warbird1 wrote:
1) I noticed that each time you guys did an engine run, the exhaust is always over grass. Is that something the airport authority makes you do, so you don't create heat damage on the tarmac??
Yeah, it's just a lot easier on the airport infrastructure. The grass grows back quickly, but normal asphalt/concrete wouldn't stand for that kind of abuse for long. The pad we use is out of the way of airport traffic and just happens to have a lot of grass around.
warbird1 wrote:
2) Related to the first question - since the engine runs always appear to be over grass, does the airport make you guys have a fire engine around each time there are engine runs??
The fire crews prefer to be there just in case of a grass fire, and also because they naturally like to be on hand for any fires on the airport property. An afterburner is essentially a large, very loud blowtorch, so that's right up their alley. But mostly, I think they just want to watch and listen to that sucker from up close, just like everyone else!
warbird1 wrote:
3) What will the ejection seat capabilities be once you guys put a "Western" seat in her??
Both aircraft have the stock seats, with zero-zero capabilities (zero feet and zero knots). If there's one thing the Eastern Bloc did really, really well, it's ejection seats. The seats are freshly overhauled, just like the rest of the airframes and engines.
warbird1 wrote:
4) Has the FAA placed any operating restrictions on the Flankers once they are fully certificated, i.e. - must be flown within a certain radius of the home drome, not to be flown over densely populated areas, max speed limits, etc.??
Like all other jet warbirds in the U.S., the Sukhois will not be "certificated," they will be licensed. (Sorry to be so picky with the terminology, but those two words have very specific meanings when it comes to aircraft.) They will be assigned a set of operating restrictions that are in compliance with the FAA's current guidelines. The former 600-nautical mile operating radius that all jet warbirds were once assigned can now be eliminated with some paperwork, so that's not an issue. The "densely-populated area" restriction always applies to Experimental aircraft. As far as speed limits go: Like MiG-21s, F-100s, F-104s, T-38s, F-5s and other supersonic warbird aircraft, there will be restrictions on speeds. There are places and times for everything, and waivers can be written, based on operational necessity. For instance, the FAA routinely waives the "250-knots below 10,000 feet" speed limit for aircraft whose maneuvering speed (Va) is greater than 250.
I suspect the Su-27s will get waived up to 350 KIAS or so, similar to MiG-21s. Above 10,000', the limit in U.S. territorial airspace is Mach 0.999 -- again, unless you get a waiver. These particular aircraft are, of course, uniquely suited for all kinds of government contract work and civilian special projects, so any future owners will likely be able to get waivers for just about anything when needed.
warbird1 wrote:
5) Has there been any "peace protesters" or calls for "ridding this instrument of war away" from the liberal crowd there?
Nope, not at all. I think local residents recognize that these are just jet warbirds, like all the others that have been based here for many years. Besides, Illinois is a red state that happens to contain a huge blue city named Chicago. Rockford residents tend to show up for these engine runs with lawn chairs and beer. And signs that say "Jet Noise - the Sound of Freedom."
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