Sukhoi Su-26

Single Piston

The Sukhoi Su-26 is a single-seat unlimited aerobatic competition aircraft designed in the Soviet Union during the early 1980s, purpose-built to dominate the World Aerobatic Championships. Powered by a 360-horsepower Vedeneyev M14P nine-cylinder radial engine, the Su-26 introduced a level of performance that redefined competitive aerobatics—its +12/-10g load limits, roll rate exceeding 400 degrees per second, and thrust-to-weight ratio near 0.5 made it the first Eastern Bloc design to consistently challenge Western dominance in international competition. Soviet pilot Viktor Smolin won the 1984 World Aerobatic Championship flying an Su-26, validating the type's revolutionary design. The aircraft's all-metal stressed-skin construction, symmetrical airfoil, and precisely balanced control surfaces allow sustained inverted flight and knife-edge maneuvers with minimal pilot input. With a never-exceed speed of 217 knots and a power loading that permits vertical climbs from level flight, the Su-26 remains competitive in unlimited aerobatic categories four decades after its introduction. The type's relatively light empty weight of just 1,212 pounds and compact 24-foot wingspan make it highly maneuverable, though demanding of pilot skill—stall speed in landing configuration is 52 knots, and the aircraft has no flaps. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sukhoi exported the Su-26 to Western markets, where it found a niche among serious aerobatic competitors and airshow performers. The design spawned the two-seat Su-29 trainer variant and the refined Su-31, but the original Su-26 remains prized for its uncompromising focus on competition performance. SkyMeter has tracked 12 flights across 4 airframes and 4 operators, with MERSHON BROOKS G the largest observed operator.