Chengdu JJ-5 (FT-5)

Note: This is our 900th post! Hooray!
In 1964 the Chinese aircraft industry began to develop an advanced trainer derivative of the J-5, a successor to the JJ-2 which ,by the 1960s, could not quite meet the People's Liberation Army Air Force's (PLAAF) requirements. It was designated as JJ-5 and had no Soviet equivalent, as it was a cross-breed between the MiG-15UTI and the MiG-17, combining the former's cockpit section mated to the fuselage of a MiG-17. The crew members sat in tandem, with the trainee's canopy section opening to starboard and the instructor's canopy section sliding aft.
The shape of the nose resembled the MiG-17PF (J-5A) with its characteristic 'fat-lip'. However, the aircraft had no radar, the nose was all-metal and there was no intake centre-body. The JJ-5 was powered by a WP-5D engine (AKA TJ-5D) non-afterburning turbojet (which was the Chinese licensed copy of the Klimov VK-1A manufactured by Xian Engine Factory) rated at 5952 lbst of thrust. Its rear fuselage was shaped similar to that of the MiG-17, yet, it had airbrakes taken from the MiG-17F/MiG-17PF (J-5).
The Chinese engineers chose to eliminate the built-in weapons tray, which was a distinctive feature of the MiG-15 and MiG-17 (J-5). Instead the JJ-5 had a single 23 mm (0.5 in calibre) Type 23 (NR-23) cannon mounted low on the starboard side of the nose. Additional pylons for air-to-ground could be fitted outboard of the drop tank hardpoints. The cockpits were equipped with an intercom and semi-automatic ejection seats which could not be used safely below 260 m (853 ft) high at speeds up to 350 km/h (217 mph) or below 2000 m (6560 ft) at higher speeds.
Work on prototype's construction began on 25th March 1965 and the prototype flew for the first time on 8th May 1966. After completing its flight test programme, the trainer entered production at Chengdu. Some sources claim the JJ-5 was also built at Shenyang as the JJ-5 has two c/n systems, which appears to support this theory. One system (Chengdu production) is straightforward, for example the 1609, belonging to the 16th batch, with nine aircraft. The other system (Shenyang production) is a little more complicated, for example, the aircraft numbered 55-1206. The first two digits may be an in-house production code, belonging to Shenyang industries. However, it may be possible that the '55' prefix was simply dropped after a certain number of batches had been built.
Anyway 1061 exemplars were manufactured from 1966 until 1983 when production ceased (some sources claim that production ceased in 1986).
Deliveries to the PLAAF began on 30th November 1967 and, as we pointed in our previous post, it was exported to many countries, among them, North Korea, whose air force bought 135 exemplars in the early 1970s and it's believed that they are kept in active service nowadays in the trainer role.
Additionally to the PLAAF's flying academies, the JJ-5 served as the mount of the PLAAF's 'August 1st' display team for a while. The team's aircraft wore a red/white livery and were equipped with a smoke generator system injecting a mixture of diesel fuel and dye into the engine jetpipe. A supply of mixture was carried in two slender cigar-shaped tanks attached to the standard drop-tank hardpoints. At least one of the team's JJ-5s (with serial 507 white) had a non-standard curved windscreen, in place of the usual three-pieced windshield.

Sources:
1. Hikoki Publications Chinese Aircraft China's Aviation History since 1951
2. https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/80750
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army_Air_and_Anti-Air_Force
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-5
5. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF, part one, Asian users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF  (NATO codename 'Fresco D') is an all weather fighter variant of the MiG-17F equipped with an Izumrud radar and armed with three 23 mm NR-23 cannons. It was exported to many countries:

• Indonesia: Just like it happened with the MiG-17F, Indonesia got some PFs in the early 1960s (which, unlike the 'F' ones, weren't assigned to the acrobatics squadron). They were deployed together with the 'F' ones in three squadrons, in Maluku, Seram and Banda Islands to provide air cover for the early infiltration in West Papua. Some of them were also present in Leftuan Air Base assigned to close air support duties, replacing some old North-American B-25 Mitchell and Douglas A-26 Invader. 
• Iraq: Apparently, together with the MiG-17F the Iraqi Air Force got some PFs during the 1960s as part of the Soviet aid. They served, most probably, in 5th and 7th squadrons in Rashid and Kirkuk respectively. As we couldn't find graphical information, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
•  North Korea: During the 1970s is known that the North Korean Air Force had active a great number of MiG-17s, among them many PF ones. Apparently some of them may still be active nowadays, but their status is unknown. 
• North Vietnam: Some PFs served with the North Vietnamese Democratic Republic Air Force in the 921st 'Sao Dao' Fighter Regiment. The first PF arrived in North Vietnam during the end of 1965. Their first nocturnal victory came on 3rd February 1966 when, according to North Vietnamese sources, Lam Van Lich (who piloted the fighter depicted below), shot down two A-1H Skyraiders over Cho Ben. Those claims, however, do not match up with USAF loss records.
• Syria: Twenty MiG-17PF were delivered to Syria in 1957 and were assigned to squadrons defending the capital Damascus, based at Mezzeh Military Airport. After the creation of the United Arab Republic in February 1958, the air force was reformed and a fully-equipped MiG-17PF squadron was formed, called No.31 'Crow Bat' squadron. After the end of the United Arab Republic, the squadron was reinforced. However this time it was also equipped with regular MiG-17Fs. They served well until the 1970s passing over two wars, the Six-Days War in 1967 and the Yom-Kippur War in 1973.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17#Asia

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force

3. https://www.valka.cz/Mikojan-Gurevic-MiG-17PF-kod-NATO-Fresco-D-t44624

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

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Air_Force

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Air_Force

7. Osprey Publishing - Aircraft of the Aces 130 - MiG-17/19 Aces of the Vietnam War

8. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F, part eleven, more Asian and Middle-East users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F was supplied to many countries all around the globe. Among them, the following ones:

• Indonesia: As Indonesia grew closer to communism, the country got closer to the Easter bloc, so in the early 1960s many Soviet-built aircraft were supplied. At least 40 of them were deployed in three airfields in Morotai (northern Makulu), Amahai (Seram) and Letfuan (Banda islands, south-west of Papua). They were deployed at Morotai against PRRI-PERMESTA and the Republic of South Maluku separatists. Their primary mission was to provide air cover for airlift and aerial logistics during the infiltration in Papua and, if the war broke out, they would've provided escort for both Tupolev Tu-16 and Ilyushin Il-28. Some of them were part of an Indonesian aerobatics squadron commanded by Rusmin Nurjadin, who became Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force in 1966.
• Iraq: After the King or Iraq was overthrown in 1958, the Soviets quickly supplied MiG-17Fs among other aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force, to replace the De Havilland Vampire. During the 1960s and early 1970s many more of them were purchased and then forwarded to Syria or Egypt to aid them in the Arab-Israeli Wars. In 1961 the 5th Squadron, based at Rashid Air Base and the 7th Squadron, based at Kirkuk Air Base, were fully equipped with MiG-17F. They were all replaced by more modern types during the 1970s.
• Israel: On 12th August 1968 two Syrian MiG-17Fs landed at the abandoned Betzet air strip, in the northern part of the country. It seems that the pilots were using very outdated maps and landed there by mistake. Both pilots, Lt. Walid Adham and 2nd Lt. Radfan Rifai, were taken prisoners and were released two years later in an exchange of prisoners. The machines were transported to Ramat-David Air Force Base where they were tested, and then sold to the United States. 
• Mongolia: As Mongolia was a Soviet puppet, the Mongolian People's Army Air Force acquired in the mid 1950s at least 36 MiG-17F fighters which were kept in active service until 1990. As we couldn't find graphical information about the MiG-17F in Mongolian colours, the drawing and serial number must be considered as speculative.
• North Korea: The North Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force acquired many MiG-17F in the early 1960s and has kept them in active service even nowadays. Apparently the ones that are officially active are in very bad condition and their flightworthiness is at least questionable. 
• North Yemen: Apparently the Yemen Arab Republic Air Force had in service some few MiG-17F in the 1960s. They saw action during the border clashes between North and South Yemen and many of them were used against royalist rebels. It seems that during those conflicts, the Yemen Arab Republican Air Force only lost two MiG-17Fs.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Air_Force

3. https://warisboring.com/45650-2/

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_People%27s_Army

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Air_Force

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force

7. https://www.iaf.org.il/4450-46914-en/IAF.aspx

8. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI, part eight, Asian users part two

As we've said previously, the MiG-15UTI saw use in many countries. Among them many asiatic ones. The countries covered with this post are:

• North Korea: The North Korean Air Force (officially named "Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force) recieved some MiG-15UTIs shortly after the Korean cease-fire in 1953. Due to the isolationist profile of the country, the type has been in active service serving as their main trainer aircraft since then. Nowadays most of KPAAAF's UTIs are based at Pukch'ang airport, located at the Northwest of the country, close to the city of Kaechon. The ones there are part of the 60th Air Fighter Wing, which is part of the 1st Air Combat Division.
  There are some others serving at Orang, located at the Northeastern part of the country, close to the Russian border which are part of the 41st Air Regiment, which is part of the 8th Training Division. Interestingly enough, they served alongside old MiG-15bis which, supposedly are used as advanced trainers. Some of them are known to be based at Riwon North Airfield too. 
• Sri Lanka: During the insurgency that took the communists into power in 1971, the Bandaranaike government turned to Soviet assistance for help. They received a small number of MiG-17Fs and a single MiG-15UTI trainer. They remained in active service until the early 1980s when they were placed into long-term storage.
• North Vietnam: The MiG-15UTI was supplied by the USSR to the Vietnam's People Air Force in the mid 1960s. They served as their main trainer and also served as the trainer for most of North Vietnamese air regiments like 921st 'Sao Dao' Fighter Regiment, the 923rd Fighter Regiment, the 925th Fighter Regiment and the 910th 'Julius Fucik' Training Regiment. The ones assigned to the 921st FR, were kept busy by flying training sorties in parallel with MiG-17 and MiG-21 combat operations in 1966.
  As the ones assigned to the 923rd had no shelters to keep them from being bombarded, in 1967 they had to be painted and storaged under trees to camouflage them. It's known also that the People's Republic of China supplied four Shenyang FT-2 (the export version of the Shenyang JJ-2 trainer, which was itself a copy of the MiG-15UTI,  built in China) in February 1969 and assigned to the 925th FR which was equipped mainly with the MiG-19. Those received most of the technical attention as they were hard to maintain airworthy so the FT-2 was heavily tasked by pilots needing to build up their flying hours.

Sources:

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

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Sri_Lanka_Air_Force

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_People%27s_Air_Force

4. Osprey Publishing- Aircraft of the Aces 130 - MiG-17-19 Aces of the Vietnam War