Pugachev's Cobra

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The Pugachev Cobra is a fighter aircraft maneuver. It is a demonstration of the pitch control authority, high angle of attack (AOA) stability and engine/inlet compatibility at high angles of attack of the aircraft. The maneuver allows for very quick turns which can make an attack fail or put the pilot in a position to execute an attack. It is an example of air combat manoeuvering (ACM). Western experts on ACM believe this maneuver has absolutely no value in actual air combat; nonetheless, the Pugachev Cobra is known to be one of the most aesthetic, dramatic, demanding and beautiful maneuvers performed at air shows worldwide. The maneuver is so named after the Sukhoi OKB (design bureau) test pilot Viktor Pugachev, who first performed the maneuver.

The maneuver consists of the pilot disengaging the alpha limiter and pulling the aircraft to a 90°–120° angle of attack, then back down to zero. In a properly performed Pugachev's Cobra, the plane maintains a straight and level flight throughout the maneuver.

The vertical form of this maneuver is called a Cobra, named after the snake that behaves in a similar manner. Performing the maneuver on the horizontal plane is known as a Hook, and is considered a most effective maneuver.

Vehicles known to be able to make the cobra maneuver are the Su-27 'Flanker' family (from horizontal flight), MiG-29 'Fulcrum' (from a 30 degree up angle), the F-22 (from horizontal flight) and the F/A-18E/F (from horizontal flight). Thrust vectoring aircraft (such as the Su-30 'Flanker', Su-37 'Flanker-F', Su-47 'Berkut', MiG 1.42, F-15 ACTIVE, F-16 MATV/VISTA, and NASA's X-31) should be able to perform this maneuver more easily, though note that the air intake still needs to be able to handle the air inflow. Russian fighters, designed for high maneuverability, are known for performing this maneuver at air shows for dramatic effect. Until recently, the German Luftwaffe have performed the maneuver with Cold-War era MiG-29s (for example at the air show for the Royal Dutch Airforce at Gilze-Rijen Airforce Base, in 2002). The Eurofighter Typhoon should be able to perform this maneuver, as long as the engines stay lit.