View source for Sukhoi Su-9 (1946)

{{short description|Experimental fighter aircraft}}
{{Good article}}
{{hatnote|This article describes the first aircraft to carry the Su-9 designation. For the later supersonic interceptor, see [[Sukhoi Su-9]]}}
{{hatnote|Sukhoi Su-11 (1947) redirects here. For the later supersonic interceptor, see [[Sukhoi Su-11]]}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
|name= Su-9
|image=Sukhoi Su-9 (1946) 3-view.svg
|caption= Sukhoi Su-9 (1946)
|type= [[Fighter aircraft]]
|national_origin= Soviet Union
|manufacturer= [[Sukhoi]]
|designer=
|first_flight= 13 November 1946
|introduction=
|retired=
|produced=
|number_built= 2
|status= Cancelled
|unit cost=
|primary_user= [[Soviet Air Forces]]
|more_users=
|developed_from=
|variants=
|developed_into=
}}
The '''Sukhoi Su-9''' ({{langx|ru|Самолёт K|lit=Aircraft K}}; [[USAF/DoD reporting names|USAF/DoD designation]]: '''Type 8''')<ref>Parsch, Andreas and Aleksey V. Martynov. [http://www.designation-systems.net/non-us/soviet.html#_DOD_Type "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles."] ''designation-systems.net,'' 2008. Retrieved: 19 August 2011.</ref> was an early jet [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] built in the [[Soviet Union]] shortly after [[World War II]]. The design began in 1944 and was intended to use Soviet-designed [[turbojet]] engines. The design was heavily influenced by captured German jet fighters and it was subsequently redesigned to use a Soviet copy of a German turbojet. The Su-9 was slower than competing Soviet aircraft and it was cancelled as a result. A modified version with different engines and a revised wing became the Su-11 (''Samolyot KL''), but this did not enter production either. The Su-13 (''Samolyot KT'') was a proposal to re-engine the aircraft with Soviet copies of the [[Rolls-Royce Derwent]] turbojet as well as to modify it for [[night fighter|night fighting]], but neither proposal was accepted.
==Design and development==
===Su-9===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 141-2497, Flugzeug Me 262A auf Flugplatz.jpg|thumb|The Su-9 was likely influenced by the [[Messerschmitt Me 262]]]]
In 1944, the Sukhoi design bureau ([[OKB]]) began designing a twin-engined fighter powered by two [[Lyulka TR-1]] turbojets, known internally as the Samolyet or Izdeliye (item or product) K. The ultimate design was very probably influenced by a captured [[Messerschmitt Me 262]], but the Su-9 was not a copy of the German aircraft.<ref>Gordon, p. 115</ref> The Su-9 had an oval cross-section, all-metal [[stressed skin]] [[monocoque]] fuselage that housed a single [[cockpit (aviation)|cockpit]]. The pilot was protected by armor plates to his front, an armored seat back and a bulletproof windscreen for the [[bubble canopy]]. He was provided with an [[ejection seat]], copied from that used in the [[Heinkel He 162]]. The aircraft carried a total of {{convert|1350|kg|sp=us|-1}} of fuel in two bladder tanks, one each ahead and behind the pilot. The low-mounted, straight wing had a single-[[spar (aviation)|spar]] and a slight [[dihedral (aircraft)|dihedral]] of 4°20'. The outer [[flap (aircraft)|flap]]s were split and could act as [[air brake (aircraft)|air brake]]s. The Su-9 was the first Soviet aircraft to use hydraulic-powered controls.<ref>Gordon, pp. 116, 119–20</ref> A Soviet copy of the [[Junkers Jumo 004]]B turbojet, known as the RD-10, was hung under each wing in a streamlined [[nacelle]]. The aircraft had a [[tricycle undercarriage]] that retracted into the fuselage.<ref>Gordon, p. 119</ref> The Su-9 was designed with a very high [[wing loading]] which increased the aircraft's speed and reduced its dimensions. This consequently increased the take-off and landing speeds so it was equipped with a provision for two [[JATO]] bottles (11.27&nbsp;kN (530&nbsp;lbf) thrust for 8 seconds) mounted on the sides of the fuselage. These reduced the take-off distance by nearly 50 percent and a braking parachute was fitted to reduce the landing distance.<ref>Gordon, p. 116</ref>
The nose housed the armament of one {{convert|37|mm|sp=us|adj=on}} [[Nudelman N-37]] [[autocannon]] and two {{convert|23|mm|sp=us|adj=on}} [[Nudelman-Suranov NS-23]] autocannon. The N-37 could be replaced by a {{convert|45|mm|sp=us|adj=on}} [[Nudelman-Suranov NS-45]]. The aircraft carried 100 rounds for each NS-23 and 40 rounds for the N-37. Two {{convert|250|kg|sp=us|adj=on}} FAB-250 [[high explosive]] bombs could be carried underneath the forward fuselage, but the N-37 had to be dismounted to do so.<ref name="Gordon, p. 120">Gordon, p. 120</ref>
As the TR-1 engines originally intended for the Su-9 were not yet ready for flight testing in late 1945, [[Pavel Sukhoi]] suggested substituting a pair of Jumo 004 engines and this was approved on 15 December. The full-scale [[mockup]] was found to be acceptable on 16 February 1946 and the [[Council of People's Commissars]] issued an order on 26 February that the manufacturer's flight testing was to begin on 1 November. This goal was not met because the OKB was heavily committed to other projects like the trainer version of the [[Tupolev Tu-2]] bomber, inexperience with JATO units, and late delivery of RD-10 engines. The first prototype was completed in mid-October and made its first flight on 13 November. The test pilots found the aircraft easy to fly, but the control forces were very high at speed and it lacked enough directional stability. Enlarging the vertical stabilizer cured this last problem and hydraulic boosters were fitted for the control system.<ref>Gordon, pp. 116–17</ref>
The aircraft was revealed to the general public on 3 August 1947 at a flypast at Moscow's [[Tushino Airfield]] and the aircraft began its state acceptance trials three days later. Flight testing was completed by 25 May 1948 after 136 flights had been completed. It demonstrated a top speed of {{convert|885|km/h|sp=us}} at an altitude of {{convert|8000|m|sp=us|-1}} and an endurance of one hour and 44 minutes. It had very docile handling qualities with one engine inoperative. The aircraft was recommended for production, but it was significantly slower than the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9]] and [[Yakovlev Yak-15]]. The government declined to do so and the program was terminated.<ref name=g7>Gordon, p. 117</ref>
A two-seat trainer version, the Su-9UT, was planned during 1946, but it too was cancelled. The cockpit for the student would have been positioned ahead of the instructor's cockpit and each would have had a separate canopy. The armament would have been reduced to a pair of {{convert|20|mm|sp=us}} [[Berezin B-20]] autocannon, each with a hundred rounds of ammunition. The armor would have been removed to save weight.<ref name=g7/>
===Su-11===
Another prototype was begun in 1946, but this aircraft was intended to use the [[Yakovlev]]-designed version of the [[afterburning]] RD-10F engine. However, [[wind tunnel]] testing of the Su-9 in September revealed that [[drag (physics)|drag]] could be reduced if the engine nacelles were mounted in the wing rather than underneath it, and the wing tips were redesigned to use a different [[airfoil]] that significantly reduced [[Mach tuck]]. These changes required that the entire wing be redesigned; the wing spar was bent into an inverted U to accommodate the engines and slotted flaps replaced the simple flaps previously used. The tailplane was given a 5° dihedral to move it out of the engine exhaust.<ref>Gordon, pp. 117–18</ref>
Before the prototype was finished, Sukhoi was ordered to use the Lyulka TR-1 turbojets originally intended for the Su-9. This aircraft was designated the Su-11 and was called Samolyet KL by the OKB. Each TR-1 developed only 12.7&nbsp;kN (2,865&nbsp;lbf) thrust each, rather than the 15&nbsp;kN (3300&nbsp;lbf) required. The aircraft made its first flight on 28 May 1947 and also participated in the flypast at Tushino in August. It had a maximum speed of {{convert|940|km/h|abbr=on}} at sea level, but flight testing revealed that it lacked longitudinal stability at high speeds. Modifications of the wing/nacelle [[fillet (mechanics)|fillet]]s and lengthening the engine nacelles failed to cure these problems. Coupled with the unavailability of mature TR-1 engines, these problems caused the program to be cancelled.<ref name=g8>Gordon, p. 118</ref>
===Su-13===
The Su-13, (''Samolyet KT''), was the final attempt to further increase performance of the basic Su-9 design, using wing sections reduced from 11% to 9% thickness/[[chord (aircraft)|chord]] ratio  and [[swept wing|swept]] tailplanes. The aircraft was also fitted with a pair of [[Klimov RD-500]] (unlicensed copies of the Rolls-Royce Derwent) engines with 15.6&nbsp;kN (3,500&nbsp;lbf) thrust each. The armament was changed to three 37&nbsp;mm Nudelman N-37 cannon, while [[drop tank]]s could be fitted underneath the wingtips. A [[night fighter]] version with a ''Torii'' [[radar]] was also proposed, but this required major structural changes to accommodate the radar. Neither version made it off the drawing board.<ref name=g8/>
==Operators==
;{{USSR}}
*[[Soviet Air Force]]
==Variants==
*'''Su-9UT''' – Planned two-seat trainer version, never built.<ref name=g7/>
*'''Su-11 (''Samolyet KL)''''' – Modified Su-9 with new wings and Lyulka TR-1 engines. One prototype built.<ref name=g7/>
*'''Su-13 (''Samolyet KT'')''' – Su-9 with Klimov RD-500 engines. Night fighter version also proposed. Neither version was built.<ref name=g8/>
==Specifications (Su-9)==
[[File:Sukhoi Su-9 (1946) 3-view.svg|thumb|Su-9]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Early Soviet Jet Fighters<ref name="Gordon, p. 120"/>
|prime units?=met
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length m=10.546
|span m=11.2
|height m=3.4
|wing area sqm=20.2
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=[[TsAGI]] S-10 (11%)<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=4060
|gross weight kg=5890
|max takeoff weight kg=
|fuel capacity={{cvt|1350|kg}}
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[RD-10]]
|eng1 type=[[turbojet]]s
|eng1 kn=9
<!--
Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=885
|max speed mach=0.72
|cruise speed kmh=
|stall speed kmh=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|range km=1200
|combat range km=
|ferry range km=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=12800
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
<!--
Armament
-->
|armament=
*1 × {{cvt|37|mm|3}} [[Nudelman N-37]] [[autocannon]] with 40 rounds or 1 × 45 mm [[Nudelman-Suranov NS-45]]
*2 × [[23×115mm|{{cvt|23|mm|3}}]] [[Nudelman-Suranov NS-23]] autocannons (200 rounds per gun; 400 rounds total)
*Up to {{cvt|500|kg}} of bombs
|avionics=
}}
==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
*[[Messerschmitt Me 262]] – The world's first operational jet fighter.
*[[Gloster Meteor]] – The first Allied operational jet fighter.
|see also=
|sequence=
}}
==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}
==References==
* Gordon, Yefim. ''Early Soviet Jet Fighters''. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland, 2002. {{ISBN|1-85780-139-3}}.
* [[Bill Gunston|Gunston, Bill]]. ''The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995''. London: Osprey, 1995. {{ISBN|1-85532-405-9}}.
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060514222649/http://www.sukhoi.org/eng/planes/museum/su9_11_13/ Sukhoi Su-9, −11, −13 at the Sukhoi Company Museum]
{{Sukhoi aircraft}}
{{Soviet straight-winged jet fighters}}
{{USAF/DoD reporting names}}
[[Category:Sukhoi aircraft|Su-09 (1946)]]
[[Category:1940s Soviet fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Twinjets]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Abandoned military aircraft projects of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1946]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]
[[Category:Cruciform tail aircraft]]