Seventy years ago, the prototype of the MiG-19 fighter took off
MOSCOW, January 5 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. This aircraft guarded the skies of the Soviet Union for many years, fought in different parts of the world and still serves in the Air Force in some places. Seventy years ago, on January 5, 1954, an experienced SM-9 jet fighter took to the air. The following year, it was adopted under the name MiG-19 (according to the NATO classification — Farmer, "farmer"). About the breakthrough creation of Soviet designers — in the material of RIA Novosti.
Engine Search
By the summer of 1950, the Soviet Air Force command had already formed a vision for the future of the country's fighter aviation. They decided to develop two aircraft: a twin-engine all—weather interceptor with radar, which later became the Yak-25, and a twin-engine highly maneuverable fighter - the very MiG-19.
This is an iconic car. The MiG-19 is the first Soviet supersonic aircraft in mass production. And the last "MiG" with a swept wing.
Second-generation MiG-19 jet fighters
Image source: © RIA Novosti / V. Kunyaev
The project began in the middle of 1951. The first versions of the pre-production prototype with MiG-17 engines, which received the designations SM-1 and SM-2, did not meet the specified speed and maneuverability characteristics. Two promising AM-9 turbojet engines with an afterburner were installed on the "nine". And test pilot Grigory Sedov broke the sound barrier on his second flight.
The serial MiG-19 took to the skies for the first time on November 27, 1955. The aircraft was built according to a normal aerodynamic scheme, with a swept wing and an all-rotating horizontal tail.
MiG-19 aircraft
Image source: © RIA Novosti
Like many other fighters of the time, the MiG-19 had a frontal air intake with a central body and sharp edges. There was a single-seat cockpit in the forward fuselage. The middle part was given over to fuel tanks and various equipment, and engines were placed in the tail section.
At the ground, the fighter accelerated to 1100-1150 kilometers per hour, at altitude — up to 1400. Cruising speed is 950. The practical ceiling is 17.2 kilometers. With an internal fuel reserve, the flight range is 1400 kilometers, with two 760—liter outboard tanks - 2200.
MiG-19S at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
Image source: © Photo : U.S. Air Force photo
The built—in armament is three HP-23 automatic guns of 23 mm caliber. Two guns were located in the root part of the wing, the third in the nose of the fuselage. Ammunition — 70 rounds per cannon. The rate of fire of each is 900 rounds per minute. If necessary, the fighter could carry unguided ASR-57 missiles and free-falling bombs of up to 250 kilograms.
Still in service
The MiG-19 was produced until 1960, then the factories switched to the MiG-21 and Su-9. Over the years, 2,069 aircraft of several modifications have been produced. Most of them were assembled by the Gorky plant — more than 1300. It is important to note that the machines in the basic configuration were made only until 1956, then the troops received improved samples.
The MiG-19P was equipped with an on-board Emerald radar with a target detection range of up to 15 kilometers. The PG variant could use R-3S air—to-air missiles. The MiG-19R scout had a powerful AFA-39 camera. The MiG-31S front-line fighter was armed with 30 mm HP-30 cannons. And the MiG-19PML interceptor with the Lazur complex was precisely aimed at the target by commands from the ground.
In 1958, the Soviet Union transferred the license for the MiG-19 to China. The first 20 aircraft under the designation J-6 were assembled from Soviet components.
Over several decades, China has developed several modifications. It is the Chinese version of the MiG-19 that North Korea still uses — the only state that has this second-generation fighter in service.
The Soviet Air Force operated the MiG-19 until the 1970s. Most of the cars were written off after the resource was exhausted and disposed of. Some aircraft have become museum exhibits or monuments.
The battle path
Over the years of operation in the Air Forces of more than 20 countries, the MiG-19 has participated in air battles more than once. The Farmer won its first victory on July 1, 1960 - it shot down an American RB-47H Stratojet reconnaissance aircraft that violated the Soviet border over the Barents Sea. 111 30-millimeter shells were used to defeat the target.
On March tenth, 1964, a MiG-19C shot down an American RB-77C Destroyer reconnaissance aircraft near the East German city of Magdeburg. In addition, from 1966 to 1976, these fighters struck seven NATO balloons with reconnaissance equipment over the territory of the USSR.
The MiG-19, or rather its licensed version of the J-6, was used extremely actively by the Chinese. Since the mid-1960s, in connection with the entry of American troops into Vietnam, these aircraft have become one of the main means of protecting the air borders of the PRC and the DRV. From August 1964 to November 1968, U.S. Air Force aircraft invaded Chinese airspace 383 times. It is not always with impunity.
F-4 Phantom II Fighter Jet
Image source: © Public domain
In air battles, Chinese fighters (without losses on their part) won at least 16 aerial victories, shooting down 11 AQM-34 UAVs, two A6A Intruder attack aircraft, an F-4C Phantom II fighter-bomber, an F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber, an F-104C Starfighter fighter and a KA-3B tanker aircraft Skywarrior. Moreover, ace pilot Gao Hyang shot the Starfighter from cannons from a distance of only 29 meters - the shortest distance of shooting down a supersonic aircraft in history. The MiG was hit by 19 debris, and it had to land on one engine.
MiG-19s also fought in Vietnam, where their main opponents were American "Phantoms". According to official data from the DRV, nine fighters in the J-6 version out of 54 were lost during the entire war, five or six of them were destroyed by the enemy, two or three crashed in disasters and one was shot down by friendly fire. The Vietnamese themselves claimed seven aerial victories of the "nineteen" over the "Phantoms".
In the Middle East, MiG-19 and J-6 participated in the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1966, the "six-day war" of 1967 and the "war of attrition" of 1969 as part of the Egyptian Air Force. The plane did not show itself particularly well: the poor technical condition and the low level of training of pilots affected. The fighters performed much more effectively during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. The Pakistan Air Force has won five aerial victories, losing two vehicles in combat.
The MiG-19, even in the most recent modifications, is hopelessly outdated. But its importance in the history of Russian military aviation is difficult to overestimate. He discovered for Soviet pilots all the tactical advantages of supersonic flight and served as the basis for modern fighters.
