American pilots Dave Burke and Ryan Bodenheimer analyzed in detail the aerotechnical features of the Russian fifth-generation fighter Su-57 on a podcast on YouTube. The impressed military men called the fighter “a plane with teeth” and admitted that they would gladly test it in action.
It has power
Burke noted that in terms of size, Su-57 can be compared to F-22 Raptor, but perhaps it is even more maneuverable.
This is a cool plane, no doubt. Good climb rate, this thing really knows how to maneuver. You don't want to fight this guy for various reasons. Not least because he is very maneuverable. The fighter has power, it's very cool, it has a lot of power. It looks like they created the perfect villain.
Evolutionary platform
Burke explained that thrust vector control helps Su-57 soar sharply into the sky — “this thing literally pushes it forward and up.”
Bodenheimer noted that the Su-57 will become almost invisible to radars in some situations. He also emphasized its extremely narrow profile from the front.
But the rear is a problem for stealth flight. Look at how the engines are integrated into the fuselage.
Burke stated that Su-57 is an evolutionary platform. In his opinion, all the lessons learned during the production of Su-57 will be taken into account in next-generation fighters.
I would fly this thing without hesitation. This is a real beast. Amazing thing.
But there were also other comments. According to Burke, the use of paired parachutes in the Su-57 when landing is an archaism that should not exist.
Viewers in the comments to the video, however, reproached the military presenters for not paying attention to who was piloting the fighter. Surprisingly, fans of military aviation abroad know this person well — test pilot of the Sukhoi Design Bureau Sergei Bogdan.
The pilot was a 63-year-old Soviet pilot without an anti-G suit! The pilot who demonstrates this plane is 63 years old!!! But no one comments on this magnificent pilot! What, are there 63-year-old pilots in many countries who can put on such a show?
Who are the judges?
Note that Dave Burke and Ryan Bodenheimer are active military pilots who have flown American fighters of various types more than once. So they definitely know a lot about such aircraft.
Burke is a US Marine Corps (USMC) veteran and former instructor at the elite TOPGUN school. He is known as the only Marine pilot to have flown F-16, F-18, F-22 and F-35 fighters. Bodenheimer is a former pilot of the US Air Force Thunderbirds aviation group.