This is the first time Su-57 is participating in an air show abroad, and it has become clear now why the russians never allowed spectators to go anywhere close to it
The very first participation of the russian Su-57 fighter jet at an international event, the Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, was the final nail to the coffin of the myth that this aircraft belongs to the fifth generation. And also proof that all russian aircraft construction technologies remained 20th-century-level.
The oversight on the russian part was that they failed to organize a no-access zone for spectators, and the Chinese event visitors could freely come up unprecedentedly close to the Su-57 model demonstrated at the exhibition.
What especially catches the eye is the huge number of bolts holding together fuselage panels but this is no news, as previous models had the same look. A whole different matter is that the quality of joints fails to meet any reasonable expectations.
Next up are the photos of the tail part which are published for the first time. Look at the bolts: they have different drive types for fastening โ there are single-slotted, Phillips, and with a hexagonal hex head.
The joints connecting the weapon bay doors with other elements of the fuselage also speak volumes about the real technological level of aircraft construction in russia and its production culture as a whole.
These videos are being actively shared on Chinese social networks, with users mocking the russian “5th-gen fighter.” Though worth noting, it’s not the complete model for serial production but a prototype. Considering its bort number is 054 and the model ID is T-50-4, which means already the fourth among test articles, the presented model was supposed to be perfected at this point.
The Chinese commenters also compare the russian jet to their own fighter, the Chengdu J-20, which Beijing claims to be a 5th-generation representative. However, China is in no hurry to show the J-20 up close, too.
In conclusion, the entire production technology of the Su-57, an aircraft that russia alone calls “5th-gen,” indicates that only the shape of the fuselage implements stealth technologies while other elements falter. To illustrate the difference, here’s an image of the seamless fuselage of an actually inconspicuous F-35.
“The oversight on the russian part was that they failed to organize a no-access zone for spectators, and the Chinese event visitors could freely come up unprecedentedly close to the Su-57 model demonstrated at the exhibition.”
You would need a no-access zone to be created 1km away not to miss those rivets and assorted bolts used to throw this junk together.
You know its bad when even the Chinese are criticizing the quality of work.
Was reading an article before. KamAZ lost 3.8 billion rubles in the first 9 months of this year after posting a profit last year. If your biggest army truck manufacturer is losing money while your country is on a war economy, you are screwed.
https://cdn.britannica.com/76/146576-050-08ADD9FE/WaveRider-X-51A-test-aircraft-record-Boeing-US-May-2010.jpg
That looks stealtheir than the russian plane.
It looks like Made in the USA and won’t fall apart during take-off. But the little hair-sniffer is still scared of ruSSian toy planes and nukes that will implode during launch.
Better the Hair Sniffer than the Cu*t Grabber.
Trump would have left Ukraine swinging in the wind as he has made clear many many times.
Let’s hope Harris lives up to her promises.
Haven’t seen Ukraine dying while Donald was my president. But okay, Biden is the man, he told everybody after intel about ruSSia’s full-scale invasion leaked TO GET THE HELL OUT OF UKRAINE and keeps denying Ukraine to strike ruSSia. Awesome! ๐ค
“Look at the bolts: they have different drive types for fastening โ there are single-slotted, Phillips, and with a hexagonal hex head.”
๐๐๐๐๐
Our third-generation planes are better than that!
BTW, hex head is short for hexagonal head.
I was looking for the zip ties, but they must be holding the sensitive material together. ๐
Maybe paperclips? ๐คฃ
I noticed there seemed to be a lot of Gorilla tape on the plane, or the russian version of it. That’s not very reassuring for the pilots. ๐
Maybe there are also a number of plywood panels on this junk. Plywood is hard to see by radar. ๐
The buyers won’t be forming a queue around the block to purchase this potemkin plane.
I don’t think so either … unless you are Zimbabwe or Ivory Coast.