Difference between revisions of "MiG-17"
(New page: The '''Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17''' (NATO code name: Fresco) was a Russian fighter-bomber and the replacement for the MiG-15. Russian designers began work on it ...) |
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The '''Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17''' ([[NATO]] code name: [[Fresco]]) was a [[Soviet Union|Russian]] fighter-bomber and the replacement for the [[MiG-15]]. Russian designers began work on it in 1949; the prototype flew in 1950 and it went into general service in 1951. | The '''Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17''' ([[NATO]] code name: [[Fresco]]) was a [[Soviet Union|Russian]] fighter-bomber and the replacement for the [[MiG-15]]. Russian designers began work on it in 1949; the prototype flew in 1950 and it went into general service in 1951. | ||
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| + | ==Design== | ||
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| + | The MiG-17 has a blunt nose, [[bubble canopy]], and a short, [[cigar]]-shaped fuselage. The single exhaust is overhung by a fin. The swept wings have thick wing roots and blunt tips. Most versions of the Fresco were armed with two 23 mm and one 37 cannon, the same armament as the MiG-15. | ||
==Service== | ==Service== | ||
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Although it went into service in 1951, very few fought in the [[Korean War]]. The latest version of the aircraft was armed with four AA-1 missiles and, although nearly obsolete, served notably in the [[Vietnam War]]. Eventually, the aircraft served with over 20 countries worldwide, including [[North Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]], [[Afghanistan]], [[North Korea]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Cuba]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Cambodia]], besides the Soviet Union. China received a license to build MiG-17s under the name of J-5. | Although it went into service in 1951, very few fought in the [[Korean War]]. The latest version of the aircraft was armed with four AA-1 missiles and, although nearly obsolete, served notably in the [[Vietnam War]]. Eventually, the aircraft served with over 20 countries worldwide, including [[North Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]], [[Afghanistan]], [[North Korea]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Cuba]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Cambodia]], besides the Soviet Union. China received a license to build MiG-17s under the name of J-5. | ||
| − | == | + | ===Nigeria=== |
| + | After the region of [[Biafra]] broke away from [[Nigeria]] in 1967, the Nigerian Air Force acquired MiG-17s, its first modern fighters, from the Soviet Union. A strike by Biafran bombers destroyed some of them on the ground, but they became operational and flew their first combat sorties on August 30. The new fighters later supported a government offensive that captured Biafran airfields, and soon the NAF had air superiority. | ||
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| + | Some of the Frescoes were flown by British [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], one of whom downed a [[Red Cross]] DC-7 transport delivering aid to the Biafrans in June of 1969.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_351.shtml Civil War in Nigeria (Biafra), 1967-1970]</ref> | ||
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| + | ===China-Taiwan=== | ||
| + | Along with MiG-15s, Chinese MiG-17s took part in several conflicts over the Taiwan Strait. The Frescoes first saw action against the [[Taiwan|Nationalists]], which flew [[F-84 Thunderjet]]s and [[F-86 Sabre]]s, during the Quemoy Crisis in 1958. The conflict also marked the first appearance of the Chinese-built J-5. The appearance of MiG-17s in Chinese hands came as a surprise to both the Nationalists and the Americans, and prompted the United States to ship several [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] air-to-air missiles, which had only recently become operational in American units, and the missile saw combat for the first time in Nationalist service.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_145.shtml China and Taiwan since 1945]</ref> | ||
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| + | In spite of several victory claims, there’s no evidence that any Sabers were shot down by the MiGs, although one Saber was lost in a collision (a “Fox four”) with a MiG-17 that also went down. Frescoes did manage to shoot down three Thunderjets.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_170.shtml PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories since 1950]</ref> Nationalist Sabre pilots are credited with downing 25 MiG-17s (ironically, no Frescoes fell to Sidewinders).<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_171.shtml Taiwanese Air-to-Air Victories]</ref> | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category: Aircraft]] | [[Category: Aircraft]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Soviet Union]] | ||
Revision as of 17:47, January 1, 2009
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (NATO code name: Fresco) was a Russian fighter-bomber and the replacement for the MiG-15. Russian designers began work on it in 1949; the prototype flew in 1950 and it went into general service in 1951.
Design
The MiG-17 has a blunt nose, bubble canopy, and a short, cigar-shaped fuselage. The single exhaust is overhung by a fin. The swept wings have thick wing roots and blunt tips. Most versions of the Fresco were armed with two 23 mm and one 37 cannon, the same armament as the MiG-15.
Service
Although it went into service in 1951, very few fought in the Korean War. The latest version of the aircraft was armed with four AA-1 missiles and, although nearly obsolete, served notably in the Vietnam War. Eventually, the aircraft served with over 20 countries worldwide, including North Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Indonesia, and Cambodia, besides the Soviet Union. China received a license to build MiG-17s under the name of J-5.
Nigeria
After the region of Biafra broke away from Nigeria in 1967, the Nigerian Air Force acquired MiG-17s, its first modern fighters, from the Soviet Union. A strike by Biafran bombers destroyed some of them on the ground, but they became operational and flew their first combat sorties on August 30. The new fighters later supported a government offensive that captured Biafran airfields, and soon the NAF had air superiority.
Some of the Frescoes were flown by British mercenaries, one of whom downed a Red Cross DC-7 transport delivering aid to the Biafrans in June of 1969.[1]
China-Taiwan
Along with MiG-15s, Chinese MiG-17s took part in several conflicts over the Taiwan Strait. The Frescoes first saw action against the Nationalists, which flew F-84 Thunderjets and F-86 Sabres, during the Quemoy Crisis in 1958. The conflict also marked the first appearance of the Chinese-built J-5. The appearance of MiG-17s in Chinese hands came as a surprise to both the Nationalists and the Americans, and prompted the United States to ship several AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, which had only recently become operational in American units, and the missile saw combat for the first time in Nationalist service.[2]
In spite of several victory claims, there’s no evidence that any Sabers were shot down by the MiGs, although one Saber was lost in a collision (a “Fox four”) with a MiG-17 that also went down. Frescoes did manage to shoot down three Thunderjets.[3] Nationalist Sabre pilots are credited with downing 25 MiG-17s (ironically, no Frescoes fell to Sidewinders).[4]