MIG-29 Question?
 

Today at RIAT during the Typhoon/Spitfire Battle of Britain display (which was outstanding in itself) the Polish Mig 29 was waiting at the holding point prior to its display slot, when roughly every 5mins or so it did a brief engine run up emitting a cracking amount of black exhaust smoke. I'm just curious, to what causes so much black smoke, and is this a normal pre-takeoff procedure when holding? Incidentally the answer was explained over the speaker during the display but it was perfectly timed with a climb on re-heat, so I don't think much was heard by anyone north of Swindon! Funnily, it was the only aircraft I could smell as well, which I thought was a brilliant two fingers to the emissions driven world we are constantly reminded about in modern life! Anyhow, up there with the best displays of the day.....thanks to all the crews, both air and ground, excellent day.

Thanks in advance for the answer...F26

Funnily, it was the only aircraft I could smell as well, which I thought was a brilliant two fingers to the emissions driven world we are constantly reminded about in modern life!

Yeah!...screw the air we breathe, it's not like we couldn't last very long without it.

It is because of the design of the RD-33 engine combustion chamber on the earlier engines. The Klimow RD-33 was the first Russian turbofan jet engine in mass production. It has a one stage injector which is not as efficient as many western designs. A new version of that engine (RD-33MK) doesn’t smoke as much. Poland’s MiG-29s do not have upgraded engines because of political reasons and cost.

Sometime around 1998, Petr Izotov, V.Ya.Klimov plant chief designer was quoted as saying: “Smoke is absolutely subjective. It would be a problem if it would affect plane’s flight performance or engine characteristics. But it doesn’t!” Obviously the operational implications of being seen at much longer ranges was not mentioned.
http://i.wp.pl/a/f/jpeg/29837/mig_29_alarm_zoom_2.jpeg

Bevo, good answer and great pic. Thanks. :ok:

Reminds me of an old Mack truck with the puff limiter disconnected:p

Almost as much smoke as a J79 Phantom.

Just an itsy-bitsy bit of smoke.



Almost as much as a B-52

Thanks Bevo! I appreciate the answer, I thought there might be a more in depth reason for it. Brilliant picture, that's pretty much what we all saw. Sorry Bigbux I'm sure I heard between the noise they will be operational until 2030 :ok:

Holy crap!
Maybe one of its "secret tactics" is to smoke the enemy to death...:E

I think they got a good deal on the F4's J79s :)

I always hypothetically thought it would have been a good candidate for being re-engined with a pair of Eurojet EJ200 engines.

"I think they got a good deal on the F4's J79s "
 

Not likely, but they may have "copied" a feature without knowing its purpose. A few other items from the F4 made its way into Soviet aircraft.

Ignoring the smoke, looking at that picture, that's one hell of an aerodynamic beastie, Bit like the Viper when you get up REAL close and follow the lines....

Both had brilliant designers/teams IMO.

Bevo is correct about the combustor design. But, in addition, combustion temp is also an important factor. Colder=more smoke.

No Smoke without Fire.
 

Can't believe this hoary old one hasn't popped up yet:

(Voice from the cloud......):

"Never mind, sonny - when you grow up you'll be able to smoke, too !"

D.

Well, the J79 engined F4s were smoky, but then so were our Spey engined F4s; min burner killed the smoke.

The Speys had nothing on the J-79s, 27mm. Looking along a smoke trail, it was pretty obvious on the Ks and Ms, but nowhere near as bad.

Holy smoke!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7299/9...d215bf71_b.jpg

Image credit: Phantom Pharewell, Wittmund, June 29th 2013 by Gerben Wessels, on Flickr

^^^Oops, sorry. Huge photo. I'll leave it for a bit and then take it down if it's annoying.

Was the laying of smoke screens included in their training?

plan was to choke the WP forces to death..............