Sukhoi Su-31

Single Piston

The Sukhoi Su-31 is a single-seat unlimited-category aerobatic monoplane designed in the late 1980s by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, better known for its military fighters. Built specifically for international aerobatic competition, the Su-31 represented the Soviet Union's first purpose-built civilian aerobatic aircraft capable of competing at the highest levels of the sport. Powered by a 360-horsepower Vedeneyev M-14P nine-cylinder radial engine, the all-composite airframe delivers an exceptional power-to-weight ratio and can sustain loads exceeding +12/-10 G, making it one of the most capable unlimited aerobatic platforms ever certified. The type achieved immediate success in competition, with pilots flying Su-31s earning medals at World Aerobatic Championships throughout the 1990s. Its distinctive features include a bubble canopy for exceptional visibility during inverted flight, a symmetrical airfoil optimized for knife-edge and inverted maneuvers, and control harmony that competitors praised as superior to contemporary Western designs like the Extra 300. The Su-31's never-exceed speed of 270 knots and roll rate exceeding 400 degrees per second placed it at the pinnacle of aerobatic performance when introduced. Though production was limited—fewer than 50 were built before Sukhoi shifted focus back to military contracts—the type remains highly regarded in the aerobatic community, with airframes still competing in airshows and maintaining their reputation for precision and raw capability. SkyMeter has tracked 1 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with ATLANTIC WINGS LLC the largest observed operator.