VERSIONS – MiG-15bis Burlaki
IFR (In-Flight Refuelling) conversion of MiG-15bis,
details as MiG-15/bis unless otherwise indicated
Additional light for
night operations
Fixed, telescopic nose mounted
IFR (In-Flight Refuelling) probe
derived from Burlaki 'harpoon'
system offset to port
1 x MiG-15bis (c/n 2215304) modified
as receiver aircraft with Tupolev Tu-4
(1840848) modified as the tanker for
IFR (In-Flight Refuelling) tests at LII
test facility 1954-55
Later Tu-4 (c/n 2805204) and 3 x
MiG-15bis converted in 1952 for
additional tests commencing in 1953
with IFR probe offset to port
MiG-15bis
IFR tests
Towed fighter conversion of
MiG-15/bis, details as MiG-15bis
unless otherwise indicated
Additional light for
night operations
Nose mounted, telescopic
probe with pneumatically
operated barbed tip
(harpoon) on centreline
connecting with towed
drogue from 'mothership'
S-13 gun camera deleted
1 x MiG-15bis (c/n 53210408) modified
for towed 'parasite' fighter tests with
Tupolev Tu-4 (221001) 'mothership'
Tu-4 would tow MiG-15bis like a glider
on bombing mission, if attacked, MiG
engine would be started and released
hooking up with tow line (if surviving
attack), cutting engine and towed back
once bomber mission is complete
Additional 4 lt (.88 Imp gal,
1.06 US gal) air bottle for
harpoon pneumatic system
Additional 12A-30
DC battery
Additional harpoon
controls in cockpit
5 x additional Tu-4 converted to
motherships (c/n 1840848, 2805003,
2805005, 2805110, 2805203) and
5 x MiG-15bis (c/n 2115370, 2115375,
2115376, 2115390, 2215304) for
additional tests between 1951-56
MiG-15bis
Burlaki system
ILLUSTRATIONS: © ADRIAN DAVID MOORE 2015 • NO ITEMS MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER
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ILLUSTRATIONS: © ADRIAN DAVID MOORE 2015
