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The Pilots Desk
FightersSoviet fighter prototype

Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8

Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8

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). 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. 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.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Category
Fighters
Country of origin
Soviet Union
First flight
1962-03-05
Length
16.9 m
Wingspan
7.15 m

Specifications

Cruise speed
748 kt
Max speed
748 kt
Service ceiling
66,000 ft
Max takeoff weight
18,078 lb
Empty weight
14,991 lb
Powerplant
Tumansky R-21 turbojet
Engines
1
Seats
1
Length
48.9 ft
Wingspan
23.1 ft
Number built
2

Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.