Pugachev's Cobra

In aerobatics, Pugachev's Cobra (or Pugachev Cobra) is a dramatic and demanding maneuver in which an airplane flying at a moderate speed suddenly raises the nose momentarily to the vertical position and slightly beyond, before dropping it back to normal flight. It uses potent engine thrust to maintain approximately constant altitude through the entire move. The maneuver has some use in close range combat, and is an impressive trick to demonstrate an aircraft's pitch control authority, high angle of attack (AOA) stability and engine-versus-inlet compatibility, as well as the pilot's skill. The manoeuvre is named after the Soviet test pilot Viktor Pugachev (First this maneuver in test flight was make by Sukhoi test-pilot Igor Volk), who first performed the manoeuvre publicly in 1989 at the Paris Le Bourget air show.

Description

An Su-27 performing the Cobra manoeuvre

In the case of the Su-27, the pilot initially disengages the angle of attack limiter of the plane, normally set at 26°. This action also disengages the g limiter. After that the pilot pulls back on the stick hard. The aircraft reaches 90–120° angle of attack with a slight gain of altitude and a significant loss of speed. When the elevator is centered, the drag at the rear of the plane causes torque, thus making the aircraft pitch forward. At that time the pilot adds power to compensate for the lift loss. In a properly performed Pugachev's Cobra, the plane maintains almost straight flight throughout the maneuver; the plane does not roll or yaw in either direction. Proper entry speed is significant because, if entering at too low a speed, the pilot might not be able to accomplish the maneuver; entering at too high a speed might result in airframe damage due to the high g-force or for the pilot to lose consciousness.

While Pugachev's Cobra can be executed using only standard aerodynamic controls, it could be achieved more easily with modern thrust vectoring. In the latter case it would be an example of supermaneuverability, specifically poststall maneuvering. The Herbst maneuvering and the helicopter manoeuvre are other examples of the recent growing use of vectored thrust in 4.5 and fifth-generation jet fighters, manned as well as unmanned.

Employment in combat

This manoeuvre could theoretically be useful when a combatant is being pursued closely by an opponent at a somewhat higher altitude. By executing the cobra, a pursued aircraft may suddenly slow itself to the point that the pursuer may overshoot it, allowing the previously pursued aircraft to complete the Cobra behind the other. This may give the now-pursuing aircraft an opportunity for firing its weapons, particularly if a proper pointing aspect (facing toward the former pursuer) can be maintained. Maintenance of the proper aspect can be facilitated when the aircraft employs thrust vectoring and/or canard control surfaces. The disadvantage of performing this manoeuvre is that it leaves the airplane in a low speed/low energy state, which can leave it vulnerable to attack from opposing aircraft. It can also be countered by maneuvers such as high yo-yo.

Examples of aircraft capable of the manoeuvre

Production aircraft

• Sukhoi Su-27 and variants (Su-30/Su-30MKI/Su-30MKM, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35, Su-37 and Shenyang J-11)
• Sukhoi PAK FA variant SUKHOI T-50/PAK FA SUPER MANEUVERABILITY
• Mikoyan MiG-29 and Mikoyan MiG-35
• Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
• Saab 35 Draken

Experimental aircraft

• Rockwell-MBB X-31
• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 HARV
• McDonnell Douglas F-15 STOL/MTD
• F-16 VISTA

See also

• Cobra Turn
• Herbst maneuver, post-stall braking and turn demonstrated by the Rockwell-MBB X-31 experimental thrust vectoring fighter.
• Kulbit, a more demanding combat manoeuvre (performed for example by the Sukhoi Su-37)

External links

• Interview with Pugachev about this manoeuvre
• Fighter Technology of the Future
• USAF & NATO Report RTO-TR-015 AC/323/(HFM-015)/TP-1 (2001)