So, hier der Text zur Su-7 :
"The disappointing Sukhoi
If the PAF claims are correct, the Sukhoi Su-7 must have
proved a great disappointment to the six IAF strike squadrons
operating it in the West and Central Sectors. Of the 145
Su-7s in the total IAF inventory in December, 32 were
claimed destroyed by the Pakistani forces, or exactly
one-third of the 96 aircraft in squadron service. This was a
loss total equa]led only by the Hunter, with 32 aircraft
claimed destroyed by the Pakistanis out of 112 in service
with six IAF squadrons and an Operational Training Unit.
As in 1965, the Indo-Pakistan air war was almost entirely
an ultra low-level aA'air, and the nominal maximum speed
of Mach 1 6 achieved by the Su-7 at altitude meant little in
terms of the fighting in December. With an empty weight of
19,000 1b (8 620 kg), and a maximum gross of 29,600 Ib
(13 425 kg), the Su-7 is a very large airplane, powered by a
single massive Lyulka AL-7F turbojet rated at J4,200 1b
(6440 kg) dry thrust, or 22,046 1b (10000 kg) with full
afterburning. Its Achilles heel is its performance in maximum
dry thrust at low altitude which proved so modest – not
much more than 450 knots (835 km/h) – that the Su-7
provided an easy target for both groundfire and PAF
fighters during its first few days of operation.
Its drag rise also proved excessive, especially when
mana,'uvring, but to obtain extra power from the after-
burning results in an increase in specific fuel consumption
from about 0 817 to 2 2 1b/1b thrust/hr (0,817 to 2,2 kg/
kgp/hr) at sea level. Total consumption then becomes
more than 48,000 1b (21 770 kg) of fuel per hour, or a little
more than eight minutes flying on the maximum internal
fuel capacity of 7,000 1b (3 175 kg). A further 2,l00 1b
(952 kg) of fuel may be carried in twin belly tanks, but these
are, of course, dropped in combat and, in any case, reduce
the maximum military load to no more than 2,000 1b
(907 kg) of external stores. Fixed armament comprises two
30-mm NR-30 cannon with 70 rpg.
Several Su-7s which used afterburning to evade pursuing
PAF fighters are believed, from radio intercepts, to have
Flamed out soon after crossing the border! Another
operational disadvantage of a low-level exit using after-
burning is that the exhaust intensity acts as a "Eyecatcher"
for the IR-homing Sidewinder. As evidenced by the use of
MiG-21s as top cover for the Su-7s after the first few days,
the Sukhoi welterweight is therefore suitable for use only
in conditions of local air superiority. This the IAF apparently
did not manage to achieve over Pakistan. "
Aus :AIR ENTHUSIAST, MAY 1972