Myeong and Lyang MyL-3
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| MyL-3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| MyL-3BM | |
| Role | Interceptor Fighter-bomber Reconnaissance aircraft |
| National origin |  Anikatia
|
| Manufacturer | Myeong and Lyang Design Bureau |
| First flight | 8 November 1957 |
| Introduction | 12 May 1959 |
| Retired | 12 June 1980 |
| Status | Retired/Limited service |
| Primary user | Anikatia
|
| Produced | 1957–1968 |
| Number built | 432 |
| Unit cost |
MyL-3: UR$1.89 million (flyaway cost, 1960)
|
The Myeong and Lyang MyL-3 (CDI reporting name: Fishbolt) was a twin-engine, two-seat, all-weather Interceptor aircraft developed by Myeong and Lyang Design Bureau that served with Anikatian Air Force in the late 1950s and throughout most of the 1960s and until the early 1980s. The MyL-3 was succeeded in the interceptor role by the Aymovski Ay-04, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles.
History
In 1949, the Anikatian Air Force began assessing replacements for its locally-built De Havilland Vampire. A series of designs were considered, including an unconventional, twin-jet all-weather fighter of the Myeong and Lyang Design Bureau.
The Air Force requirement set forth that the design be a jet engine for maximum speed and performance of the interception of enemy planes attacking Anikatian airbases; that it have a radar to detect and identify enemy aircraft; and that it had a crew of two people - the pilot and radar operator. Additional criteria given in the requirement included a minimum flight endurance of two hours, a takeoff distance of 1,400 m, structural strength to support up to 4g manoeuvres at high speed and for the aircraft to incorporate airborne interception radar, multi-channel VHF radio and various navigational aids. The aircraft would also be required to be economical to produce, at a rate of ten per month for an estimated total of 150 aircraft.
A mock up model was made, and wind tunnel tests proved more than satisfactory. The program was described by the Belfrasians visiting Myeong and Lyang at the time as "the company's project was a most ambitious design for a fighter and as advanced as anything yet seen in any other part of the world." It was originally planned to be powered by two Bulgakov K49 engines; the final version was however was designed for the more powerful Belfrasians engine series license-built as the Daesungkhu & Namkoong DVT-01R turbojet engines. The aircraft was to be fitted with the most up to date radar and electronic equipment. Its anticipated performance was to be in the region of Mach 1.5 which would have been much faster than any contemporary aircraft. However a lengthy development period, and lack of government support led to the design being overtaken by the time it entered service with fighters such as the Kypryjanev Ky-15 which exceeded it supersonic performance, furthermore the early models only managed to achieve a top speed of Mach 1.3, although successive variants would later manage to surpass the original anticipated performance with speeds of up to Mach 1.7 with unrated engines.
The MyL-3 was assessed and trialed for use as the new carrier fighter; It poor visibility and interceptor focused design requiring long take offs and its weak landing gear proved completely unfit for carrier operations and after one fatal accident trial with the type on the Grokantyia (CVL) in 1962 all work on a naval variant was cancelled in favor of a completely new design which would become the Aymovski Ay-04.
Design
The MyL-3 is a two seat delta wing, all-weather fighter, with a low set tail and a translating shock cone contains the radar set. The aircraft had a fairly conventional structure and materials, being mainly composed of an aluminium alloy, with some use of steel edging. The engines were on either side of the centre fuselage section, the internal space in the centre containing the service bay that housed much of the aircraft's electrical, hydraulic, and avionics subsystems. The engine air intakes were placed on the forward fuselage, running directly from beneath the cockpit rearwards into the delta wing. Electricity was provided by a pair of 6,000 watt, 24-volt generators driven by the auxiliary gearbox; inverters provided AC power for equipment such as some flight instruments and the radar.
Variants
- Y-03 ("Fishbolt-A")
- Initial prototype.
- MyL-3UBT ("Fishbolt-B")
- Twin seat Training version, armed and equipped with all operational systems but not fully combat ready, about 50 built.
- MyL-3K ("Fishbolt-C")
- Twin seat carrier capable fighter prototype modified from MyL-3PFM airframe. It poor visibility and interceptor focused design proved completely unfit for carrier operations and after one fatal accident trial with the type on the Grokantyia (CVL) in 1962 all work on a naval variant was cancelled in favor of a completely new design which would become the Aymovski Ay-04.
- MyL-3PF ("Fishbolt-D")
- Initial Twin seat production version with Daesungkhu & Namkoong DVT-01R engines, four 30 mm cannons in fuselage.
- MyL-3PFM ("Fishbolt-E")
- Basic Twin seat production version with some minor improvements, upgraded afterburning Daesungkhu & Namkoong DVT-01R-12M engines and new radar. 352 aircraft built. New "drooped" wing leading edge and auto-stabilizer for better handling.
- MyL-3R ("Fishbolt-F")
- Twin seat reconnaissance version with upgraded afterburning Daesungkhu & Namkoong DVT-01R-12M engines, guns removed and replaced with 3 x cameras, revised instrument panel layout.
- MyL-3BM ("Fishbolt-G")
- Single seat ground-attack fighter version modified from MyL-3PFM airframes but with a different, deeper fuselage and larger cockpit windscreen for greater visibility. Strengthened wing, tail chute, increased oxygen and fuel capacity, and bobweight in pitch control circuit to increase stick force in ground attack manoeuvres, provision to carry 227 kg (500 lb) bombs.
- MyL-3RBM ("Fishbolt-H")
- Modernised single seat reconnaissance-bomber version derived from MyL-3PFM but fitted with improved reconnaissance systems, strengthened wing, tail chute, increased oxygen capacity, provision to carry 227 kg (500 lb) bombs and automatic bombing system.
Operators
- Template:Country data Goredemabwa Goredemabwan National Air Force Approximately around a two dozen or so aircraft retired; left-over from the Myrdesian era. Along with a number of newer variants acquired over the years.
Former operators
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- File:Flag Anikatia(1951-1980).png Royal Anikatian Air Force Passed on to successor state.
- Template:Country data Democratic Socialist Republic of Anikatia Anikatian People's Air Force Passed on to successor state.
Specifications (MyL-3PF)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 18.34 m (60.17 ft) ()
- Wingspan: 11.32 m (37.13 ft) ()
- Height: 4.88 m (16 ft) ()
- Wing area: 53.80 m² (579.80 ft²)
- Empty weight: 10,886 kg (24,000 lb) ()
- Loaded weight: 14,325 kg (31,580 lb) ()
- Max. takeoff weight: 19,580 kg (43,165 lb) ()
- Powerplant: 2 × Daesungkhu & Namkoong DVT-01R turbojet, 56.4 kN (5,756 kgf, 12,690 lbf) () each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.3 (1,381 km/h, 990 mph)
- Range: 1,530 km (954 mi) ()
- Service ceiling: 15,200 m (50,000 ft) ()
- Wing loading: 202 kg/m² (41 lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.80
Armament
- 4 x 30 mm Esk-30k cannons
- 4 total (4× under-wing) of weapons and fuel tanks
Avionics
- AKI/RAL K01R-3M radar
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era