MiG-9 | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Fighter aircraft |
National origin | Soviet Union |
Manufacturer | Mikoyan-Gurevich |
Status | Retired |
Primary users | Soviet Air Forces |
Number built | 610 |
History | |
Manufactured | 1946–1948 |
First flight | 24 April 1946 |
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-9, USAF/DoD designation: Type 1, NATO reporting name: Fargo[1]) was the first turbojet fighter developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich in the years immediately after World War II. It used reverse-engineered German BMW 003 engines. Categorized as a first-generation jet fighter, it suffered from persistent problems with engine flameouts when firing its guns at high altitudes due to gun gas ingestion. Multiple different armament configurations were tested, but none solved the problem. Several different engines were evaluated, but none were flown, as the prototype of the MiG-15 promised superior performance.
In total, 610 aircraft were built, including prototypes, and they entered service in 1948 with the Soviet Air Forces. At least 372 were transferred to the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 1950 to defend Chinese cities against air raids by the Nationalist Chinese and train the Chinese pilots in jet operations. The MiG-9 was quickly replaced by the MiG-15. Three are known to survive.