Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8
| MiG-8 Utka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The MiG-8 in flight | |
| Role | Experimental/liaison aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan-Gurevich |
| First flight | 13 August 1945 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 1 |
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The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 Utka ((Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-8 «Утка»), "duck") 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 vertical stabilizer and wing tip configurations and later used as a liaison aircraft for many years by the design bureau.
Design and development
Nicknamed Utka ("duck"), as the word canard (referring to its small forward wings) is French for "duck", and the Russian term for canard wing is "duck" scheme (схема "утка"), 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
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2
- Length: 6.995 m (22 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 15 m2 (160 sq ft)
- Airfoil: Clark YH
- Empty weight: 642 kg (1,415 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,150 kg (2,535 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 195 litres (43 imp gal; 52 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × de-rated Shvetsov M-11FM five cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 82 kW (110 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed, 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 205 km/h (127 mph; 111 kn)
- Range: 500 km (311 mi; 270 nmi)
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 978-1-85780-307-5
- Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London, Osprey, 1995 ISBN 1-85532-405-9
External links
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