MiG Fighter Designations
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
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MiG Fighter Designations
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.
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).
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).
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.
For example the ASCC ( Air Standards Coordinating Committee ) nicknamed "Bear" had Tu 20 Service designator but Tu 95 Bureau designator.
Last edited by Haraka; 19th Aug 2023 at 14:53.
