MiG-21PF Fishbed, MiG-17F Fresco, & MiG-17PF Fresco

MiG-21PF Fishbed (bottom)

The MiG-21 is the most widely produced and used supersonic fighter ever with over 10,000 built since 1955. The Fishbed was originally designed as a short-range interceptor to combat the B-52s and B-58s of the U.S. Air Force. The later MiG-21PF version incorporated a better radar, and slightly longer range for use as an all-weather fighter. The MiG-21, like its American counterpart the F-4 Phantom, does not have an internal gun and relies on missiles for air-to-air combat.

MiG-17F Fresco (center)

The Mig-17 is a significantly enhanced version of the MiG-15. Changes include an increase in wing sweep and other aerodynamic changes, as well as a more powerful engine, the first Soviet engine to use an afterburner. Production of the MiG-17 was begun in 1953 and a total of 10,824 were built in Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and China. The MiG-17 was the primary fighter used by North Vietnam against the United States. It proved to be highly maneuverable and the fact that it was equipped with guns gave it a significant advantage over the missile-armed F-4 Phantom. The Lim-5 is the Polish built version of the Fresco. A total of 222 were built between 1957 and 1960. They were primarily intended for close air support of ground troops.

MiG-17PF Fresco (top)

The Mig-17 is a significantly enhanced version of the MiG-15. Changes include an increase in wing sweep and other aerodynamic changes, as well as a more powerful engine in the MiG-17F, the first Soviet engine to use an afterburner. The MiG-17P was the first true all weather radar equipped interceptor available to the Soviet Union. The “PF” version also incorporated the afterburning engine found in the “F” model. The Polish built aircraft carried the designation Lim-5P. Beginning in 1971, all these aircraft were rebuilt as ground attack aircraft and re-designated Lim-6M or as camera equipped Lim-6MR reconnaissance aircraft.