MIG17F LIM-5 - Polish Air Force

Product description

The Soviet built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (Fresco) was initially called the MiG-15bis+45° and
completed its maiden flight on January 13, 1950 and entered service in 1952. There were five
variants of the MiG-17 with the MiG-17F (Fresco C) becoming the main variant. The new Klimov
VK-1F engine was the first Soviet built engine with an afterburner and variable nozzle. The
installation of this new engine gave the MiG-17F double the rate of climb of previous variants and
greatly improved vertical maneuvers. This aircraft lacked radar and was purely a day-time fighter.

In 1955 Poland purchased a license to produce the MiG-17 aircraft to be manufactured by
WSK-Mielec (Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego) and WSK "PZL-Mielec" a Polish aerospace
manufacturer, based in Mielec. The Polish aircraft was named Lim-5 and the first aircraft was
completed on November 28, 1956 with a total number of 477 Lim-5s being produced by 1960. On
July 12, 1993 the oldest Lim-5 1717 of the 45th Experimental Aviation Squadron completed a
commemorative last flight of the Lim-5 wearing a special paint scheme designed by artist,
renowned aviation historian and publisher
Robert 'Gretza' Gretzyngier