The Mig-17 was a Soviet Union fighter aircraft that was produced both in the former U.S.S.R. and elsewhere. It was flown by numerous air forces throughout the world and saw considerable combat with the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. A total of 10,367 of these aircraft were produced from 1952-1964. The design of the MiG-17 was undertaken to correct the deficiencies that the earlier MiG-15 had at higher speeds. It was the first Soviet fighter to have an afterburning engine, the Klimov VK-1. Although similar in appearance to the MiG-15, the MiG-17 has more sharply swept wings, an afterburner, better speed, handling characteristics, and was about three feet longer. The prototype MiG-17 first flew in January 1950 and was reported to have exceeded Mach 1 in level flight. Production began in late 1951 and deliveries to the Soviet Air Force began in 1952. Five versions of the aircraft were eventually produced. Even though it was considered obsolete by the mid-1960s, the MiG-17 gave a good account over Vietnam, being flown by most of the top North Vietnamese pilots, including the leading ace, Colonel Tomb, during the Vietnam War. In total, the MiG-17 served with nearly 30 air forces worldwide, including the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact countries, and China. Soviet production of the MiG-17 ended in 1958 with over 6,000 produced. Production continued under license in Poland and China thereafter.
The Museum’s airworthy PZL Lim-5/Mig-17F Fresco was built under license in Poland in 1958 by Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze (State Aviation Works). The Polish Air Force flew the aircraft until 1990 when the airplane was retired from service. In 1995 the aircraft was imported into the United States and underwent a painstaking restoration. On July 29, 2003 it was returned to airworthy status, flying in Polish Air Force colors, and can sometimes be seen at local airshows. The aircraft is on loan to the Museum by the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum of Hillsboro, Oregon.