Posted on 07/27/2009 12:51:02 PM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins
Holy frak. Holy frak. HOLYROLLERBLADINGFRAK! Movie producers paid two Sukhoi Su-35 pilots to fly without a canopy at Mach 2.0, and have one of them eject in what probably is one of the most dangerous stunts ever filmed.
While on this speed I even managed to pull out my fingers in glove for an inch or two outside - it became heated very fast because of immense friction force plane undergoes with the air.
That's what the pilot who remained in the cabin said he did after his crazy comrade ejected, landing safely on the ground. I don't know what this movie is, but I definitely want to see it.
To add even more awesome details, the actual airplane is the SU-35UB prototype, identified by its tail number 801. This is the most advanced Sukhoi fighter ever built. Crazy Ivans indeed. [The Dew Line]
um ... didn’t happen at MACH 2, trust me.
This sounds like a pretty epic movie. Will watch.
x2
As an ex flight test type, methinks not. No Mach 2, No Mach 1.
When flying in formation at > Mach 1, one can see the leading/trailing wave boundaries (if one looks carefully)
No see-um here.
Also, the USAF tried and gave up developing a system by which a pilot could be protected for greater than M1 ejections.
Summary - this claim is worth about as much as an Obamaloon press conference.
I think the canopy needs to be in place to allow the aerodynamics to achieve MACH 2. Maybe the SU-35 can do MACH 2, but not without the canopy. Sounds contrived.
I have a hard time believing someone could fly a plane without its canopy at Mach 2. Sounds bogus to me.
Mach 2? That’s twice the speed of bull$h!+. Sorry but I dont believe it.
HOLY FLERKINSHNITZ!
When they recovered the bodies of Air France 447 victims, they found multiple fractures - consistent with being ejected into the air at 4 or 500 mph (assuming in air breakup) In other words, winds slamming into you at that speed will break your bones. Even with flight suits on I find Mach 2 hard to believe.
There was a story a while back about an F-15E pilot ejecting at or just above the sound barrier when his plane lost instruments and went out of control during a night-flying exercise. The laundry list of injuries he suffered makes it HIGHLY unlikely that a pilot would ever intentionally attempt it except to save their own lives. Broken bones, ruptured blood vessels, ligament damage...the best ejection seat in the world will get you out of the airplane, but it doesn’t help against hitting a 700+ mph slipstream.
}:-)4
“The actual speed of sound varies depending on the altitude above sea level because sound travels at slightly different speeds at different temperatures, and the temperature varies according to altitude. At sea level, the speed of sound is about 761 miles per hour (1,225 kilometers per hour). At 20,000 feet (6,096 meters), the speed of sound is 660 miles per hour (1,062 kilometers per hour). “
So let’s split the difference for easy numbers and just say Mach 1 is 700 mph. Mach 2 would be 1,400 mph. To go from stable cocpit air to 1,400 mph resistance would just beat you to a bloody pulp.
Hollyweed BS.
If you look at the first photo, the elevator has quite a bit of downward deflection. I would not think that is possible at M2.
My former bosses son was a Naval aviator 20 years ago and ejected from an F-14 out of control and in a dive. He died from the force of the airstream against his body. When they recoved him from the water his body showed all the physacal damage done. Sad case. He was an only son and his dad was so proud of his son’s accomplishments.
My former bosses son was a Naval aviator 20 years ago and ejected from an F-14 out of control and in a dive. He died from the force of the airstream against his body. When they recoved him from the water his body showed all the physacal damage done. Sad case. He was an only son and his dad was so proud of his son’s accomplishments.
Director "Sorry boys, the camera ran out of film. We need another take."
Neat stunt, though I’m very skeptical it was at Mach 2. I would think the windforce present at those speeds would batter the pilot senseless, if nothing else. I have to also think the Sukhoi would become rather twitchy without the canopy at those speeds.
Still a neat-looking stunt, though.
Mach 2? Bull...
Sorry about the double post. The web is slow today.
IMHO, the plane was going rather slow.
“Obamaloon” should be voted number one as best name for Bogus Potus! Congrats!
Aviation Ping List
Another giveaway. With winds blowing toward him at 1440 mph (mach 2) just after ejection, the downward flame can NOT be straight ! The flame from the exhaust is shooting straight down in the picture.
Communists lie. It’s one of the oldest truths.
They would also need a Mach 2 chase (camera) plane.
Crazy Ivan or not, pit a SU35-UB against a F-22 Raptor. Wonder who would have the edge?
Hollywood’s stock and trade is fantasy. The only trouble is that it has crossed the rubicon and believes fantasy is reality and vice versa.
Ejection at MACH 2? Death wish.
Dead man, instantly.
Looks like half flaps, too. Besides, what camera plane does the director have that can do Mach 2? That’s a slow flying Sukhoi holding back so the camera plane can get the shot.
About 10 years ago one of our F-15C Pilot Training students blacked out from Gs and woke up in a nose-down attitude going close to Mach 1. He punched out and survived. He was in the hospital for about a year recovering from "flail injuries" that are a result of the limbs flailing around in a high speed bailout. I was told that the student held the record for surviving the highest speed bailout.
IIRC one of the Blue Angels ejected through his canopy at about Mach 1. Got cut up but lived.
With the amount of drag from no cockpit I don’t think the plane could even go that fast without ripping apart.
What is "punched out" ?
Heh. Thanks for the follow up numbers. I was making a pretty safe assumption the forces involved were far far beyond what even an olympian caliber human frame could survive.
I wonder what even an empty flight helmet would look like suddenly subject to 1,400 mph and 50g’s?
Two more items ...
One helluva photo-chase plane to get the shot, and ...
check out the AOA of the horizontal stabilizer. That much deflection at Mach 2???!?? I don’t think so.
BUSTED.
Why the large down deflection on the elevators?
“punch out” — pull the loud handle — ride the fire — GTH out — EJECT!
Heading over to EAA's Airventure on Friday. Lots of aircraft in the sky as they make their way to Oshkosh.
Someone with some time on their hands and the right information could calculate how fast it was actually going if they new the vertical speed and angle of the ejection seat at any given speed, then, just compare that to the image. My guess, much closer to the plane’s minimum speed.
The front-seater later claims he flew beyond Mach 2.0 ... with an open canopy! And then he says: "While on this speed I even managed to pull out my fingers in glove for an inch or two outside - it became heated very fast because of immense friction force plane undergoes with the air."
The ejection didn't happen at Mach 2, but the pilot claims to have flown at Mach 2 without a canopy.
Original story with more photos here.
I would assert that a mach1+ (even mach 3) ejection is survivable.
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/sr-71_break-up.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMyC2urCl_4 (see 3:03 and later in video)
ensure clearance for the ejecting passenger. i.e., move the plane away from the seat.
I'm bettin' on the F-22. Especially if the Sukhoi pilot has bailed out.
pit a SU35-UB against a F-22 Raptor. Wonder who would have the edge?
Ever see a lion take on a cheetah?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.