Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-1>HA5307
MIG-23MF Flogger "Hell Fighter" 3646, Czech Republic Air Force, 1994
General Background
In the 1960’s the Soviet military required a replacement for the MiG-21 that could compete with
the USAF F-14 Tomcat. It had to be very fast, rapid acceleration, carry a larger payload, capable
of a high service ceiling, long range and beyond visual range intercept capabilities. The project
was given to the Mikoyan- Gurevich Design Bureau that produced the Model 23-11 that first flew
on June 10, 1967. Production began in 1969 and eventually completed over 5,000 swing-wing
MiG-23s. A ground-attack variant was also produced, the MiG-27.
The Aircraft
In late 1978 MiG-23MF s/n 3646 was delivered to the Czech Air Force 1 SLP (1st fighter air
regiment) located at Ceske Budejovice AFB. It remained there until 1983 when it was transferred
to the 11 SLP at Zatec. In 1989 3646 returned to the 1 SLP. In June 1994 to celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of the 1 SLP MiG-23MF 3646 was given a special paint scheme, “Hell Fighter” and
in September 1994 the aircraft was flown to the Czech Air Museum at Praha-Kbely just outside
Prague.
Specifications :
| Country of Origin: | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer: | Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau |
| Role: | Fighter-Interceptor |
| Crew: | 1 Pilot (2 X for the MiG-23UB and the MiG-23UM |
| First Flight: | June 10, 1967 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length: | 54 ft 8 ins (16.71 m) including nose probe |
| Wingspan: | Fully Swept – 26 ft 7 ins (7.78 m) |
| Fully Spread – 45 ft 8 ins (13.97 m) | |
| Weight: | |
| Empty: | 22,440 lbs (10,200 kg) |
| Maximum take-off: | 39,160 lbs (17,800 kg) |
| Performance | |
| Power Plant: | 1 X Soyuz/Tumansky R-35-300 Afterburning Turbojet |
| Thrust: | 28,600 lbs (13,000 kg) |
| Maximum speed: | 1,553 mph (2,500 kmh) |
| Service Ceiling: | 60,680 ft (18,500 m) |
| Range: | 1,211 miles (1,950 km) |
| Armament: | 1 X GSh-23L 23mm Two-Barrel Cannon w/200 Rounds |
| Maximum External Weapons Load: | 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) |
| Weapons Options: | AAMs and ASMs |
| R-3 (AA-2 Atoll) | |
| R-13R (AA-2-2 Atoll-C) | |
| R-13M (AA-2-2 Atoll-D) | |
| R-23R (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-23T (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-24R (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-24T (AA-7 Apex) | |
| R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) | |
| R-60M (AA-8 Aphid) | |
| Unguided Rockets | |
| S-5 | |
| S-8 | |
| S-24 | |
| Unguided Bombs | |
| FAB-250 | |
| FAB-500 | |
| OFAB-100 Fragmentation Bombs | |
| Cluster Bombs | |
| ZAB-500 Napalm Bombs | |
| UPK-23 250 Pods with a GSh-23L Cannon | |
| Known variants: | MiG-23B, MiG-23BN, MiG-23BK, MiG-23BM, MiG-23BN, MiG-23M, MiG-23MF, MiG-23ML MiG-23MLA, MiG-23MLD, MiG-23MS, MiG-23P, MiG-23S, MiG-23UB, MiG-23UM, MiG-24 (export MiG-23) |