MIG-31: a trip to the airbase Khotilovo-2

MiG-31 - Double supersonic all-weather fighter-interceptor long range. The first Soviet combat aircraft of the fourth generation, is designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at all altitudes and in all weather conditions. A group of four MiG-31 is capable of controlling the air space at the front length of 800-900 km.

48 photos under the cut blogger Dmitry Chistoprudova





1. The first aircraft in the village Khotilovo appeared before the Second World War. In the 50-60-ies of the last century there were based screw and the first jet aircraft.



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3. Su-27 preparing for the winter, and our visit, unfortunately, did not fly.



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5. The power plant of the MiG-31 is composed of two turbojet engines with a thrust of 9500 kg at maximum capacity and 15,500 kgs in full afterburner.



6. Super-soldiers can sit next to the engine is running. For the common man - is the sound of torture.



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11. Armament MiG-31 is composed of missiles "air-to-air" and built gun mount.



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15. Still not in itself becomes when you approaching such a large object.



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17. Since 2006, the airfield was made a cardinal reconstruction: the runway was increased (3km), a fully repave the runway, apron and taxiways at the concrete monolith; new buildings constructed control tower, the starting command post and a few other buildings for different purposes.



18. We have moved on to the grass in the tens of meters from the runway. Three fighters were preparing for takeoff.



19. The rise in the afterburner mode.



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22. When the engine afterburner of a jet nozzle produces visible stream of hot gases, which has a characteristic striped coloring.



23. Transition to the engine afterburner operation is performed only when necessary vigorous acceleration of the aircraft: take-off, climb the purpose of employment advantageous position to attack, emergency exit from the fight, the overcoming of range of enemy air defenses, and so on.



24. Melting of the air and crashing to the indescribable pressure on the chest and eardrums.



25. Passage of a low altitude over the runway.



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29. Training flights were somewhere high up (15,000 meters), so we've only seen taking off and landing.



30. Sit you are in the country, planting potatoes or tomatoes weed, and not even suspect that at a height of 15 kilometers above you flying at supersonic MiG-31.



31. Approach.



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33. graceful landing fighter-interceptor, the weight of a whole subway car at rush hour on Violet Metro Line.



34. Touch.



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38. The aircraft can stop and without the use of parachute-brake system, but it is not according to instructions.



39. Modest military airfield lighting system. For comparison, the strip runway at Domodedovo.



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42. The control tower.



43. With all due respect, but our uniforms and equipment far behind US counterparts. There was nothing to compare in his time.



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47. Preparation for the evening departures. In comparison with the recent past, training flights are conducted regularly for several days a week, so the pilots are in excellent fighting form.



48. And again in flight.



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