PKK with inflated pneumatic chambers
This year, the fifth generation Su-57 fighters are expected to be put into service with the Russian Aerospace Forces.. To begin, it is worth recalling, that according to the original plan, the start of operation of these fighters in the troops was scheduled for the end of December last year. But then, as is known, the aircraft crashed during acceptance tests. And the design and production group began to refine.
NPP Zvezda told about the creation of a flight suit, relating to a new generation of pilot equipment. It is this suit that is planned to be used by the pilots of the Su-57 fighters.. Its features, as reported, consist in, that it helps the pilot to overcome those overloads with greater efficiency, that occur in flight. In particular, pneumatic rubber chambers of the PPK-7 anti-g suit compress the lower part of the pilot's body and upper limbs. At the same time, the degree of compression depends on the acceleration of the fighter and does not allow the outflow of blood. The pneumatic chambers of the suit begin to inflate literally a fraction of a second before the start of the impact on the pilot of the overload itself.
An additional compensating effect is created precisely due to the larger area of the compensating sections. Weight of PKK-7 is not more than 3 kg (depending on size).
In this regard, the issue, why it was necessary for the pilots of the Su-57 to create a new anti-g suit?
It’s important to note here, that even on the first versions of the Su-57, the fuselage design is as follows, what is used in it 70 percent of composite materials of increased wear resistance. In particular, designers used polymer carbon fiber, which made it possible to more than significantly reduce the total mass of the combat vehicle. As previously noted, when creating the Su-57 from materials traditional for previous generations of fighters, its mass would be at least four times that, what is currently in the existing configuration.
Significant weight reduction naturally affects flight performance. Fifth-generation fighter Su-57 capable of performing maneuvers, which are even theoretically impossible on many other fighters. And just then there is a conversation about the possibility of an increased load on the pilot during maneuvering (overmaneuvering) and on the, how to overcome it. A sharp increase in load can, for obvious reasons, lead to serious consequences for the pilot. Hence the need to use a suit with higher capabilities to compensate for emerging loads in flight.. Pilot, on the body of which, a fraction of a second before the occurrence of an overload, pneumatic chambers begin to operate (including impact on hands), has the opportunity not only to prepare, what is called, physical, but also to perform certain actions to solve a combat mission.
Includes Su-57 pilot outfit and a special protective helmet. This is a modernization of ZSh-10, which is lighter than many analogues, as it is made using organoplasty. According to some reports, upgraded interactive multimedia helmet, allowing synchronization with control devices on the panel. Under conditions of increased loads, related to the functionality of the Su-57, the ability to have access to control even in the most difficult situations, extremely important for a military pilot.
This equipment will be improved as pilots master the Su-57 fighter after it is put into service with the Russian Aerospace Forces.
