Shenyang F-6, various Asian users

 

The Shenyang J-6 (F-6 denomination for the export variants) is the Chinese-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. It started as a "pure" copy of the MiG, but it evolved until being a fighter of its own. As it has been massively produced, it has been also, exported to various countries around the globe, among them, the following ones:

• Bangladesh: Beginning in 1978 the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) received at least 40 F-6C and FT-6 as a gift from Pakistan as they were phased out of service with the Pakistan Air Force. The F-6C was operated by the No.25 Squadron "Trendsetters" based initially at Patenga Air Base and later at other various air bases scattered around the country. By 1998 the types were being retired with the FT-6 being replaced in the trainer role by the Czech Albatross L-39ZA and the F-6C were replaced by Russian built MiG-29s.
• Burma/Myanmar: The Burmese Air Force ordered 36 F-6s, together with some Guizhou F-7M (the Chinese copy of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13) from China in 1990. However, by 1991 none of them were delivered. As with many other cases in this blog, we drawn it in Burmese colours in an imaginative exercise.
• Iraq: In 1983 Iraq bought 40 ex-Egyptian F-6C machines to supplement their MiG-19S. Their fate is unknown because many times they are taken by MiG-19s. However, it's most likely that many of them were destroyed during the First Gulf War and other sold to various customers like Uganda and North Korea. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of a Shenyang F-6C in Iraqi colours, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Iran: Apparently the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) acquired 24 F-6 fighter-bombers from North Korea which arrived via a cargo ship in April 1983. Apparently, during the Iran-Iraq they saw some action against Iraqi forces as they served as ground-attackers. Later, they bought additional FT-6 trainers. As we couldn't find any photo or pic of Iran's F-6 nor fighters, nor trainers, the FT-6 depicted below should be considered as speculative.
• North Korea: In 1988 (some sources claim 1980) as the North Korean Air Force (NKAF) looked on expanding the size of their air force, they acquired 100 F-6 fighter-bombers which were delivered in 1988 and 1989. They are still active nowadays based around the various air bases around the country.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-6

2. Midland Publishing - Aerofax - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19. The Soviet Union's First Production Supersonic Fighter

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Iranian_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historic_Bangladesh_military_aircraft

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army_Air_and_Anti-Air_Force

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Chengdu JJ-5/FT-5 - Foreign Users

The Chengdu JJ-5 is a twin-seater trainer variant of the Shenyang/Chengdu J-5 designed and developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. It mixed the airframe of the J-5, the airbrakes from the J-5A and the tandem twin-seat cockpit section of the JJ-2 (the Chinese copy of the MiG-15UTI trainer). When exported it was designated as Chengdu FT-5. It was exported to many countries:

• Albania: Together with the first Chinese aircraft received, the Shenyang F-5, the Albanian Air Force got some FT-5 which were used as trainers and even as attack aircraft during the Albanian Civil War in 1997. Nowadays they're put into storage together with the F-5s.
• Bangladesh: After achieving their independence in 1971, the People's Liberation Army Air Force supplied the Bangladesh with some FT-5s which, by 1980 all of them were retired as the more advanced Chengdu FT-7 became available.
• Pakistan: Pakistan's Air Force No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit operated at least 25 FT-5 trainers from 1975 until 2012 when they were replaced by locally built Karakorum K-8 trainer.
• Sri-Lanka: The FT-5 was the main jet familiarisation trainer for Sri-Lankan pilots from 1990, when they were bought, until 2001 when they were replaced by the Karakorum K-8.
• Zimbabwe: The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) acquired some FT-5 in the 1980s which were used as intermediate trainers. Nowadays just one of them is in AFZ's inventory, into storage status.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-5

2. https://xairforces.net/airforces.asp?id=37#.XilQTa7QiUk

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Air_Force

4. https://www.airliners.net/photo/Sri-Lanka-Air-Force/Shenyang-FT-5/1760071

5. Hikoki Publications - Chinese Aircraft - China's Aviation History since 1951

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters