The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 is a Soviet 4th generation air-superiority fighter designed to counter the American F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle alongside with the Sukhoi Su 27. It was designed in the 1970s and entered service in 1983. There had been more than 500 made by 1991. It is still used by the Russian Air Force and other nations. The MiG-29 is very manoeuvrable and can perform the Cobra manoeuvre.
Details[]
- Length: 56 ft
- Wingspan: 36 ft
- Wing Area: 410.07 ft2
- Instantaneous Turning Capability: 20°
- Sustained Turn Capability: 14°-16°/second
- Maximum Speed At Sea Level: 805 MPH
- Maximum Speed At 30,000 ft: 1,850 MPH (According to Novalogic's MIG-29 Fulcrum flight simulator)
- Maximum Range: 1,301 Miles
German Luftwaffe MiG-29s were also tested against US F-16 Fighting Falcon, in which the MiG's won the dogfight, because of the helmet sight system they used. Today, the F-15, F-18 and F-16 fleets are upgraded with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, which when used by the F-15, let the F-15 defeat the MiG-29 in a real War theatre.
Trivia[]
- The MiG 29 is equipped with a zero/zero ejection seat, which lets the pilot eject at zero speed, zero altitude safely.
- Both single seat variants and dual seat variants have been produced.
- The engines are left and right side peculiar, and are not interchangable.
- The prototype MiG 29's nose wheel is farther up on the plane, being located under the cockpit, as opposed to right behind it.
- Early production MiG 29's had ventral fins; these were later removed without stability loss.
- The MIG-29 is the competitor of the North American F-35.
Gallery[]
References[]
- The Encyclopedia of Mordern Warplanes, Blitz Editions, Bill Gunston