each. Su-11 thus became the first Soviet jet aircraft to use indigenous engines.Wing and fuselage structure had been revised to adapt to the considerably larger Lyulka engines. Su-11 first flew on 28 May 1947 with G.M. Shiyanov at the controls. Test flights revealed yaw instability at high speeds and the Lyulka engines were unreliable and eventually had been canceled. As the result, the project was abandoned in April 1948.

Su-13

Su-13 was the final attempt to further increase performance of the basic Su-9 design. The maximum wing thickness was reduced from 11% to 9% of the chord and the tailplanes were swept. The aircraft was also fitted with a pair of Klimov RD-500 (unlicensed Rolls-Royce Derwent copies) engines with 15.6 kN (3,500 lbf) thrust each.A night fighter version with radar and 2x 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon was also proposed. However, the projected top speed below 1 000 km/h (540 knots, 620 mph) was deemed insufficient and the project was abandoned before the prototype could be finished.

Specifications (Su-9)

General characteristics

* Crew: One
* Length: 10.57 m (34 ft 8 in)
* Wingspan: 11.21 m (36 ft 9 in)
* Height: 3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
* Wing area: 20.24 m² (217.87 ft²)
* Empty weight: 4 060 kg (8,950 lb)
* Loaded weight: 5 890 kg (12,990 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 6 380 kg (14,070 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× Tumansky RD-10 turbojets, 8.8 kN (1,984 lbf) each
* *Fuel capacity: 1 750 kg (3,860 lb)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 885 km/h (480 knots, 550 mph) at 5 000 m (16,405 ft)
* Range: 1 140 km (615 nm, 710 mi)
* Service ceiling 12,800 m (41,984 ft)
* Rate of climb: 4.2 min to 5 000 m (16,405 ft)
* Wing loading: 291 kg/m² (60 lb/ft²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.31
* Endurance: 1 hour 44 minutes

Armament

* 1x 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon with 30 rounds (1x 45 mm Nudelman N-45 could be fitted instead)
* 2x 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannon with 200 rounds/gun
* Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs (1x FAB-500 or 2x FAB-250)