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Monday, November 12, 2012

Report: MiG-29K/KUB flight test from aboard Indian Navy Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya

This article, in the latest issue of the Take-Off magazine, gives a fair account of the flight test regime followed during the sea trials of the Vikramaditya that were conducted recently.

MiG-29-KUB-Aircraft-Carrier-INS-Vikramaditya-[Indian-Navy]-05

Its manufacturer, the MiG Corporation used both variants of the aircrafts the Indian Navy has acquired - the single seat K-variant as well as the twin-seat KUB variant, during the tests. Buddy refuelling too has been reported to have been carried out, with the KUB, with additional drop tanks, acting as the tanker. Doesn't mention explicitly though, if the aircraft took-off & subsequently landed on the Carrier in this configuration, or if they did it from an offshore strip. Worth reading the article in full.

via Austin

Had believed up until now that a pilot latching on to the first arrestor cable during landing is the most desirable occurrence. Turns out, it is not so,

"In addition, they had conducted numerous touch-and-go landings. 70% of the landings included snagging the second arrestor cable (this way of landing is regarded as the optimal one)."

I wonder why?

Take Off Magazine

Godspeed

Related: MiG-29 fighters of Indian Navy & Air Force [MiG-29K/KUB/UPG] [Photographs] - UPDATED