Pilots revered it. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 also called MiG-19 is a piece of aviation history. It stands as the Soviet Union’s first production aircraft. This aircraft reached supersonic speeds in level flight.
Imagine the roar of its two Tumansky RD-9B afterburning turbojet engines. Each produced 25.5 kN of thrust dry and 31.8 kN with afterburner. This power allowed the MiG-19 to reach a maximum speed of 1,452 km/h at 10000 m. That is Mach 1.35.
The MiG-19 primarily served as a fighter aircraft. The Soviet Air Forces and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force used it. The MiG-19 even saw combat against the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. It also fought against the Republic F-105 Thunderchief over North Vietnam.
First flown on May 24 1952, the SM-2 prototype showcased innovative design. It featured thin wings swept back at 55 degrees. Also it had a T-tail. These features were designed at TsAGI.
The MiG-19’s development wasn’t without challenges. Initial production aircraft faced in-flight explosions. These explosions were traced to poor insulation between the engines and fuel tanks. An all-moving slab tail was introduced to improve elevator effectiveness at supersonic speeds.
The MiG-19P variant had RP-1 Izumrud radar in its nose. The MiG-19PM featured four K-5M air-to-air missiles. The MiG-19SV was a specialized high-altitude version.
Deliveries of the MiG-19 to the Soviet Air Forces began in June 1955. The public saw it on July 3 1955. Forty-eight MiG-19s flew during an airshow at Tushino Airfield in Moscow.
MiG-19s intercepted Western reconnaissance aircraft. Encounters with the Lockheed U-2 also occurred. One pursuing MiG-19P was hit by S-75 Dvina missiles. This killed the pilot Sergei Safronov.
China produced their own version of the MiG-19 called the Shenyang J-6. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 stands here in Moscow. It remains an iconic symbol of Soviet aviation.