The Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut was a Russian X-plane, which had been developed as a prototype in the 1990s. Designed by Mikhail Pogosyan, the main characteristic that made it look different from other supersonic aircraft is the inverted swept-wing feature, which was combined with canards. It was formerly designated S-37, which performed its maiden flight on September 25, 1997.
Unlike the Mikoyan MiG 1.44, the Su-47 had completed a large number of test flights that continued into the early 21st century. According to engineers' records, it surpassed the speed of Mach 1.45. It had been conceived to take off from unpaved runway surfaces. It was stressed for -3G and +9G and its wings and fuselage had to be strong enough for 8G maneuvers at supersonic speeds. When flying at an altitude of 1,000 m (3,280 ft), the Berkut was expected to accelerate from 600 km/h (373 mph) to 1,100 km/h (684 mph) in fourteen seconds. For this acceleration, it had to be equipped with powerful engines.
Specifications
Type: X-plane, experimental.
Length: 22.6 m
Wingspan: 16.7 m
Wing Area: 56 sq. meters
Height: 6.4 m
Power Plant: two Soloviev D-30F6, turbofan engines, with afterburning boost.
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.45
Range: 3,400 km
Ceiling: 18,000 m
Crew: 1
below, the Sukhoi Su-47 during one of its many test flights.
Sukhoi Su-47/Su-37 Berkut footage during test flights (video)