"An aircraft is designed as if by itself. We know what performance and dimensions the radar should have, and fitted behind it should be a set of electronic equipment identifying position of the aircraft in flight, then comes the cockpit with the ejection seat, and avionics section accommodating all electronic devices controlling the aircraft. This way the first part of the aircraft makes appearance. Then we have to ensure superiority over the enemy - better flight performance, better attack angles. We choose what wings it should have. Thus, step by step the aircraft takes shape. And after it happens, we have to decide where to mount missile, where to put engines, where to pour fuel. If we drew the aircraft first, and then tried to squeeze everything inside, nothing would fit there", says Mr. Simonov.
In 1970 Mr. Simonov became deputy chief designer of the Moscow-based Kulon engineering factory headed at that time by Pavel Sukhoi. An then he led the work on designing a new Russian fighter intended to compete U.S. F-15.
After numerous readjustments, which, according to Mr. Simonov, were painstaking, the aircraft was rapidly getting thinner changing the fuselage contours and squeezing the outlay of instruments and equipment.
Finally, the country received Su-27 fighter in the form that we know today - they way a fighter should be to gain air superiority. According to the aircraft designer, Su-27 is 30% better than F-15.
