Mig-29 Air Intake Question. — Military Forum

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Mig-29 Air Intake Question.

Stickers From South Africa, joined Sep 2007, 105 posts, RR: 0
Posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 7148 times:

I hope this hasn't been posted before, I tried to search but couldn't find anything. crossfingers

I have a question reagrding the air intakes of the Mig 29. In many of the photos it appears as if there are solid covers blocking the air intakes for both engines. I have never seen an actual Mig 29 so i am only going on the photo's, but i am struggling to understand what they are for and how the engines work if these are in place.

It is also completely possible that i have missed something obvious, and that this might be a really dumb question. embarrassed If so, feel free to enlighten me.

Here are a few photos to demonstrate what i am talking about. From what i can see, the covers are definitly in place while engines are running. (Maybe only during taxi??) Other times they're not there at all. Confused

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Photo © Piotr Skoczylas

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Photo © Anton Balakchiev - BGspotters

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Anton Balakchiev - BGspotters

10 replies: All unread, jump to last

Chksix From Sweden, joined Sep 2005, 345 posts, RR: 4
Reply 1, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 7151 times:

They are FOD protecting flaps that re-route the intake to draw air in from the top instead.

The conveyor belt plane will fly

Stickers From South Africa, joined Sep 2007, 105 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 7146 times:

Thanks for the info, but for what reason would one do such a thing, and is it something that the plane does automatically or is it a pilot action?

F4wso From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 974 posts, RR: 13
Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 7133 times:

It is useful for landing on debris strewn runways

Gary
Cottage Grove, MN, USA

Seeking an honest week's pay for an honest day's work

Checksixx From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 996 posts, RR: 0
Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 7084 times:

Quoting Stickers (Reply 2):
Thanks for the info, but for what reason would one do such a thing, and is it something that the plane does automatically or is it a pilot action?

To prevent FOD. Its automatic.

TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 5, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 7035 times:

Quoting Stickers (Reply 2):
what reason would one do such a thing

If you check Russian aircraft history you'll see they tend to engineer for less optimum conditions then most US Aircraft require. While it's very rare you'll see a modern Russian fighter flying off an unpaved surface, they build them to do so none-the-less. The 29 is not the only A/C to do this.

Acheron From Spain, joined Sep 2005, 1418 posts, RR: 1
Reply 6, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 6998 times:

Quoting TedTAce (Reply 5):
The 29 is not the only A/C to do this.

Yep. The Su-27 also have the same feature, except when closed, they only filter the air and send everything else to the bottom.
You can spot it in this video.

They have been removed in the Su-35, though.

[Edited 2008-04-30 23:49:48]

IronDuke08 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 117 posts, RR: 0
Reply 7, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 6974 times:

Quoting Acheron (Reply 6):
They have been removed in the Su-35, though.

I think I read that the newer MiG-29s no longer have the feature either, in order to save weight and increase fuel capacity.

Stickers From South Africa, joined Sep 2007, 105 posts, RR: 0
Reply 8, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 6937 times:

Thank you all for the information and video.
Just out of curiosity, should the protection flap malfunction and close during flight (I know its probably impossible, but hypothetically) would the engines be able to draw in enough air to keep flying?

Stickers

Acheron From Spain, joined Sep 2005, 1418 posts, RR: 1
Reply 9, posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 6843 times:

It probably will keep working as normal considering how hard it seems to be to stall the engines on the MiG-29 and Su-27. The only effect would probably be an increase in drag and a severe reduction in speed.