A quick look at MiG-29’s World Records

A quick look at MiG-29’s World Records

By Dario Leone
Dec 26 2019
Share this article

The records were officially recognised by the FAI, substantiating the MiG-29’s excellent reputation and potential of the Russian aerospace industry and the Mikoyan Design Bureau.

Designed as a mass-produced and relatively cheap light tactical fighter, the MiG-29 first flew on Oct. 6, 1977. After extensive flight testing, it entered production in 1982 and deliveries to the Soviet Air Force began in 1983. In addition to its main counter-air role, the aircraft had a useful air-to-ground capability, carrying free-fall bombs and unguided rockets. From the outset the MiG-29 had been steadily developed beyond the fourth generation with changes to the airframe, avionics and weapons systems and new variants were produced in the early 2000s.

This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

The MiG-29 also set several world records.

As reported by Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov in their book Mikoyan MiG-29 & MiG-35, on Apr. 26, 1995 Mikoyan OKB test pilot Roman P. Taskayev (who has been awarded the Hero of Russia title) set an altitude record in the 12 to 16-ton (26,455 to 35,270-lb) gross weight class, climbing to 27,460 m (90,091 ft) in a standard MiG-29. The optimum flight trajectory was calculated by Cand. Tech. Sc. Yuriy S. Vygodskiy, an aerodynamicist at ANPK MiG. In May 1995 Mikoyan OKB test pilot Oleg V. Antonovich set a payload-to-height record in a Fulcrum, climbing to an altitude in excess of 25,000 m (82,020 ft) with 1,000-kg (2,204-lb) and 2,000-kg (4,410-1b) payloads. These records were officially recognised by the FAI (Fédération  Aéronautique Internationale – International Aeronautics Federation) at the year’s end, substantiating the MiG-29’s excellent reputation and potential of the Russian aerospace industry and the Mikoyan Design Bureau.

Ten years later, in March 2005, Belorussian Air Force pilots Aleksandr Bochkaryov, Vyacheslav Brovshenko and Yuriy Kovalyov established no fewer than 15 world records (time-to-height records and closed-circuit speed records) in the upgraded MiG-29BM. The mission was supported by the 55th ARZ and officially sanctioned by Belorussian President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko and Minister of Defence Col.-Gen. Leonid S. Mal’tsev.

The following video titled “From the Outback to the Sky of Russia: MiG-29 High Altitude Flight” gives you an idea of what it’s like to fly  the legendary Fulcrum to the Edge of Space.

Mikoyan MiG-29 & MiG-35 is published by Crecy and is available to order here.

Photo credit: Screenshot from the video


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Error: Contact form not found.


Share this article
Back to top
My Agile Privacy
This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

List of some possible advertising permissions:

You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices