Mikoyan-Gurevich I-350

The Mikoyan-Gurevich I-350 (Izdeliye M), was a Soviet Cold War-era experimental fighter aircraft. It was the first Soviet aircraft able to maintain supersonic speed.

I-350
Role Experimental fighter aircraft
National origin Soviet Union
Manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich
First flight 16 June 1951
Number built 2

Design and development

From 1947, work began on a new axial-flow turbojet by OKB-165, led by Arkhip Mikhailovich Lyulka. OKB Mikoyan-Guryevich designed the I-350 around this engine, the 46.107 kN (10,365 lbf) Lyul'ka TR-3A (redesignated as the Lyulka AL-5). Resembling a scaled-up MiG-17, the I-350 had a long slim fuselage, mid-set 57° swept wings and a wide-chord fin mounting a tailplane at half-span.

Given the OKB designation Izdeliye M, it was the first Soviet fighter able to fly stably at supersonic speeds.[1] Redesignated as the I-350, the I-350M-1 first prototype was fitted with a RP-1 Izumrud airborne interception radar and the second prototype, I-350M-2, was fitted with a Korshun airborne interception radar.

Operational history

The I-350M-1 first flew on 16 June 1951, piloted by Grigoriy A. Sedov, but the engine failed shortly after takeoff, precipitating a hydraulic system failure. Despite battling very heavy control forces, the pilot made a successful landing after lowering the landing gear using the emergency undercarriage extension system. Four more test flights were made, with very poor engine reliability, before the I-350 programme was terminated in August 1951.[2]

Specifications (I-350)

Data from MiG: Fifty Years of Secret Aircraft Design,[1] Gunston[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 16.652 m (54 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.73 m (31 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 36 m2 (390 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: TsAGI SR-12s; tip: TsAGI SR-7s
  • Empty weight: 6,124 kg (13,501 lb)
  • Gross weight: 8,000 kg (17,637 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 8,710 kg (19,202 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 800 l (180 imp gal; 210 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lyulka AL-5A turbojet engine, 46.09 kN (10,360 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,260 km/h (780 mph, 680 kn)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.02
  • Range: 1,120 km (700 mi, 600 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 1,620 km (1,010 mi, 870 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 16,600 m (54,500 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 1.1 minutes
10,000 m (33,000 ft) in 2.6 minutes

Armament

  • Guns:
  • Hardpoints: 1 centre-line hardpoint

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Belyakov, R.A.; Marmain, J. (1994). MIG: Fifty Years of Secret Aircraft Design. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-1557505668.
  2. Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitry (2009). OKB Mikoyan. Hinkley: Midland. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-85780-307-5.
  3. Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995 (1st ed.). London: Osprey Publishing. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-85532-405-3.
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