SUKHOI SU-17 (1949)

The Sukhoi Su-17 (other designations: Su-17 (1949) or Plane R) was a prototype Soviet early Cold War light jet fighter. Its only copy was constructed in 1949, but never took to the air. The plane was about 15.3 meters long, with a wingspan of 9.95 meters and a height of 4.52 meters. The drive was provided by a single TR-43 turbojet engine with a thrust of 46 kN. The probable maximum speed - in level flight - was to be about 1150 km/h. On-board armament consisted of two 37 mm N-37 cannons. The Sukhoi Su-17 was developed for the needs of the USSR Air Force as the so-called a front-line fighter, i.e. an aircraft with a relatively short range, but good other performance, designed to provide air superiority in the area of operation of its own land forces. Trying to make a comparison, it can be said that during World War II such machines as, for example, the Jak-3 or Jak-7, and at the end of the Cold War - the MiG-29, played a similar role. It is worth noting that in the case of the Su-17 (1949), particular emphasis was placed on achieving the highest possible maximum speed in horizontal flight, which was to reach approximately Mach 1. While the whole idea of the aircraft was rather typical for Soviet designs of that time, the pilot evacuation system was revolutionary, which was based on the entire front part of the fuselage (with the cabin) being thrown off, and not on the ejection seat. However, construction problems led to the abandonment of the Su-17 test flight (1949), and soon after - the cancellation of the entire project.