MiG Fighter Designations

[Herod]

I'm trying to find if there is any reason MiG jets are all allocated odd numbers. MiG-15, MiG-17 etc. Wiki just says the numbers are allocated by the ordering organisation. I've been told it is because Russians consider even numbers to be bad luck, but I can find no source for that. It doesn't seem to apply to other aircraft, just the MiG jets.

[Pypard]

Not entirely correct: the MiG-8 Utka canard aircraft was built, as was the MiG-6 IIRC.

Rather than being a distinct 'naming of jets', I'm sure I recall the 'even' numbers being reserved for civilian types. And since MiG don't make many of those, they are thus far unused (mostly).

[chevvron]

Sukhoi use mostly odd numbers too.

[dixi188]

The civil aircraft seem to have even numbers.
Tupolev 104, 114, 124, 134, 144.
Ilyushin 18, 62, 76, 86, 96.

[Haraka]

The distinction is between Service and Design Bureau designators. "Fighter" types have odd numbered designators whilst "Bomber" and most other "Heavies" have even numbered Service designators .
For example the ASCC ( Air Standards Coordinating Committee ) nicknamed "Bear" had Tu 20 Service designator but Tu 95 Bureau designator.