MiG 17 Fresco
Mikoyan - Gurevich
MiG 17
Design on the MiG 17 began in 1949 with the goal of improving the overall performance of the MiG 15, in particular to correct its poor handling at Mach 0.88 and above. The new MiG had a longer fuselage and redesigned wings, a larger tail and the F model would receive an afterburning engine.
MiG 17F
Crew: 1
Power: Klimov 3380 kg / 7452 lb thrust VK-1F afterburning turbojet
Max. Speed: 1145 kph / 711 mph
Ceiling: 16,600 m / 54,460 ft
Range: 1980 km / 1230 miles with external tanks
Climb: 5000 m / 16,405 ft in 2 minutes, 36 seconds
Weight -
Empty: 3930 kg / 8664 lb
Max. Take Off: 6075 kg / 13,393 lb
Size -
Wingspan: 9.63 m / 31 ft 7.25 in
Wing Area: 22.6 sq m / 243.27 sq ft
Length: 11.26 m / 36 ft 11.25 in
Height: 3.8 m / 12 ft 5.5 in
Armament:
1 - 37 mm / 1.46 in cannon
2 or 3 - 23 mm / 0.9 in cannon
2 - 500 kg / 1102 lb weapons under wings
V I D E O
Drop Tanks
A larger, heavier jet with 50 percent more thrust but the same internal fuel capacity as the MiG 15 made it almost mandatory that the MiG 17 carry its two 600 liter drop tanks. The MiG 17 was more than an upgrade of its predecessor and it had wide appeal, with over 9,000 built and many of them either exported or built under license by Soviet allies and other third world countries.
Cutaway
In 1956 the Russians replaced the cannon on the MiG 17 with 4 radar guided air-to-air missiles and it became the first Soviet missile-armed fighter. A decade later North Vietnamese piloting MiG 17s used cannon in close up engagements and, on rare occasion, downed missile armed American jets. Air-to-air missiles often proved unreliable and the era of the dogfight had not yet passed into history.
Afghanistan MiG 17
With the exception of East Germany Soviet fighters exported to Warsaw Pact countries and Third World allies were downgraded models and did not contain the most advanced avionics. None the less air forces ordering the MiG 17 received a high performance dogfighter that was relatively easy to maintain.
Afterburner
Like the MiG 15 before it and the MiG 21 that followed, the MiG 17 was basically a clear weather, short range interceptor designed to defend against western air strikes. These MiGs were all highly maneuverable and their small size often made them difficult to see but their short range and light payload made them inadequate for combat roles such as ground attack. The image is by Richard Seaman.
Defending the skies over North Vietnam
Lessons learned over the skies of North Vietnam directly led to the design and development of the F-16 Falcon, an agile but heavily armed fighter popular with pilots and purchasers in the export market. American planes involved in Rolling Thunder such as the F-105 Thunderchief, or Thud, were not designed for close engagement with enemy jets and the heavy F-4 Phantom proved vulnerable to the quick strike tactics of North Vietnamese pilots. More important, though, the dogfighting skills of American pilots had been allowed to lapse as Pentagon planners believed air-to-air missiles made close quarters combat obsolete.
Tight turns
Ultimately the MiG 17 was not a match for American air power north of the DMZ. Most North Vietnamese air combat victories were credited to the newer MiG 21. Still, the older, outdated MiG of the 50s earned respect for its solid aerodynamic design and maneuverability when in capable hands.
A V I A T I O N
OVER EASY
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