JC Wings Military 1/72 JCW72SU27012 SU-27UB FLANKER UKRAINE AIR FORCES, 831ST TACTICAL AVIATION BRIGADE, 2017

Limited Edition No. 159

The Ukrainian Air Force's 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade operates the Su-27 Flanker, a key component of Ukraine's air defence. Based at Mirgorod Air Base, the 831st is one of the premier units equipped with this multi-role fighter, which has been in service since the Soviet era but continues to play a crucial role in modern-day operations.

The Su-27 is known for its superior manoeuvrability and combat capabilities, particularly in air superiority and ground attack missions. During the ongoing conflict with Russia, the 831st's Su-27s have been vital in defending Ukrainian airspace and conducting strike operations against enemy forces.

Sukhoi Su-27UB Flanker-CDesigned by the Soviet Union to challenge the superiority of fourth generation US fighters such as the F-15 Eagle, the Su-27 was first flown on May 20, 1977. This one seat Mach-2 fighter had the Soviet Union's first operational fly-by-wire system. The aircraft is very large compared to the MiG-29, its closest Soviet counterpart, but it is built with a high percentage of titanium, which helps minimize its weight. It is exceptionally agile and is perhaps most famous for its "Cobra" manoeuvre, which is a short, sustained level flight at a 120 degree angle of attack, often performed at air shows.