Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8

MiG-8 Utka
A MiG-8 in flight
Role Experimental/liaison aircraft
Manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich
First flight 13 August 1945
Status Prototype
Number built 1

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-8 «Утка») was a Soviet experimental aircraft. Built of wood, the aircraft was designed and built in 1945 to test the novel canard configuration. It also used a tricycle undercarriage, the first used by the design bureau (OKB). It was modified to test a variety of configurations and later used as a liaison aircraft for many years by the design bureau.

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Design and development

Nicknamed Utka ("duck"), as the word canard (referring to its small forward wings) is French for "duck", the MiG-8 was an experimental aircraft designed and built by the OKB to evaluate the stability and handling of the canard configuration in conjunction with swept wings. This design has benefits in a jet-powered aircraft as it leaves the rear of the fuselage clear of interference from the jet's exhausts. To test the concept the MiG-8 was powered by a Shvetsov M-11 five-cylinder radial engine, with a pusher propeller.

The aircraft was used as a testbed in developing the swept wing of the MiG-15, and afterwards continued to fly as communications/utility aircraft for the OKB.

Being made of wood and fabric, it was very light and reportedly a favorite among MiG OKB test pilots for its docile, slow-speed handling characteristics.

Specifications

Data from Gunston, The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995, p. 184

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

References

Bibliography
  • Gordon, Yefim and Komissarov, Dmitry. OKB Mikoyan: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, 2009 ISBN 1-85780-307-5
  • Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London, Osprey, 1995 ISBN 1-85532-405-9

External links