The guy who designed the Su-27, Simonov is a world-renowned scientist, his contribution to the advancement of aerospace technology is recognised from Russia tu the US. One of his fields of reserch, before he worked in the design of military aircraft was "wing in ground effect" and glideres. The Su 27 has engines taht can change the way they are pushing the aircraft, just like the F-22, but 20 years before it.