Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 "Utka" (Duck)

[Stargazer]

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 Utka was a Soviet experimental aircraft. The aircraft was designed and built in 1945 to test the novel canard configuration, and in particular the stability and handling of the canard configuration in conjunction with swept wings. The name Utka was a direct translation of the French word "canard" ("duck").

The canard configuration 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. It also used a tricycle undercarriage, the first used by the design bureau (OKB).

The Utka was modified to test a variety of configurations; it was used notably as a testbed in developing the swept wing of the MiG-15. It was then used as a liaison/utility aircraft for many years by the MiG design bureau. 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.

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)

[Data from Gunston, The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995, p. 184]

Adapted from the Wikipedia article.

 

[hesham]

Hi,


here is early drawing to MiG-8 Utka,compare with the built one,note the
different between vertical tail surface locations.

 

[toura]

Hi all
From the book "mig" Beliakov & Marmain
From " crimso.msk.ru"

 

[Motocar]

Repost Artwork , Motocar 's Cutaway drawings link free interpretation of the MiG -8 Utka

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=23005.0;attach=521615;image

 

[Tomac]

In 1953, Air Trails (or Air Progress?) posted the attahced drawing, the only time I saw such of the Utka.


Regards,
John Braungart

 

[hesham]

Very Nice picture Tomac.

 

[Stargazer]

In 1953, Air Trails (or Air Progress?) posted the attahced drawing, the only time I saw such of the Utka.

Splendid. Utka's nice at any rate, but the sight of an armed Mentor is a rare treat!

 

[Jemiba]

Don't know the context of that picture, but if the Utka really would have taken over a
similar task, as the good old Po-2 in the Soviet airforce ( http://www.military.cz/russia/air/mig/Mig-8/mig-8.htm ),
the USAF may have encountered the same problems, as in Korea, fighting such slow
aircraft. An armed trainer could have been a good solution.

 

[cluttonfred]

Look what I found...it really does appear to be remarkably stable.

https://youtu.be/PFmTMHkjPM0

 

[Stargazer]

Beautiful find, cluttonfred, thanks!

 

[Motocar]

Cutaway MiG-8, author Motocar, Today coloured and retouch this cutaway

 

[Motocar]

In colours....

 

[riggerrob]

Did Burt Rutan see this before he designed his Vari-Eze canard?
Hah!
Hah!

 

[Archibald]

Or maybe Grumman, before they designed their (suppremely ugly) floatplane, the DUCK ?

(restrain from posting Monty Pythons Holy Grail videos related to witches and ducks. This is a serious thread).

 

[crossiathh]

Is there also an influence from the Junkers EF-128 for the vertical tail solution?

 

[sienar]

Is there also an influence from the Junkers EF-128 for the vertical tail solution?

Why would you think that? Look at the dates.

 

[crossiathh]

First flight of the Utka was late 1945 and from my understanding certainly enough time to adapt the findings from Junkers projects, which the Soviets found in Dessau and other place in 1945. What do you think?

 

[Aubi]

They used several tailplane solutions. That was the point, it was a research aircraft.

 

[sienar]

First flight of the Utka was late 1945 and from my understanding certainly enough time to adapt the findings from Junkers projects, which the Soviets found in Dessau and other place in 1945. What do you think?

Development started in February of 45 and first flight was on the 13th of August. Does that really seem like enough time?

Then you have the direct contemporaries; XP-55, Shinden and SS.4. All of a similar configuration and all with a similar vertical stabilizer arrangement. This was hardly unique to Junkers.

Lastly I dont think the engineers at Mig would have been foolish enough to test this on the Utka. The pusher engine right behind the wing changes the airflow over the wing radically. It'd be worthless to test the fence like behavior of these verts for a jet aircraft by doing flight tests with a piston one.