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MiG-29 Fulcrum and its Proper Name The Mikoyan MiG-29

The Mikoyan MiG-29 was given the MiG-29 Fulcrum as a designation by NATO. The MiG-29 is a fourth generation Russian fighter aircraft built to counter the McDonald Douglas F-15 Eagle and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Soviet Union built the new jet fighter aircraft to play an air superiority role. The Mikoyan design bureau developed the aircraft in the 70s and it did not enter service until 1983. The MiG-29 dubbed Fulcrum by NATO stuck because even the Russian fighter pilots use the unofficial name Fulcrum.

Right at the height of the Cold War in 1969 the Soviet Union became aware of the United States Air Force F-X program of which the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle was borne. The only response for the Soviet Union was to build a fighter to counter the new American fighter aircraft.

A new requirement was issued by the Soviet General Staff for an Advanced Front Line Fighter. And of course they wanted everything to be able to counter the American’s. They wanted an agile Mach 2 plus fighter that could be heavily armed. The new jet fighter was to be capable of excellent short field performance and the ability to use less than perfect runways with a long range. Sukhoi design bureau and Russian aerodynamics institute went right to work on the project.

The result was the Mikoyan Product 9 later given the designation MiG-29A started by 1974. The MiG-29A made it first flight in early October of 1977. Thanks to the United States reconnaissance satellites the new aircraft was spotted as early as November that same year.

The Soviet program suffered many delays due to the loss of two of their prototypes due to engine accidents. Then later a third and fifth prototype, the MiG-29B entered service late August 1983. Acceptance by the State was reached in 1984 and Soviet Frontal Aviation started taking deliveries.

The MiG-29 started filtering into the front line service with the Soviet Air Forces in the mid-1980s. The MiG-29 Fulcrum replaced the old out of date MiG-23 in the role of frontal aviation. The MiG-29 was designed with air intakes that were covered with grates to protect the engines. They also were outfitted with a very rugged landing gear. The idea was to prevent damage encountered from airstrips that were less than perfect. Should there be the need for a fast armored advance under prepared airstrips would not present problems for the Soviet aircraft.

The Soviet Union generally did not assign names to its aircraft. Nicknames were a common occurrence. It was thought the NATO reporting name Fulcrum; seem to be flattering to the Soviet fighter pilots. They thought that it was a good description of the aircrafts purpose. The name stuck and was used somewhat unofficially in the Russian service.

Downgraded versions of the MiG-29B were exported making a good money maker for the Soviet Union. About 840 aircraft were made available for Warsaw Pact and non-Warsaw Pact nations. The avionics were lower grade and they were not set up to deliver nuclear weapons.

The MiG-29 is controlled by Hydraulics and does not use the modern fly-by-wire control systems of modern jet fighter aircraft. It is said the airframe is pre-stressed for up to 9g maneuvers. The control system has built in soft limiters that prevent pilots from exceeding alpha limits and Gs. If needed the safety soft limiters can be disabled manually.

MiG-29 Fulcrum Power Plant

There are two Klimov RC-33 turbofans in each aircraft. They can generate 11,240 lbf of thrust and when the afterburner is kicked on the thrust jumps to 18,277 lbf. They are placed with quite a bit of space between them on the aircraft. Doing this creates a considerable amount of lift reducing wing loading and gives a boost to maneuverability. The wedge intakes feed the engines under the leading edge and they can vary the ramps for Mach speeds. When there are very poor airfields to operate from the main air intakes can be closed preventing debris entering the engines. When the intakes are closed secondary intakes on the upper fuselage are used on takeoff and landings.

MiG-29 Fulcrum Armament

The MiG-29 carries one GSh-30-1 30 mm cannon that is located in the port wing root. In the first variants only 150 rounds were carried. Later models reduced the magazine to only 100 rounds. In the first production of the MiG-29B aircraft when the centerline extra fuel tank was installed it was not possible to fire the cannon. The extra fuel tank blocked the ejection port and the problem was corrected on later versions in the MiG-29S. Each MiG-29 has up to eight pylons 4 under each wing or 3 on older aircraft so either 6 or 8 pylons for bombs, missiles or rockets. The pylons closest to the fuselage can carry 300 gal fuel tanks if needed. It is also possible for and added 400 gal fuel tank to be installed between the engines. It is used for long ferry flights but never for combat missions.

MiG-29 Fulcrum First Appeared

In 1986 in Finland the MiG-29 made its first public appearance by the Soviet Union. The Farnborough air show in September of 1988 displayed two of the MiG-29’s. In 1989 at the Paris air show a flying demonstration was conducted. During the first week of the air show one of the MiG-29s was involved in a crash that the pilot survived. In this air show it was only the second time in history that the Soviet’s displayed fighter planes since the 30s.

The United States bought 21 MiG-29 Moldovan jet fighters via the Nunnlugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. The idea was to prevent them from being sold to Axis nations. Fourteen were capable of delivering nuclear weapons and had radar jammers. They proved to be a great way for the U.S. to evaluate the aircraft for future conflicts. After being studied it is believed that most of the Moldovan MiG-29s have been scrapped.

With so many different variations of the MiG-29 it will be very easy to add one to your model collection.