Now in the Cold War Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, there is the Su-27UB Flanker C. That aircraft now sits with its new home, restored and on exhibit, offering insight into the exciting world of Cold War-era aviation and the convoluted journey it took to American soil.
This Su-27UB Flanker C was built on March 30, 1988, with the c/n 96310408027 and the f/n 05-02, and served initially with the 831st GvIAP Ukrainian Air Force at Mirgorod as “61 Blue.” The aircraft was retired and sold onto Pride Aircraft of Rockford, Illinois, in 2009, following a flight to the USA in the cargo hold of an An-124, and was registered as N132SU.
The pride aircraft was acquired as part of a broader attempt by Meridian, a Delaware-based firm brokering and acquiring specialized military hardware. In December 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a certificate of airworthiness for the Su-27, while in 2010, one was issued to Tactical Air Support to provide contract adversary air services to the military forces of the United States.
This Su-27UB retained its Ukrainian splinter camouflage when flying from Rockford Airport, Illinois, with Tactical Air Support. Its Ukrainian insignia had been replaced by the company logo, but it still carried its tactical code of “61 Blue” on the nose, now transformed to “32 Blue.” The problem was that all airworthiness certificates for the aircraft had expired back in 2013, and it was removed from the U.S. register in 2018.
The journey of this Su-27UB to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force remains somewhat mysterious. Some sources indicate it continued working in adversary services, while others claim it was handed over to the U.S. Air Force for foreign material exploitation. It was only very recently confirmed on the museum’s website that the Su-27UB had been acquired by the U.S. Air Force in 2011, which also marked the first time this had ever been released.
The Su-27UB Flanker C joins other icons of Cold War aircraft on display, such as the Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II, Lockheed SR-71A, and General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon. Conceived as an air superiority fighter in the Soviet Union during the early 1970s, this was Moscow’s counterpart to the F-15 Eagle, one with much growth potential that included a sea-going variant for carrier operations.
Displaying this Su-27UB in the museum not only underlines the place of the aircraft in history but also points toward the involvement of military aviation, international relations, and technological advancements in quite complicated ways. Visitors walking around the aircraft can appreciate the intricate details and stenciling in English that all testify to its unique journey from Ukraine skies to its current home in Ohio.