The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 fighter first flew in 14 January 1950 and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in October 1952, the MiG-17 design was loosely based on the existing MiG-15 fighter but featured more modern aerodynamics combined with a more powerful engine. The main role of the MiG-17 was to give the Soviet Union an effective interceptor against Strategic Nuclear Bombers such as the B-50 and B-36, the MiG-17 had ample performance to complete this task but as newer Supersonic Strategic Bombers such as the B-58 Hustler and FB-111 entered service had to be replaced by new supersonic interceptors, the MiG-21 and MiG-23 eventually replacing the MiG-17 in the interceptor role. It is interesting to note that in the Vietnam war, 15 year old MiG-17's were able to shoot down the new generation of American Supersonic fighters like the F-105 Thunderchief, this was when dog-fighting the Supersonic fighters had to slow down to near the MiG-17's speed where the MiG was in fact more manoeuvrable, the faster fighters could outrun their opponents but out-fighting them was another matter! Variable Geometry fighters like the F-14 Tomcat and the "TOPGUN" courses were designed to counter this situation. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F Specifications: - Crew: Pilot only
- Length: 11.36 m (37 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 9.63 m (31 ft 7 in)
- Height: 3.80 m (12 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 22.6 m² (243.2 ft²)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 6,286 kg (13,858 lb)
- Engine: Single 33.1 kN (7,440 lbf) Klimov VK-1F afterburning turbojet
- Maximum speed: 1,144 km/h at 3,000 m (711 mph at 10,000 ft)
- Range: 1,080 km, 1,670 km with drop tanks (670 mi / 1,035 mi)
- Service ceiling 16,600 m (54,500 ft)
- Rate of climb: 65 m/s (12,795 ft/min)
Armament: - Single 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon
- Twin 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon
- Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of external 100 kg (220 lb) and 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or drop tanks
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