Ukrainian fighter pilot "Viking" walks 25 miles to battle skies
The Ukrainian Army Inform service presented the story of a Su-27 fighter pilot with the pseudonym "Viking," who belongs to one of Ukraine's tactical air brigades. In a video published on YouTube, the pilot discussed, among other things, the beginning of the conflict with the Russians and how he had to walk about 25 miles to take his place at the controls of the fighter jet.
"Viking" mentioned that he feared "missing the war." When it started, he was at an aviation health complex. After completing the necessary formalities, he headed to Zhytomyr, where the fighters from his unit were taking off. However, this was not an easy task. The roads were congested, and public transport was largely limited. "Viking," who set out on the journey from Kyiv, decided not to waste time and walked the last stretch to the base, covering about 25 to 28 miles.
The Ukrainian pilot shared his experiences
He recounted arriving in Zhytomyr and beginning combat missions by morning, with initial flights targeting the Kyiv region during the day and later at night. At first, he did not fully comprehend the reality of war. "Viking" described the early days of the conflict as particularly challenging for the pilots, with aerial operations primarily focused on deterrence. He noted the absence of air defense systems at the time, leaving them alone on the front lines as the Russians persistently attempted to infiltrate the area with Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft at very low altitudes during the night.
The Su-27 pilot explained that their targeting systems and missiles were outdated by two generations. He stressed that they managed to prevent Russian aviation from entering and operating freely, which would have drastically changed the situation. Despite the short range of their takeoffs, the pilots persisted, launching missiles and fending off attacks every night. He noted that nearly every pilot participated in two or even three nightly air battles, each lasting about an hour and a half.
Ukrainian Su-27
The Su-27 is a fourth-generation Soviet fighter jet, designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau as a response to the American F-15 Eagle. Its main task was to achieve air superiority. The aircraft has a length of 72 feet, a wingspan of 48 feet, and a height of 19 feet. It is powered by two AL-31F engines. The maximum speed of the Su-27 is 2.35 Mach, equivalent to approximately 1,550 mph. The operational ceiling of this machine is 60,696 feet, and the range without additional fuel tanks is 2,193 miles.
The armament of the Su-27 includes a 30 mm cannon with 150 rounds and up to 10 hardpoints for carrying various air-to-air missiles, such as the R-27R1 (ER1), R-27T1 (ET1), and R-73E. The aircraft can also carry unguided rockets and bombs weighing between 220 and 1,102 pounds.
The Ukrainian Air Force has Su-27 fighters in its arsenal, which are actively used in the defense of the country. These fighter jets play a crucial role in intercepting and destroying enemy aerial targets, such as aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. With the support of Western countries, Ukrainian Su-27s have been integrated with modern weaponry, like American AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles, increasing their effectiveness in combating Russian radar and air defense systems.
