I’m Kayla. I write about gear I touch, hear, and sometimes get queasy in. Jets are loud, hot, and weirdly cozy once you settle in. I’ve had backseat flights, trainer sessions, and more than a few long nights in drafty hangars with tea in an enamel mug. You know what? These planes carry stories. And I’ve got a few.
Here’s my personal top 10. Not a lab test. Just real moments, sweat, and a little jet fuel on my boots.
If you’re hungry for raw specs, cutaway drawings, and deep photo galleries of these birds, swing by Air-Attack where the details roar as loud as the engines.
For the full deep-dive (loaded with cockpit photos and spec tables), you can read my longer feature on Air-Attack: My Hands-On Take: Top 10 Russian Fighter Jets I’ve Sat In, Flown In, or Trained On.
1) Su-57 “Felon”
I first sat in a Sukhoi Su-57 mock-up at MAKS. Big glass screens. Clean lines. The seat hugged me like a race car. The canopy felt open, and I could see well out front. My notes say: less clutter, more calm.
The good part? It felt modern, like a tidy cockpit you could learn fast. The tough part? On the ground, the jet sits tall, and ladder climbs with gear weren’t my favorite. Also, fit and finish on the mock-up varied by panel. Early days vibes.
2) Su-35S “Flanker-E”
A pilot let me climb the ladder and strap in at an air show. The stick felt smooth, and the display layout made sense. I remember the smell—warm plastic and a hint of fuel. When the engines spooled for a demo, my ribs vibrated on the ladder. Not subtle.
I love how the Su-35S mixes power and grace. It’s a dancer with big shoulders. But the cockpit still shows some old-school touches. Good bones, a few wrinkles.
3) Su-30SM
I got a backseat ride with an instructor. Nothing wild—gentle turns, a climb, and a steady roll that made my stomach ask questions. The two-seat setup helped. We could talk, point, and work through a simple flow.
It felt friendly for a big fighter. Room to think. But weight shows on long taxi runs. And I needed a second stretch after landing because my G-suit bit into my hips. Small price, still a price.
4) Su-34 “Fullback”
Side-by-side seating makes this one feel like a tiny studio apartment. I sat in a Su-34 at a base visit in winter. The cabin was warm, and the crew showed me the little space to heat food. Yes, really. Little touches matter on long sorties.
It’s comfy by fighter standards, and the view out front is wide. The flip side? It’s big. On the ground, it eats space and time. You feel the mass at every step.
5) MiG-31BM “Foxhound”
I didn’t fly in it. I sat front seat during engine run-up and a short taxi. The jet felt like a freight train with a badge. Heavy switches. Thick gloves. No-nonsense.
I respect the purpose here—straight lines, high speed, big reach. But it’s not a jet that tries to charm you. You strap in, you do the thing, and you get out. The seat felt higher than I expected, which I liked. The ladder climb? Less fun in the wind.
6) MiG-29/UB “Fulcrum”
This one gave me my tallest grin. (I was in the Mikoyan MiG-29, for the record.) I did a high-alt backseat ride years ago. We climbed hard. The sky turned deep blue, and the world below got quiet. My cheeks ached from the mask, and I didn’t care.
It’s a sprinter. Quick hands, quick jet. But fuel goes fast, and the cockpit runs hot on the ramp. My knees knocked into the rails when I shifted. Small cabin, big heart.
If raw agility is your yardstick, check out my side-by-side impressions of several jets in this piece: I Flew in These Fighter Jets—Here’s Which One Felt the Most Agile.
7) MiG-35
I tried the MiG-35 cockpit at MAKS in a demo setup. Glass-heavy layout, cleaner than older MiGs. The seat leaned me forward just enough to keep me alert. I liked the head-down time. Clear fonts. Good brightness.
It felt like the MiG-29 grew up. Still, I caught a few edges on panel seams, and one switchguard wobbled. Maybe that unit had a rough week. The idea is sound. The finish is still catching up.
8) Su-33 “Flanker-D”
I watched carrier pilots practice ashore and sat in a naval trainer sim with a ski-jump profile. The launch cues came quick. You line up, you breathe, and then—nothing but sky. Even in a sim, my chest buzzed.
The Su-33 looks born for spray and steel. Big flaps, folding bits, beefy gear. It’s a ship cat, no doubt. But it’s the kind of jet that needs space, crew, and time. Not simple, not light.
9) Su-27 “Flanker”
An old Su-27UB at a museum let me sit and daydream. The canopy was heavy, and the view felt pure. No fuss. I gripped the stick and thought of all the hands that held it.
This is the blueprint for so many Russian fighters I’ve come to know. It flies like a story that others edit and reprint. Age shows—worn pads, stiff latches—but charm wins.
10) MiG-25 “Foxbat”
Steel soul. That’s how it felt. I climbed into a preserved airframe and it was all business. Big panels. Chunky knobs. If a blast furnace had a cockpit, it might look like this.
It’s not about comfort. It’s about speed and reach. I sat there, breathed in cold dust, and pictured the long, straight runs. Simple, strong, and a little scary—like a fast train at night.
Little Things I Noticed That Matter
- Helmets get heavy after an hour. Your neck will tell you about it later.
- In winter, the ramp smells like kerosene and metal. Your boots slide on frost, and you move slow.
- Ladder climbs feel different on every jet. Some are wide and kind. Some pinch your shins.
- Modern glass cockpits cut stress. Fewer head moves. Less hunting.
- Old jets teach patience. You learn by touch—how a latch sticks, how a switch clicks.
Spending time on flight lines and in barracks also reminds you how powerful a good classifieds board can be—need a rare visor, a last-minute ride to the next base, or a couch to crash on? The right platform links strangers faster than a scramble klaxon. For a peek at how sleek, modern classifieds can streamline those instant connections, check out Mega Personals and see how its no-frills interface pairs people quickly while keeping things anonymous.
On a layover in South Florida last year, my crew chief swore by the hyper-local Backpage North Miami listings—it’s packed with real-time posts for everything from short-term room shares to specialty lens rentals, so you can lock down logistics and get back to the ramp without missing a beat.
What I Loved Most
- The Su-34’s side-by-side calm. It’s human.
- The MiG-29’s grin factor. Quick, sharp, honest.
- The Su-35S balance—brawny but smooth.
- The Su-57’s tidy layout. It felt like tomorrow.
What Bugged Me (Just A Bit)
- Heat soak on ramps. Some cockpits turn into ovens.
- Tight knee room in older MiGs. Bruises happen.
- Panel fit on a few demo birds. Small stuff, but I notice.
- Long gear checks in the cold. Fingers go numb, and zippers fight back.
Final Thoughts
These jets are not abstract to me. I’ve climbed them, buckled in, and felt the thump in my ribs. Some made me calm. Some made me gulp. All of them told me something true about design and about people—how crews work, how pilots think, how machines age.
If you like seat-of-the-pants comparisons, I also wrote about what it was like to sit in both the F-16 and the J-10C while mulling Egypt’s possible fighter swap: [I Sat in Both Jets—Here’s My Take on Egypt Swapping F-16s for J-10C](https://www.air-attack.com/i-sat-in-both-jets-heres-my-take-on-egypt-swapping-f-16