I-200 no.03

File updated on May 29, 2023

Back to MiG-3 Main
Back to Sovietwarplanes pages

 

The I-200 no.03 began ground tests of armament with regular syncronizer on May 13, 1940. 
It was completed on June 1, and was flown on June 6 by M.I. Martselyuk.

Images from "Mikoyan's piston-engined fighters" of Gordon and Dexter

This prototype had metallic outer panels of the wings (rather than wooden, but this modify wasn't followed by subcessive aircraft) and a new headlight FS-155; later it was equipped with radio device.

Here are photos of I-200 no.03 during tests at NII-VVS. The white stripe over the left wing is a hermometer for air temperature during tests. Some panel line can be vaguely seen over the metallic outer wing consoles.

 

 

The aircraft differs from early type MiG-3 for:

  • the length was still 8,15 m;
  • the canopy conformation was different; an one-piece windshield, the predisposition for a rightward rotating shield, a short rear part;
  • there are 7 ventilation slots on each side (as on I-200 No. 02 and 04, instead than 6 as on early series MiG-3);
  • some bulges and intakes over the nose were absent, and a small air intake under the nose was smaller;
  • the radio device, absent in photos, was installed later, as the radio mast; they were identical to that of MiG-3;
  • the underwing removable panels for guns pods ammo were absent;
  • the aircraft was unmarked, and painted with a dark gloss AII green;
  • the water radiator fairing and main landing gear were different from MiG-3; they had smaller wheels, different doors shape; 
  • the intakes for side oil cooler tunnels had a different shape than those of MiG-3; they were identical to those of I-200 No.02;
  • the supercharger intakes at the wingroots had shorter lips, particularly the upper ones;
  • metallic outer wing panels (it was the only member of the family to have this);

 

 

Disclaimer

This work collects also a lot of photos and drawings from many sources, not always identified and mentioned.
If someone has some rights on the images here reproduced, please email to me and I shall provide to remove or to credit them.
While the historical photos are of public domain (except where otherwise stated), my color profiles and coloured photos are copyrighted.
If someone is interested in any use of them, please email me; higher resolution version is available for printing purposes.
If someone has questions, critiques or corrections, or some further images to show, please email to me.
Massimo Tessitori