Mikoyan-Gurevich I-350

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The Mikoyan-Gurevich I-350, known as Samolet M, was a Soviet experimental fighter built during the Cold War. It was the first Soviet aircraft designed to stay supersonic. Work began in 1947 on a new axial-flow turbojet, the TR-3A (later called the AL-5), led by Arkhip Lyulka. Mikoyan-Gurevich designed the I-350 around this engine. It looked like a larger MiG-17: a long, slim fuselage, wings swept about 57 degrees, and a wide tail fin with a tailplane mounted halfway up.

With the OKB designation Izdeliye M, it became the first Soviet fighter able to fly stably at supersonic speeds. The I-350M-1 prototype was equipped with the RP-1 Izumrud radar, and the I-350M-2 with the Korshun radar.

The first flight was on 16 June 1951, piloted by Grigoriy A. Sedov. Soon after takeoff the engine failed and caused a hydraulic problem. Sedov landed safely using the emergency undercarriage extension system. Four more test flights followed, but the engine remained unreliable, and the program was canceled in August 1951.