Saturday 16 March 2019

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI, part eleven, Other European users

The MiG-15UTI served all across the globe, and it was also used by the following countries:

  • Armenia: When the country was declared independent in 1991, some UTIs were left behind. They were incorporated into the newly created air force and were used in the Nagorno-Karabah war in the light-bomber role in 1992. All of them were presumably lost in that war. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of the type serving with the Armenian Air Force, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
  • Bulgaria: The MiG-15UTI became the main trainer aircraft for the Bulgarian People's Army Air Force in the early 1950s when they were bought from the USSR. They served alongside other types like the Aero L-29 or the Aero L-39 until the fall of Communism in 1989 and even beyond as the type was still in active service in 1992. However, it was retired shortly after and replaced by the L-39 and the Pilatus PC-9. 
  • Chechen Republic of Ichkeria: The Chechen National Guard Aviation had at least one MiG-15UTI that received the Chechen roundel. However it was destroyed on the ground during the first hours of the Chechen War in 1994. 
  • Finland: In 1954 the MiG-15 was offered to Finland by the USSR, but the Finnish Air Force wasn't interested in the type, however, some years later, in 1962, as they needed an intermediate trainer before completing the transition to the MiG-21F-13, four MiG-15UTIs were ordered. In spite the UTI's good flying characteristics, the UTI didn't handle very well on ground and, as it didn't meet the demands of the Finnish Air Force, it wasn't used very much. It served until 7th February 1977 when it's last flight with the Finnish Colours took place.
  • Romania: The Air Force of the People's Republic of Romania imported a total of 60 both Aero CS-102 (the Czechoslovak license-built MiG-15UTI) and MiG-15UTIs from 1953 until 1960. Given to the UTIs good flying characteristics and robustness, they were in service until 1992 making it, with more than 40 years, one of the most longeve aircraft to ever serve in the Romanian Air Force.









Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Air_Force
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Air_Force
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen_National_Guard
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Chechen_War
6. https://www.ilmailumuseot.fi/tuotteet.html?id=20171/255089
7. http://www.aripi-argintii.ro/aparatdezbor.php?p=24 (translated) 

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