The Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 was a supersonic jet fighter developed in the Soviet Union, intended to replace the MiG-21 (originally named MiG-23). Only two prototypes were built in 1960–61. The original MiG-21's air intakes were moved under the fuselage, freeing up the nose where a larger and more powerful radar, able to deliver longer range air-to-air missiles, could be built in. Canards were built to both sides of the nose, in front of the cockpit, (the horizontal stabilizers of MiG-21 were left at their original position).
| Ye-8 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Design group | OKB-155 |
| First flight | 1962 |
| Status | Prototypes |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 |
The two prototypes flew in 1962. On 11 September 1962, the Tumansky R-21F-300 engine, also under development, exploded in midair at a speed of Mach 2.15.[1] Test pilot Georgy Konstantinovich Mosolov, then one of the leading Soviet test pilots, was severely injured by debris from the compressor and had to eject at Mach 1.78.
Due to unsolved technical problems, the aircraft's development was abandoned; some parts were used on the MiG-23, including R-23 missiles and their associated Sapfir-23 radar.
Specifications
editData from MiG: Fifty Years of Secret Aircraft Design[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 23.13 m2 (249.0 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,200 kg (18,078 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Tumansky R-21 turbojet, 46.05 kN (10,350 lbf) thrust dry, 70.55 kN (15,860 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,386 km/h (861 mph, 748 kn) at 12,000 m (39,000 ft)[3]
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.15
- Service ceiling: 20,000 m (66,000 ft)
Armament
- Missiles: 2 × K-13 air-to-air missiles (planned)
See also
edit
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Convair F-106X
- Dassault Milan
- Dassault Mirage IIIF/F1
- Douglas F5D
- English Electric Lightning F3/F6
- Grumman F11F-1F
- McDonnell Douglas F-4C
- Northrop F-5
- Saab Draken J 35F
- Sukhoi P-1
- Sukhoi Su-11
- Sukhoi T-49
- Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III
Related lists
References
edit- ^ "A&S Interview: Georgy Mosolov". AirSpaceMag.com. 2009-01-22. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ Belyakov and Marmain 1994, pp. 318–319.
- ^ Gunston 1995, p. 206.
- Belyakov, R.A; Marmain, J. (1994). MiG: Fifty Years of Secret Aircraft Design. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-488-4.
- Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
External links
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- Е-8 (in Russian). Ugolok neba aircraft encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- Е-8 (МиГ-21М, МиГ-23) (in Russian). www.testpilot.ru/. Retrieved 2009-05-02.