WAK 09-10-2012 Mikrolotnictwo - 03 - Polskie Siły Powietrzne

Mikojan-Guriewicz MiG-29 (NATO: Fulcrum) is a Soviet, twin-engine, 4th generation heavy front-line fighter with trapezoidal, strip wings. The mere number of over 1000 MiG 29s produced between 1977 and 1992 proves the potential capabilities of this aircraft. In fact, it must be included in the group of 3 or 4 most important, currently in active service, 4th generation fighters in the world. The MiG-29 was designed in the 1970s as a construction that could match or even exceed the combat capabilities of fighters from the then hostile western camp. And it must be admitted that it is in no way inferior to, for example, the F-16, and with many elements, such as a powerful, twin-engine drive, it surpasses the American competitor. As the MiG-29 was designed to be serviced as quickly as possible, even in the field and by mechanics with minimal experience, any repairs can actually be carried out at lightning speed. It's hard to imagine, but 5 mechanics are able to replace and test an engine in less than an hour! The extraordinary abilities of the Fulcrum do not end there. In case of problems with the drive, even when fully loaded, it can start using one engine, and then fire the other in the air. The permanent armament of the MIG 29 is the 30mm GSh-301 cannon, known for its precision. The external nodes can carry AA-10, AA-11 or AA-8 air-to-air missiles, and UB-32-57 or the unguided but larger S-8K missiles to counter ground targets. not only of the former Eastern Bloc countries, but also many other users who appreciated its great potential. Several versions of this successful fighter were created. The most important of them are, among others the first mass-produced, i.e. the MiG-29 (Fulcrum-A) with the S-29 Topaz radar and the OEPrNk-29 optoelectronic system. Another development version is the MiG-29M (Fulcrum-E) with the S-29M Żuk radar with a greater range and a better guidance and aiming system. More powerful RD-33K engines were also used instead of the RD-33. A fly-by-wire system was also used. Technical data: length: 17.37 m, wingspan: 11.4 m, height: 4.73 m, maximum speed: 2400 km / h, speed of climb: 330 m / s, maximum range: 2100 km, maximum ceiling 18000 m, armament: fixed-1 30mm GSh-301 cannon, suspended (M version) - up to 5000 kg of cargo.The General-Dynamics F16 Falcon is an American single-engine, multi-role light fighter and stormtrooper. Work on the F-16 project began in 1971 at the General Dynamics concern (which in 1993 was part of the Lockheed Martin giant), entering the competition for a light multi-purpose fighter (LWF) for the US Air Force. The YF-16 prototype first flew on February 2, 1974. A breakthrough in technical terms was the use of a computerized electric fly-by-wire control system, which made it possible to reduce the area of the wings and tail, and thus reduce the weight of the entire aircraft. The F-16 was the first fighter in the world to use such a system. The first versions were to a large extent made of aluminum alloys (about 83% of the total structure), but with time they gave way to composites. The different versions of the F-16 are powered by three versions of the engines: Pratt-Whitney F-100-PW-200, General Electric F110-GE100 and Pratt-Whitney F-100-PW-2020. The "brain" of the guidance system was the APG-66 radar, later replaced by the APG-68 (V) radar. It is worth noting that the YF-16 design turned out to be so successful that it won not only the LWF competition in the USA (in competition with the Northrop YF-17 aircraft), but also won the centenary contract for a multi-role fighter for European NATO countries. His rivals were the Dassault Mirage F.1 and SAAB J-37 Viggen machines. Serial production of the F-16 began in 1975. It was also attended by European NATO countries for which it was an injection of new aviation technologies. Final assembly was performed in the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first serial F-16A Fighting Falcon was flown on August 7, 1978. It is an assault version of the F-16, intended primarily to counter ground targets. The F-16 also proved itself in combat, with a series of air victories in the war in Lebanon (1982) and during the Operation Desert Storm (1991). By the end of the 20th century, more than 4,000 of this successful aircraft had been produced. There were six basic versions of the F-16, marked as A, C, E (single-seater) and B, D, F (two-seater). On the basis of these six models, numerous upgrades are created, most often associated with the replacement of avionics, marked as "Block". Since 2006, the F-16 also serves in the Polish aviation. The Polish Ministry of Defense decided that the F-16 would be the backbone of the modernized air force, rejecting offers from Dessault and SAAB, although in this case they were Mirrage F2000 and JAS-39 Grippen fighters. Undoubtedly, the highest sum proposed by the American company as part of the so-called offset transaction. Technical data: Maximum speed: 2,170 km / h, rate of climb: 254 m / s, maximum ceiling 15240m, maximum range: 3890km, armament: fixed - one 20mm six-barrel M61A-1 cannon, suspended - up to 9275 kg of cargo.