Mikoyan-Gurevich 3 Russian high-altitude fighter
Ark Models 48012

Dimensions: 172
No. of parts: 122

The "Mikoyan-Gurevich 3" is the most numerous high-altitude fighter of an initial period of the Soviet-German war. The fighter was developed in 1940 by A. Mikoyan Design Bureau. The "Mikoyan-Gurevich 3" was intended to intercept enemy aircraft and possessed excellent flight characteristics at high attitudes. The "Mikoyan-Gurevich 3" was good machine when its pilot was well trained. But also the first Mikoyan’s aircraft had some drawbacks at low altitudes. Many Soviet aces started career at the "Mikoyan-Gurevich 3" controls. Among them famous WWII ace A. Pokryshkin 3xHSU (59 victories) and 2xHSU V. Zaytsev (34), M. Kuznetsov (28), A. Karpov (28). According to changes of air battle tactics it was decided to cancel production of the "Mikoyan-Gurevich 3" in 1942. The "Mikoyan-Gurevich 3" fighters were in flight conditions up to the end of 1943 and served in Air Defense regiments and till mid-1944 in the Air Force of Black Sea Fleet. During two years (1940-1941) in a total of 3,178 aircraft were built.