Mikoyan/Gurevich I-230 (MiG-3U)

1942

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Mikoyan/Gurevich I-230 (MiG-3U)

With the primary objective of improving the aerodynamics of the basic MiG-3 design, the OKB began work late in 1941 on an enhanced version of the fighter to which it gave the Izdeliye designation of D. Known officially as the I-230, and later as the MiG-3U - the suffix letter signifying uluchshenyi (improved) - the new fighter was first flown in August 1942. Whereas the fuselage of the MiG-3 was primarily of steel tube with duralumin skinning, that of the I-230 was almost entirely of wood owing to the contemporary metal shortages. By comparison with the MiG-3, the fuselage was lengthened by 37cm, but the Mikulin AM-35A engine was retained and the wing of the first prototype was unchanged, armament consisting of two 20mm SP-20 (ShVAK) cannon mounted above the engine. The second prototype differed in having a larger wing of 18.00m2 area and spanning 11.00m. Performance proved good during factory and state trials, but it was not possible to reinstate production of the AM-35A and production of the I-230 was therefore restricted to a pre-series of five aircraft which were assigned to a Guards Regiment (1 GvIAP) on the Kalinin front for service evaluation.

Mikoyan/Gurevich I-230 (MiG-3U)

Specification 
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight3285 kg7242 lb
  Empty weight2612 kg5759 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan10.20 m33 ft 6 in
  Length8.62 m28 ft 3 in
  Wing area17.44 m2187.72 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed660 km/h410 mph
  Range1350 km839 miles

Comments
Ron, e-mail, 27.02.2011 06:17

" the armament comprised two 20 mm ShVAK guns with 150 rounds each, placed over the nose and synchronized; they could fire separately or together."

- Thus says the internet concerning the MiG-3U. Many other improvements were made, like lengthening the fighter for enhanced handling, and raising the cockpit and pilot for better view to name just a couple more.

reply

william cahill, e-mail, 21.12.2009 21:59

I am in the process of putting together an
R /C model of this plane but having a hard time finding information on gun placement. Can you help? Thanks - William.

reply

sıtkı özcan, e-mail, 26.10.2009 16:54

teşekkürler

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