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Basic fighter configurations have been historically developed at TsAGI (Central Aero & Hydrodynamics Institute). However, the current MiG-29 & Su-27 designs were developed at Sukhoi during a time
when both bureaus were undergoing changes and tried to mix their talented teams with new blood. Russian designers have stated that the original general layout of the MiG-29 was developed by students at
the Moscow Aeronautical Institute (MAI) under the tutelage of the former head of the Sukhoi Design Bureau. Detailed design work was passed on to the Sukhoi Bureau. The resultant configuration was
evaluated by TsAGI, who in turn, tasked the Mikoyan Bureau to share in prototype development. The accepted design terms of reference were moderately separated twin-engines, twin-tail, blended fuselage
and low wing loading.
Despite these particular bureau characteristics, Mikoyan had to stay within the constraints imposed by TsAGI. The unique design heredity of both Mikoyan and Sukhoi was then
preserved. In the case of Mikoyan, there was a wide mix of materials and fabrication methods utilized in their aircraft. MiG-21/23 & 29 aircraft use highly refined welded steel center fuselage boxes
that are produced with the best quality in the Soviet aerospace industry. These boxes are configured to carry several concentrated attachment loads for the wing, main landing gear trunnions, fuselage
longerons, engine mounts, and internal gun mounts.
The rugged Mikoyan landing gear are obvious on both the MiG-29 and the MiG-31. The first noteworthy undercarriage characteristic is the even
distribution of loads on the tires for rough field towing and sod field operations. The MiG-29 has larger, low pressure tires, filled to around 10 atmospheres, with a special ply that reduces their
footprint. The MiG-31 has a tandem, dual-wheeled arrangement that is staggered or offset from each other to distribute footprint.
From the beginning, the MiG-29 was designed with simplified field
maintenance and servicing in mind despite the fact that complexity was increasing. Most modifications to production aircraft have been to improve the "ilities". The latest change was described
by Mikoyan engineers as steps to eliminate all system inspections during combat turns, thus allowing pilots to turn and load their own aircraft at dispersal sites. The on-board check-out capability is
centered around the EKRAN system, which could be thought of as the first Russian attempt at meaningful on-board diagnostics. Cockpit mounted panels and switches provide the interfaces.
Until the
introduction of the Su-27 and MiG-31, long "range" and its associated "fuel load" have always been lacking on Soviet fighters in relation to their Western counterparts. But,
"range" has always been more of a factor for the Soviet/Russian Air Defense Forces rather than the Tactical Air Forces because the later would always leap-frog to more forward bases. Poor
engine specific fuel consumption (sfc) rates were usually blamed because Russian engine design stressed reliability & maintainability first, then "sfc". The MiG-29 has shown a bit of a
reversal in this trend where its reliability has proved to be a disappointment and the "sfc" quite good. RD-33 engines also have their accessories on top, in line with the plane of the wing.
This decreases cross-sectional area and wave drag. That means you have to drop the engine to get at the accessory package, which is just the opposite to what is done with the F-4 Phantom.
Designed
with a strong emphasis on maneuverability, including sustained Ps (specific excess energy) equivalent to any modern fourth generation fighter from the west, the MiG-29 suffers from an extremely limited
combat radius with a fuel quantity less than 23% of its published normal clean takeoff weight, which measures around 15,000 kg (33,000 lbs). There is a large 1500 liter (396 gal./2576 lbs.) center-line
tank that is common to all MiG-29's and on later production examples, two wing mounted 1150 liter (304 gal./1975 lbs.) external tanks that utilize the same inboard radar missile stations. This exchange
of the R-27 (AA-10) missile station for range/loiter removes the fighter's beyond visual range (BVR) missile capability. Advanced models have an option for two additional missile stations per wing
allowing for the carriage of both BVR missiles and wing tanks, if advanced R-77 (AA-12) missiles are utilized.
The air superiority configuration of almost all operational MiG-29's consists of six
missiles, a center line tank, full gun, and chaff/flares loaded on over-wing dispensers. The MiG-29 enjoys the combination of an advanced airframe design with two powerful RD-33 turbojet engines that
produce a maximum speed in excess of 2.3 Mach. The max gross takeoff weight is at 18,500 kg. (40,785 lbs.), which is 500 kg (1100 lbs) above the first 100 series produced aircraft. The 38,472 lbs. normal
combat configured takeoff weight leaves very little for growth. Takeoff Speed is specified at 260-280 kph. with takeoff distance running 1200 meters (3937 ft). A clean airshow style takeoff run with
reheat could be accomplished at 250 meters and with dry power it would extend to 600-700 meters. Landing Speed of 250-260 kph while landing with the Drag Chute 600-700 meters. Max Landing Weight was
noted to be 15760 kg (34,744 lbs). Service ceiling is published at 17,000 meters (56,000 ft.) with a maximum rate of climb 330 m/sec (65,000 ft/min) at sea level.
An exchange of 1150 liter wing
tanks for radar missiles (AA-10) on the inboard most wing stations, actually nets around the same takeoff weight. Two wing tanks provide 3380 lbs of fuel to add to the centerline tank's 2576 lbs. Wing
tanks can be jettisoned easily, centerline tanks are generally only dropped in an emergency. When considering the present gross weight limits of production MiG-29's, advanced models have been pushed up
to 19,500 kg. (42,990 lbs.), but to fully exploit additional wing stations the maximum gross weight would have to increase even further to around 20,000 kg. (44,000 lbs.). MAPO has stated that new or
existing MiG-29 customers could purchase these upgrades for their aircraft.
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