MiG-17
Mikoyan-Gurevich · Soviet Union · first flew 1950 · fighter
The MiG-17 was an evolved, higher-performance development of the MiG-15 with a refined wing for near-sonic flight.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Longer fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Nose intake like MiG-15
- Sharper compound wing sweep
- Longer fuselage
Very similar to the MiG-15 but distinguished by a longer fuselage and a more sharply, compound-swept wing with an extra fence. The nose intake and tall swept fin remain family signatures.
Specifications
- The MiG-17 has a length of 11.26 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.63 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1100 km/h (684 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in January 1950, the MiG-17 addressed the MiG-15's handling limits at high speed with a thinner wing of greater, compound sweep and a longer fuselage. It entered service in 1952 and was produced in vast numbers in the USSR, Poland, China and elsewhere.
Variants
The MiG-17F added an afterburning engine, while the MiG-17PF and PFU introduced radar for all-weather interception. China produced the type as the Shenyang J-5.
Where you'll see it
Famous as a nimble dogfighter against US aircraft over Vietnam, the MiG-17 served dozens of air forces for decades. Preserved and airworthy examples are flown at UK and European airshows, and static aircraft are held in British collections.
Related aircraft
- Mikoyan-Gurevich I-350
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F
- MiG-15
- Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.11
- Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck
- de Havilland Vampire T.11
- FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
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