Flying Su-57 Felon without canopy

The Russian stealth aircraft Su-57 Felon performed a test commonly used in combat aircraft. It flew without a canopy.

When the Su-57 Felon was filmed flying without a canopy, this strange event caused a lot of curiosity and controversy. After all, why was a fighter aircraft flying without plexiglass protection (canopy) like a convertible aircraft?

In fact, a "Cockpit Survivability Test" was being carried out, which was necessary for the pilot to evaluate emergency procedures in case the canopy unexpectedly ejected, and this test was a required activity during the test and evaluation phases of this type of jet fighter aircraft. 

This test was carried out at the Russian Chkalov State Flight Test Centre, an institution more than a hundred years old. In the footage, it was possible to notice that the pilot in the cockpit was wearing cold-resistant, cold-climate clothing.

Is it possible to launch the canopy by accident?

Long ago, the Panavia Tornado and Grumman F-14 Tomcat jets, which passed the same test as the Sukhoi Su-57, are also shown in the images without canopies.

F-14 Tomcat flying without canopy

Panavia Tornado flying without canopy

It is not uncommon for jet fighters to accidentally eject the canopy from the aircraft. 

In January 2019, two Israeli Air Force pilots lost their F-15 Eagle's canopy at an altitude of 30,000 ft (9,144 metres) while exposed to -45 °C.

Also in 2019, a pilot flying a Rafale fighter jet of the French Air Force accidentally triggered the canopy ejection lever during take-off, causing the canopy to detach from the aircraft, but managed to land the canopy-less jet safely.

In aviation; although not frequently, canopy separation from the aircraft in the air may occur due to malfunction, unintentional control, etc. In order to adapt to this situation and to determine the procedures for managing the crisis, even test flights without a canopy have been carried out.