Mikoyan MiG-23

How reliable were the MiG-23's?

I've been trying to find information but my internet is playing up something fearce.

Thanks in advance

There is a considerable amount of data on the internet relating to your query on sites such as

http://backfiretu-22m.tripod.com/id18.html

http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/Too-Expensive-To-Maintain-And-Too-Dangerous-To-Fly-7-13-2010.asp

http://www.xairforces.net/analyses/mig-23.html

I suggest that it would be preferable to access these for yourself when your connection is re-established.

Malcolm.

The U.S.S.R.'s Mikoyan MIG-23 NATO code name: "Flogger" single-seat variable-geometry fighter that was was flown into Japan by a defector was studied by US Military Forces-Air Force and Navy. I received some of the results of the study while working in Flight Test Division at Point Mugu in the 1970s. The swing-wing spars were constructed of iron (and found corroded) and it had vacuum-tube avionics! May have been the top aerodynamic performer of its time-but consider the inner technology.

Max speed estimated at Mach 2.3 (1,520 mph)

Combat radius estimated at 600 miles.

First public appearance of the prototype MIG-23 was in the 1967 Aviation Day display at Domodedovo Airport, Moscow flyover, but did not land there. No armament or stores attachments could be discerned at that time. And don't ask me-I wasn't there

Cheers for the links Malcome, my net seems to be OK at the moment (damn BT) so I'm making the most of it, you wouldn't also have any information on the SEPECAT Jaguar and the Panavia Tornado GR4 regarding the reliability.

Someday I want to restore and operate a Jaguar and a Tornado GR4 in Australia depending on spares availability and cost of doing so but that's quite a few years away yet and I'm hoping they aren't as bad as some of the stories I've heard.

The Jaguar from what I've heard was actually really reliable and easy to maintain (for a jet) and the Tornado was very reliable but could be a bitch to maintain, but thats what I've heard so I'm not sure.

Unless I'm not looking hard enough, I can't seem to find anything online.

We will soon find out what it takes to maintain a Mig-23 in civilian hands....

The Cold War Air Museum in Texas is ready to fly one...now waiting on the paperwork and final flight worthiness tests.

http://www.cwam.org

WOW Sweet, also it looks like it has been stored outside for a decade.

Another thing, wasn't there already two flying in civilian hands in the US?