February 10, 2004 at 9:34 am
I have found this picture of a TAKR Admiral of The Fleet Kuznetsow carrier board with a regular Su-33 aircraft and this MiG-29. I am dead sure there were only two prototypes of the MiG-29K produced, the #311 and #312. #311 ws painted usual two-tone grey first later to be repainted to deep blue/grey overal (top) with light grey underside. #312 was painted deep blue/grey overal (top) with light grey underside from the very start. Now, what kind of bird is this one on the picture?
I have noticed following details:
– KOLS is missing
– the a/c has folded wings
– the ejection seat looks somewhat strange to me since the K-36DM was the only option
– I do not see the typical plug box behind the seat, as well as I cannot recognize any type of a HUD
– LERX edge is sharp (? cannot recognize that so well))
– I am missing the blade antenna behind the cockpit as well as the small antennae under the nose fairing there
– I do nort see the typical lateral RWR panels located on the LERX edge
– the bird still seems to have the auxilliary intakes retained (deleted with MiG-29K)
– the front landing gear reminds me of regular Fulcrum series, not the carrierborne
– the camo is nothing even close to both MiG-29K prototypes
Is this just a mockup for some kind of dimension evaluation?
Any Russian freaks welcome! The others, as well…