SU-34 production line photos...
 

These Riveting Photos Show How Russia's Su-34 Fullback Fighter-Bombers Get Built

-RP

Nice one. Thanks RP.

I wonder how much they cost? Looks like a well made machine!:ok:

Yes, it is indeed riveting.
Not exactly the Fort Worth mile-long production line however...

That's one Big Bu99er of an aeroplane :ooh:

SU34 the waddling duck :)

I wonder why Sukoi use such a labour intensive design for the SU34 comparied to the successful one piece design of the Mig25 fuselage centre section, in stainless steel :ooh:

Density of nickel steel is almost twice that of Titanium.

would love to see a schematic of the internal fuel tank arrangement!

1. Surprised so much of it is traditional construction
2. Intakes are simple pitot, no ramps that I could see
3. Intakes are all in a straight line, no attempt to hide the compressor from radar.
4. It's bl@@dy huge, would be interesting to see how far away it can be illuminated by radar.

That's the SU-34 they're building in the link, not the SU-24... :ok:

-RP

RP

Duly noted and amended, I meant SU34 but it's called fat fingers on a small key board :)

Looks like the B.U.F. for the 21st century. Oh, what a spooky looking monster machine! Reading further into it, I like the inclusion of a toilet and galley, and room to sleep on the floor.

Would they sell the RAF a few? ;)

Excellent photographs.
 

I love not-posed and un-staged photos and these are really good. Impressive production line as they always are, but also a very basic level of health and safety at the plant which makes me wonder what the rest of the manufacturing process/system is like. There are so many anomalies on display I almost lost count of them. First thing I thought of in picture 2 was of the LEAN team. I must need therapy, still.
But no denying its a beautiful looking, in fact fearsome looking warplane.
Russia still an enigma and a country not to be trifled with, or demeaned....

...or trusted, or believed.

Stealthy it is not...

EAP

Who needs stealthy when you have pure grunt and numbers:mad:

I don't think they necessarily have the numbers with Su-34.


Not like the old days with wall-to-wall MiG-15s and -17s !!


I think each batch of Su-34s has been quite limited due funding - at least to about 2 years ago when Putin then decided to reinvigorate his armed forces.

Stealthy, it was never intended to be...

-RP

Hangarshuffle,
"also a very basic level of health and safety at the plant" What are you basing that on???

FROGFOOTs from China?
 

A bit of thread drift, but still concerning Sukhoi production. Does anybody have a heads-up on possible planned Chinese Su25/28 production?
The reason I ask is that in a photograph taken at the recent large African/Chinese co-operation conference in Johannesburg there is a group ( including the now recently ex Tanzanian President) admiring a large model of a "FROGFOOT".

Observation.
No gloves, eye protection, bump hats... note riveter with ear protection but no one else has...working at height fall protection or crash mats [!]..segregation of admin and tech bays from production line to prevent FOD migration..using graphite pencils to mark out quality issues...again no hearing protection when cleaning the sheeties **** up,.. footwear varies from trainers to shoes..access panels left open and not blanked [fod traps esp engine bays]..four men on a wing...etc,etc...

Just because they do not go over board with some of the ridiculous H&S nonsense that has taken over the UK industry to point of strangulation, doesn't mean its an unsafe environment.

Is this a wind up?
No gloves, eye protection, bump hats... note riveter with ear protection but no one else has...working at height fall protection or crash mats [!]..segregation of admin and tech bays from production line to prevent FOD migration..using graphite pencils to mark out quality issues...again no hearing protection when cleaning the sheeties **** up,.. footwear varies from trainers to shoes..access panels left open and not blanked [fod traps esp engine bays]..four men on a wing...etc,etc...
Why do they need gloves? eye protection only needed when actually using the power tools not when just looking at stuff, fall protection, they are standing on a raised work platform, how can you tell what type of pencils being used? the open panels are probably being worked on and why on earth is four men on a wing an issue?
Go to any aircraft production line or maintenance facility and it will look very similar.

Lovely looking piece of kit! - Always had an eye for aesthetic right back to SU-7/17
In my opinion anyhow.

ROFL! Health and Safety isn't about being a hard case

I took some photos of one of these beasts at Farnborough in 2000. I remember being surprised at the poor quality finish, particularly of the radome:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...psyixz8dgh.jpg

typhoon production line - Bing images
boeing production line - Bing images
boeing production line - Bing images
boeing production line - Bing images
Things in the west look pretty similar, no hats, no gloves, no glasses and jeans and trainers.
It is not about being a hard case but rather the right kit for the right job.

But it isn't about PPE is it?
It's about complacency, being my brothers keeper.
And in some cases, sheer deliberate disobedience of engineering, work instructions, and company policy.

This the thing is, er, Jayand all it takes is a serious personal injury and the floodgates open, and to be honest, I've had enough hand eye, and other injuries over 29 plus years to be FIRMLY on the side of compulsory PPE wearing.

Having worked in some other Industrial sectors, I am always dismayed at the casual acceptance of personal injury risk in the aircraft maintenence and production operations.
The driver? getting the job done and taking shortcuts usually to save time.

How about long term skin problems due to exposure to the chemicals etc in daily use? You don't have to be applying the stuff to get in contact with it.

Hearing loss, Sheeties tearing the place up with airtools but no one gets issued the same level of hearing protection....

Falling from an aircraft is just the same as falling anywhere else.

etc,etc.

rgds

gr

whats in the tailcone then?

i always assumed - without really looking - it was some form of dass, but it looks more like an apu?

ps nice pics, thanks

Certainly looks like an APU exhaust. Possible flare dispensers on the lower surface, or maybe just access panels?

I think I have noticed a view on several threads that the younger generation really believe that being stealthy is the best way forward! If you look at stealth in depth it is obvious that it produces slow, less manoeuvrable aircraft that are limited to weapons carried internally! If the enemy is equipped with fast agile aircraft fitted with lots of external stores then the effect of pure stealth can be eliminated! Certainly, the Russians do not think stealth is the answer! Numbers rule for them and I'm tempted to agree:E:E:E

ECM and RWR gear...

-RP

Su-34 showing auxiliary power unit in tail cone.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...5405282703.jpg

Some large images of the Su-34 at following links.

http://russianplanes.net/images/to173000/172200.jpg

http://www.planephotos.net/photos/85...i-Su-34_38.jpg

Must have an interesting affect on center of gravity.

I think they might think that there is more than one answer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_PAK_FA

Bevo - it balances out the two-pilot cockpit, Elsan and what-have-you in the nose.

If only the yanks had realised that all you had to do to reduce RCS was to PAINT the angles on it...

And look at this worker- blatant disregard for safety!
Eating on the job!
Eye protection not in place!
No hearing protection!
Trousers rolled up- entanglemant hazzard!
Jewelry/wristband!
Jewelry/buttons on overalls- projectile hazzard, puncture hazzard!
Air hose frayed!
No gloves!
Exposed forearms!
No safety wiring on air hose connection!
Sitting on unapproved structure- fall hazzard!
No steel toed shoes!

Call OSHA!!!- shut Rosie Down!!!!



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...TheRiveter.jpg

This might interest (or at least mildly entertain) some along this thread






JAS