1-231 / 2D

OKB engineers were desperately tiying to find a successor to the MiG – 3. In 1943 they thought they had hit on something when a new engine, the AM-39 A, became available Its takeoff power reached 1,325 kW (1,800 ch), and it was rated at 1,104 kW (1,500 ch) at 5,850 m (19,190 feet). The engine was installed in an airframe almost similar to that of the 1-230 with the same armament (two 20-mm ShVAK cannons above the engine with 160 rpg).

The 1-231 prototype was completed and test-flown in 1943 with Yu A. Antipov and later P. M. Stefanovskiy at the controls, but it was destroyed as a result of a mislanding. It could have been a chance mishap, the aircraft having shown great capabilities justifying its mass production. But once more a shortage of engines put an end to what would be the final attempt to extend the life of the MiG-3: series pro­duction of the AM-39 had to be stopped a short time after it began. Also, no production unit had the capacity to manufacture the 1-231 They were all busy, day and night, turning out Yakovlev and Lav­ochkin fighters.

Specifications

Span, 10 2 m (33 ft 5 6 in); length, 8.62 m (28 ft 3.4 in); height in level flight position, 3.275 m (10 ft 8 9 in); wheel track, 2.78 m (9 ft 1.4 in); wheel base, 5.426 m (17 ft 9.6 in); wing area, 17.44 m2 (187.7 sq ft); empty weight, 2,583 kg (5,693 lb); takeoff weight, 3,287 kg (7,245 lb); fuel, 333 kg (734 lb); oil, 34 kg (75 lb), wing loading, 188.5 kg/m2 (38 6 Ib/sq ft); max operating limit load factor, 8

Performance

Max speed, 707 km/h at 7,100 m (382 kt at 23,290 ft); climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 4.5 min, service ceiling, 11,400 m (37,400 ft)