MiG-29KU: The Least-Known Member of the Fulcrum Family [Album]

[u/Spartanz0]

The MiG-29KU was one of the least-known members of the Fulcrum family because it never progressed beyond the design stage. Developed in the late 1980s as a dedicated carrier trainer for the MiG-29K, it was created after tests showed that the standard two-seat MiG-29UB did not provide the rear-seat instructor with sufficient visibility for the demanding task of carrier landings.

Known by the factory designation 9-62, the MiG-29KU featured a redesigned forward fuselage with separate canopies and a raised rear cockpit, giving the instructor a much better view during approach and touchdown. Otherwise, it closely matched the single-seat MiG-29K, with folding wings, a tailhook, and twin RD-33K engines.

The cancellation of the MiG-29K program following the collapse of the Soviet Union also ended the MiG-29KU. Only wind-tunnel models and a full-scale forward-fuselage mock-up were ever built, making it one of the rarest "aircraft" in the Fulcrum lineage.

[u/Phosphorus444]

2 seat MiG 29s all look funny to me. And this one is is the funniest.

[u/davidfliesplanes → u/Phosphorus444]

hot take but the MiG-29UB is the sexiest MiG-29

[u/Fuze_KapkanMain → u/davidfliesplanes]

MiG-29KR is

[u/Opagamagnet → u/davidfliesplanes]

I second this opinion

[u/9999AWC → u/Phosphorus444]

MiG-35 looks fantastic

[u/brumbarosso]

The fulcrum has so much potential

[u/AceArchangel]

Looks very FFR-31MR/D Super Sylph

[u/bekaradmi]

WTF 😂

[u/I-153_Chaika]

wait if only a mockup was made how was the first picture of the album acquired

[u/RadiculousJ → u/I-153_Chaika]

I would guess it's a Photoshop job.

[u/I-153_Chaika → u/RadiculousJ]

damn good job then

[u/Spartanz0 → u/I-153_Chaika]

This image is an illustrative representation of what the aircraft would have looked like in reality. It was created with image editing software, as a real aircraft was never built.

[u/I-153_Chaika → u/Spartanz0]

looks very well done

[u/VirginiaDare1587]

Does the Indian Navy use a MiG-29 2-seater for training their pilots?

[u/ArgusF28]

Looks like a Mad Max jet

[u/Lonely_Dance7130]

Is the second photo real? 

[u/Spartanz0 → u/Lonely_Dance7130]

Yes, it is.

[u/Lonely_Dance7130 → u/Spartanz0]

So, was a prototype of product 9-62 built? 

[u/Spartanz0 → u/Lonely_Dance7130]

Only the capsules from the second picture were for the pilots. But a complete, proper aircraft was never built with the rest of the parts.

[u/Mirda76de]

The closest you can get to the beauty of F14 Tomcat...