SU-26 Black

About

The Sukhoi Su-26 is the work of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, developed in the early 1980s as a single-seat unlimited-aerobatic monoplane. The prototype first flew in 1984, and the type went on to become one of the dominant airframes in world unlimited-aerobatic competition through the late 1980s and 1990s. The Su-26 introduced extensive composite construction, a semi-reclined pilot seating position for improved g-tolerance, and the Vedeneyev M14P 360-hp radial engine that gives the type its distinctive flat-front cowling. The airframe is stressed for +12/-10g.

This RC variant carries an all-black livery — a dramatic alternative to the more common bright-red or competition-team-colored schemes seen on real Su-26s. Black-painted aerobatic aircraft have a particular visual presence in the air, with the high contrast against blue sky making the airframe's attitude exceptionally clear at altitude during demanding figures. Several real-world airshow pilots have flown black-painted unlimited aerobatic aircraft as part of their display branding.

The unmistakable Su-26 silhouette — short-coupled mid-wing layout, distinctive flat-fronted cowling, broad fuselage — carries through regardless of paint scheme. Sukhoi-family models in various competition liveries appear at scale-aerobatic fly-ins worldwide.

In the simulator

The same demanding aerobatic handling as the standard SU-26 in this same pack — substantial inertia, generous control authority, and the kind of stable-but-aggressive handling Russian aerobatic competition was built on. The black livery is the visual difference; the airframe character matches the rest of the Su-26 family. Use it for unlimited-aerobatic flying with maximum visual contrast against the sky. A sibling of the SU-26 in this same pack and the Kapanina SU-26 (CV Planes Pack 4).