Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8

Mikoyan-Gurevich · Soviet Union · first flew 1945 · light aircraft

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 Utka (Duck) was a Soviet pusher-configuration research aircraft with a V-tail and forward-swept wings, designed to investigate unconventional aerodynamic configurations. It was a canard layout with the propeller at the rear.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7 m fuselage
T — Tail	V-tail

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Spot it by:

Soviet research aircraft with V-tail (butterfly tail)
Forward-swept wing configuration
MiG's first multi-seat design used to test layout innovations

Canard pusher layout with forward-swept wings, V-tail (no conventional horizontal or vertical stabiliser), and a rear-mounted propeller. The V-tail and canard configuration make it unmistakable.

Specifications

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 ft).
Its maximum speed is 205 km/h (127 mph).
Typical crew: 2-3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The MiG-8 was designed in 1944-1945 to explore the V-tail and pusher configurations that MiG's engineers found theoretically attractive. It first flew in 1945 and provided useful data on V-tail handling. The pusher piston engine and forward-swept wing combined with the V-tail made it an unusual research vehicle. It did not lead directly to any production type but informed subsequent MiG designs.

Variants

The MiG-8 was a one-off research aircraft; no production variants were built.

Where you'll see it

Used solely as a research aircraft within the Soviet aviation research establishment. Not adopted for operational use by Soviet air forces.

Related aircraft

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