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Sukhoi has posted video on today's first flight of its T-50 prototype of the Russian PAK-FA fifth-generation fighter, from Komsomolsk-on-Amur.Video: SukhoiRead our Aviation Week story: Russian Fifth-Generation Fighter Airborne.The design clearly shows similarities to the Lockheed Martin F-22 - primarily in planform - and the Northrop Grumman/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 - mainly in the forward fuselage and intakes - as well as its lineage to previous Sukhoi designs (the tail sting).There are some interesting features, including the movable wing leading-edge root extensions, just above the inlets, which presumably act like foreplanes. Also the fairings under the inboard wing sections, which are presumed to be short-range missile bays. The small size of the all-moving vertical fins is also notable.Close up, the T-50 is clearly a prototype, with the visible fasteners, protruding air-data probes and the apparent lack of sawtooth edges on panels and doors for stealth. If the intakes are S-ducts then they are not as serpentine as on the F-22 and YF-23 and there appear to be auxiliary inlets on the intake sides.
Tags: ar99, Sukhoi, T-50, PAK-FA