Soviet fighter MiG-3 in second life

The Aviarestoration company of Novosibirsk has reconstructed a MiG-3 from parts of many recovered wreckages; the work was commissioned by the Russian firm Rusavia. That MiG-3 was found near Kandalaksha, Murmansk region in 2000. It kept safe a center-section, a chassis and some metallic fragments of tail. The second MiG-3, whose parts are used in reconstruction, was found in Loukhi region, Karelia in 2001. Morover, there are parts of four airplanes, which were found in various times. Most of equipment is original, including the engine Mikulin AM-38 that is under recovering too; this is not the original AM-35A engine of MiG-3, but it is extremely similar in shape and size, and its installation on a MiG-3 was already experienced in 1941. The airframe has about 40% of its original parts. A new book has been published by "Rusavia" in 2003: "MiG-3 Fighter" by A. Medved, D. Khazanov, M. Maslov. (ISBN 5-900078-24-8). Basically, the book (see photo) is dedicated to combat usage of the aircraft and contains a lot of beautiful photos; it has a part dedicated to this restoration work too. At the photo above you can see MiG-3 on MAKS 2007 International Aviation and Space Salon.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 was a Soviet fighter aircraft used during World War II. It was a development of the MiG-1. It replaced the MiG-1 on 20 December 1940 and was built in large numbers during 1941. On 22 June 1941, at the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, some 981 were in service with the Soviet Air Force, Anti-Air Defense, and Naval Aviation. The MiG-3 had been designed for high-altitude combat. It was also pressed into service as a fighter-bomber during the autumn of 1941, but it was unsuited for this role.
General characteristics
· Crew: One
· Length: 8.25 m
· Wingspan: 10.20 m
· Height: 3.30 m
· Loaded weight: 3,355 kg (7,415 lb)
· Powerplant: 1× Mikulin AM-35A liquid-cooled V-12, 993 kW
Performance
· Maximum speed: 640 km/h
· Combat range: 820 km
· Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,400 ft)
Armament
· 1 × 12.7 mm UBS machine gun
· 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns.
· 2 × 100 kg bombs