MiG-21I Analog 2nd prototypePhotographed at Monino Air Force Museum on 24 August 2009.
This is the second of 2 prototypes that were built as test-beds for research and development of the Tu-144 supersonic passenger aircraft wing.
This first prototype was used to develop an elevon control system for tailless aircraft. All four elevon sections were based across the wing span. The second (this one) was tested at the Gromov Flight Research Institute, with the wing leading edge swept pack at 78 degrees. Special cameras were installed behind the cockpit and on top of the fine. In the nose and tail parts of the aircraft 290 kg remote mass balance weights were used to change the centre of gravity. On 18 April 1968 the maiden flight was performed by test pilot O.V.Gudkov, and by the end of 1969, 140 flights had been performed, reaching an altitude of 19,000 m and speeds between 212 km/h and Mach 2.06. After completion of the main test program, while performing aerobatic flying on the first prototype, FRI test pilot V. Konstantinov crashed. The second prototype was handed over to the Monino Air Force Museum after carrying out further tests and being used for the training of Tu-144 pilots.
Picture added on 13 September 2009 at 08:51
