The Mikoyan MiG 18-50 (Cyrillic Микоян МиГ 18-50) was a 1990s Russian project to develop an aircraft that could be configured as a regional airliner or as a business jet with intercontinental range.[2][3][4] The 18-50 designation reflected these two roles, referring to the 18 seats it would have in business-jet configuration, or its 50 seats as an airliner.[2][3][4] Mikoyan did not put the design into production, and by 1993 it was taken up by Aviaprom for further development, first as the Eurasia 18-50 (Евразия 18-50) and then evolved into an 8- to 18-seat business jet as the Aviastayer (Авиастайер).[1][5]
| 18-50 | |
|---|---|
| Role | regional airliner, business jet |
| National origin | Russia |
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan Aviaprom |
| Designer | Farukh Muhamedov[1] Aleksandr A. Yefimov[2] |
| Status | Cancelled project |
Design
editThe design of the 18-50 was similar to other aircraft of its type.[4][6] It was designed as a low-wing, cantilever monoplane with a cruciform tail and all flying surfaces swept.[2][4] Two turbofan engines were to be mounted in nacelles on the sides of the rear fuselage.[2][4] It was to be equipped with retractable tricycle undercarriage.[2][4]
In business jet configuration, it was to be equipped with a comprehensive communications suite including telephone and telefax systems.[6] As an airliner, passengers would be seated four abreast, with a centre aisle.[4] Mikoyan also considered a 75- to 100-seat version with a stretched fuselage.[4]
Development
editThe 18-50 project originated in collaborative design studies carried out in the late 1980s between the Tajik Aviation Association, the Saratov Aviation Factory, and the Riga Civil Aviation Engineers Institute (RKIIGA)[6][7]
During the final years of the Soviet Union, aviation manufacturers came under government konversiya directives that aimed to repurpose Cold War military manufacturing capability to peaceful purposes. Business jets — termed "administrative service" (административно служебными; administrativno sluzhebnymi) aircraft — were a promising and hitherto unexplored market,[5] and industry research indicated strong international demand for such aircraft.[6] In 1990, Mikoyan commenced development of such an aircraft as a konversiya project,[4] based on the previous design studies[6] and in conjunction with the original partner organisations.[6][7] This would be only one of several such designs from the Russian aerospace industry around this time.[5] It was distinguished from its competitors not only by its communications suite, but a truly intercontinental range, and a very high level of interior comfort.[6] Mikoyan presented the business-jet version at the Asian Aerospace 1990 airshow in Singapore.[8] Aviation trade publication Air International judged the project to be "a good prospect for Western collaboration" in the context of the "fast disintegrating Eastern bloc."[8]
The following year, the Soviet Ministry for the Aviation Industry created the Aviaprom organisation to co-ordinate activities across the whole aviation sector, and by July, it had become a Joint Stock Company.[6] Mikoyan shared development of the 18-50 with this new enterprise, where it gained the new name Eurasia 18-50[7] By the time Aviaprom publicly exhibited the design at the 1993 Paris Air Show, it was named the Aviastayer.[1] As the Aviastayer, it was configured for 8 to 18 passengers and its range had been extended from 10,000 kilometres (6,210 mi; 5,400 nmi) to 12,000 kilometres (7,460 mi; 6,480 nmi).[5]
Work on the Aviastayer continued until at least 1994, when the design underwent wind-tunnel testing at TsAGI.[6] Mikoyan's contribution to the project was conducted from the company's branch office in Dushanbe. The ongoing Tajikistani Civil War contributed to the demise of the project.[2][9]
Specifications (as designed)
editData from Taylor, Lambert & Munson 1993, p.288
General characteristics
- Crew: two pilots
- Capacity: 18 passengers (business jet), 50 passengers (regional airliner)
- Length: 24.90 m (81 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 23.30 m (76 ft 5 in)
- Height: 7.55 m (24 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 64 m2 (690 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 20,200 kg (44,533 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 36,000 kg (79,366 lb) (business jet); 39,000 kilograms (86,000 lb) (regional airliner)
- Powerplant: 2 × Lotarev D-36 turbofans, 63.74 kN (14,330 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 850 km/h (530 mph, 460 kn)
- Range: 10,000 km (6,200 mi, 5,400 nmi) (business jet); 8,400 kilometres (5,220 mi; 4,540 nmi) (regional airliner)
- Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft) (business jet); 11,000 metres (36,100 ft) (regional airliner)
References
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c Muhamedov 2013, p.129
- ^ a b c d e f g Gordon & Komissarov 2013, p.185
- ^ a b Taylor 1993, p.947
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Taylor, Lambert & Munson 1993, p.288
- ^ a b c d Drozdov 2019, p.117
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Muhamedov 2013, p.57
- ^ a b c Gunston 1995, p.40
- ^ a b "Airdata File" p.320
- ^ Muhamedov 2013, p.56
Bibliography
edit- "Airdata File". Air International. Vol. 38, no. 6. West Drayton, Middlesex: Tri-Service Press. June 1990. pp. 316–20.
- Drozdov, Sergey Valerievich (2019). "Между Як-42Д и «Суперджетом" [Between Yak-42D and "Superjet"]. Крылья Родины. No. 5–6. Moscow: KR-media. pp. 106–18.
- Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Sergey (2013). Unflown Wings: Soviet and Russian Unrealised Aircraft Projects 1925-2010. Manchester: Créey Publishing.
- Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995. Oxford: Osprey.
- Muhamedov, Farukh (2013). Авиаконструктор XXI век [21st Century Aero-Designer]. Moscow: Russkiye vityazi.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1993). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- Taylor, Michael J.H.; Lambert, Mark; Munson, Kenneth, eds. (1993). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1993-94 (84th ed.). Coulson, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group.