ADVANCED BUILD
Chris Jones wades through parts and decals aplenty to finish the incredible debut release from new Chinese company Minibase: Sukhoi’s Su-33 ‘Sea Flanker’
Sukhoi’s Su-33 (NATO reporting name Flanker-D) is a single seat navalised version of the land-based Su-27.
As the Cold War ended, this carrier-based multi-role aircraft was intended form a key element of the Soviet Union’s ‘bluewater’ navy aspirations, being a quantum leap in capability from the Yak-38 Forgers operated from Kiev-class decks. However, with USSR’s collapse and dissolution, these plans foundered, with just a single conventional carrier – eventually named Admiral Kuznetsov – completed. The resulting financial situation also affected the Su-33, and just 25 production aircraft were built; these are operated by a single unit, the Severomorsk-based 279th Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment (OKIAP), which is split into the 1st ‘Tiger’ and 2nd ‘Eagle’ squadrons. Recently, the Kuznetsov and its air wing made their first and only combat cruise to date, as part of the Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War during November-December 2016. Despite there being no official export sales of the type, the Flanker-D…
