A Rare MiG-17 & Jack McDonald

A significant addition to the Eastern Bloc cold war fighter force was the MiG-17, also known as the Lim-5M or Lim-6bis when produced under License in Poland and China as the Shenyang J-5 (for local use) or F-5 (for export) .

The MiG-17 was a transitional Fighter designed to be a transonic evolution of the earlier MiG 15 design prior to the true supersonic MiG-19 and 21 however it was a very successful type, eventually being deployed in 20 countries with a few aircraft still remaining in service around the world.

The MiG-17 first flew as early as 1950 and was deployed in the USSR almost immediately achieving great success. Eventually almost 11,000 of all versions of the MiG-17 were produced worldwide. Whilst the MiG-17 took a largely unheralded role during the Cold War it did take part in several minor skirmishes in Africa and other places, its main theatre of combat was against allied forces in Vietnam where Russian and Chinese versions of the MiG-17 shot down nearly 150 Allied aircraft for the loss of 75 aircraft.

With the advent of more modern types the MiG-17 and its brethren were gradually removed from the order of battle of most countries however it is believed that even to this day a few remain in the training role in some Air Forces globally.

Warbird Legend Jack McDonald & the MiG-17

The subject of today’s article is a very interesting version of the MiG-17. The aircraft in question is a Polish License built version of the MiG-17F produced in Poland by the WSK-Mielec factory under the designation Lim-5 (an abbreviation of licencyjny myśliwiec – license-built fighter). This MiG is an interceptor Lim-5P (equivalent to the Soviet produced MiG-17PF) produced in the mid-1950s. And delivered to the Polish Air Force as “102”, it was later converted to a ground attack Lim-6M.

Following its service with the Polish Air Force the aircraft was retired and placed on the open market and was one of a batch or MiGs/Lim’s  purchased by Australian Randal McFarlane and imported to Australia in 1989. Almost immediately the aircraft passed to the ownership of Australian Warbird legend Jack McDonald in 1990 and has remained with him ever since.  Jack has intended to restore the aircraft to airworthy condition but as other projects have arrived it has spent most of its life since then on display at various museums and in storage at Caboolture airfield in Queensland.  The aircraft is in excellent condition having been under cover most of its life and is complete including all of its cockpit fit out and even the 2 X ground attack UB-16-57 multiple rocket pods. The aircraft was repainted as Polish Air Force “402” in a Silver finish with red trim and markings.

Given the aircrafts condition it is not impossible that it could be restored to flying condition. However it is not currently likely that this will be completed in the near future and it is proposed that the Lim-6M MiG-17 will be placed on display at a new Museum in Australia in the foreseeable future where it can be admired by thousands of visitors for years to come.

Warbirds Online extends our thanks to Jack McDonald for his help in preparing this news article.  We will be reporting on the progress of its cosmetic preparation and relocation to its new display location.

Specifications (MiG-17F)

Twin 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon winched down from the nose of a Polish-built Lim-6 (MiG-17F; a third 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon was also fitted.

MiG-17F General Characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 11.264 m (36 ft 11 in)

Wingspan: 9.628 m (31 ft 7 in)

Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)

Wing area: 22.6 m2 (243 sq ft)

Airfoil: root: TsAGI S-12; tip: TsAGI SR-11[58]

Empty weight: 3,919 kg (8,640 lb) [59]

Gross weight: 5,340 kg (11,773 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 6,069 kg (13,380 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Klimov VK-1F afterburning centrifugal-flow turbojet engine, 26.5 kN (6,000 lbf) thrust dry, 33.8 kN (7,600 lbf) with afterburner

MiG-17F Performance

Maximum speed: 1,100 km/h (680 mph, 590 kn) M0.89 at sea level

1,145 km/h (711 mph; 618 kn) / M0.93 at 3,000 m (9,800 ft) with reheat

Range: 2,020 km (1,260 mi, 1,090 nmi) at 12,000 m (39,000 ft) with 2 × 400 l (110 US gal; 88 imp gal) drop-tanks

Service ceiling: 16,600 m (54,500 ft)

g limits: +8

Rate of climb: 65 m/s (12,800 ft/min)

Wing loading: 268.5 kg/m2 (55.0 lb/sq ft)

Thrust/weight: 0.63

MiG-17F Armament

Guns: 2 × 23 mm (0.906 in) Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 autocannon (80 rounds per gun, 160 rounds total)

1 × 37 mm Nudelman N-37 autocannon (40 rounds total)

Hardpoints: 2 pylons with a capacity of up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of stores, with provisions to carry combinations of:

Rockets: 2 × UB-16-57 rocket pods for S-5 rockets

Bombs: 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs

(Some versions equipped with 3 x NR-23 autocannons and 2 x K-5 air-to-air missiles)[7][60]

© John Parker 2021