- Kulbit
The "Kulbitinscy" (or simply, "Kulbit") is an aerial maneuver developed by
Russia n pilots, in which the aircraft performs an incredibly tight diametered loop, often not much wider than the length of the aircraft itself. It is an example ofpost-stall maneuvering [ [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj88/spr88/siuru.html Fighter Technology of the Future ] ] , a type ofsupermaneuverability [ [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj88/spr88/siuru.html Fighter Technology of the Future ] ] . Like most post-stall maneuvers, it demonstrates pitch control outside of the normal flight envelope wherein pitch control is made possible by having aerodynamic flow over the aircraft's elevators orstabilator s.The Kulbit drastically decelerates the aircraft and could theoretically be used to cause a pursuing aircraft to overshoot its target. The maneuver is closely related to the famous "
Pugachev's Cobra " maneuver, but the Kulbit completes the loop that the Cobra almost immediately cuts off.Combat use
Use of the Kulbit maneuver has never been recorded under actual combat conditions, and its practicality in such a situation is still under debate. However, even the most skeptical observers generally acknowledge its effectiveness as an impressive
airshow stunt.Aircraft known to be able to execute the "Kulbit"
The following aircraft are currently known to be able to execute the "Kulbit":
*RUS
**MiG-29OVT
**Sukhoi Su-33 Fact|date=April 2008
**Sukhoi Su-37 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ALt3m3Kkhw SU-37 Kulbit] ]*RUS / IND
**Sukhoi Su-30MKI *USA
**F-22 Raptor All have performed the Kulbit in airshow displays in the past.
It is rumored that the
Sukhoi Su-27 can also perform the maneuver, though that claim is under dispute. Ultra-modernthrust vectoring aircraft (such as the experimental RussianSukhoi Su-47 Berkut) should, theoretically, also be able to perform the maneuver. No public record of any other aircraft performing the maneuver has been recorded.The
F-22 Raptor demonstrated the Kulbit maneuver at the 2007 Langley demonstration. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUgPscDjf7U 2007 Langley Air demonstration] ] Further, theF-15 ACTIVE should be able to perform the Kulbit as well.References
External links
* [http://aeroweb.lucia.it/~agretch/RAFAQ/display.html A page containing a movie file of the Kulbit maneuver (listed as "Somersault, loop min radius")]
* [http://www.electronicaviation.com/video/download/23/file Video showing the Su-30MKI Flanker showing off its Thrust Vectoring and doing a Cobra and a Kulbit]
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