Mikoyan and Gurevich MiG-23PD – the USSR experimental fighter

The construction of the front-line fighter MiG-23 was started in 1963. December 3 By decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, which provided for the development of a promising fighter with a new S.-23 weapon system and improved flight characteristics. In 1964 the tactical and technical requirements for the aircraft were specified, primarily for ensuring its operation from short or damaged runways. Particular importance was attached to the last requirement, which led to the decision to provide special devices during the design of the aircraft, that would reduce the acceleration and takeoff distance, it was believed, that it could be reduced to 180-200 m. Prototype MiG-23 with additional lift engines began to be built in 1966, March and it was produced in eight months. November 30 of the same year the aircraft was transferred to the LIS design office in Zhukovsky, where, pending the delivery of a flight copy of the R27F-300 engine, its ground tests began. The first and only copy of the MiG-23 type 23-01 was not equipped with radar and command radio guidance equipment, instead, control and recording equipment (KZA) units were installed. The plane was not armed. Test pilot P. M. Ostapenko made the first flight with the experimental machine 23-01 (flight number 23) on April 3, 1967 and already on July 9 he demonstrated the takeoff and landing of the new fighter at the Domodedovo airport. But soon the work on this plane stopped. Even before the start of tests with the specimen 23-01, it became clear, that the scheme of the fighter with additional lift engines does not have great prospects. The additional engines took up a lot of space in the fuselage, significantly reducing payload and fuel payloads, and were only used for a few minutes in flight. As a result, taking into account the requirement to increase the flight range and duration, for the further implementation of the MiG-23 fighter development program, another version of the aircraft was adopted, which provides for the use of a variable geometry wing.

A very interesting model of an experimental fighter-prototype. Well detailed cabin interior. Separated control plane, hanging armament detailing.