Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 "Fargo"

Mikoyan-Gurevich · Soviet Union · first flew 1946 · fighter

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 was the Soviet Union's first operational jet fighter, powered by copies of captured German BMW 003 turbojets and representing the USSR's initial step into the jet age.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• First Soviet jet fighter to fly, powered by captured German BMW 003 turbojets
• Twin engines buried side-by-side in the fuselage with separate lower-cheek intakes
• Straight-wing layout with large nose intake and prominent cannon armament

Straight-wing mid-engine jet with a large circular nose inlet split into two ducts, twin jet exhausts under the rear fuselage, and three heavy cannon concentrated in the nose above the intake.

Specifications

• The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 has a length of 9.83 m (32 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 911 km/h (566 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

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

History

First flown on 24 April 1946 on the same day as the Yakovlev Yak-15, it was the MiG design bureau's entry in a competitive evaluation. The Soviet government eventually selected both for production, and the MiG-9 entered service in 1947, though it was soon superseded by the swept-wing MiG-15.

Variants

The MiG-9 was built in limited numbers; the MiG-9UTI was a proposed two-seat trainer conversion that was not produced in significant quantities.

Where you'll see it

Served briefly with the Soviet Air Forces from 1947 and was exported to the People's Republic of China, where it provided the basis for early Chinese jet pilot training.

Related aircraft

• MiG-15
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8
• MiG I-222
• MiG I-221
• Avia S-92
• Bell X-1
• Commonwealth CA-15
• Hughes XF-11

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