Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF, part two, European Users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF is a high subsonic fighter produced in the USSR from 1954 until 1956, and until 1960 in Poland. It was a regular MiG-17F equipped with an Izumrud RP-2 radar placed in a radome at the frontal air intake of the aircraft. It was powered by the Klimov VK-1F engine which had a thrust power of 5046 lb and was armed with three cannons; two 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 autocannon and one 37 mm Nudelman N-37 placed in the nose under the engine. It had two pylons with a capacity of up to 500 kg in stores with provisions to carry a combination of rockets or bombs, but most of them carried additional external fuel tanks. It was exported to most of Warsaw Pact countries:

• Hungary: In 1954 a batch of MiG-17PF was delivered to the Hungarian Air Force. They served 1974 when they were replaced by more modern types.
• Romania: Just like Hungary, Romania got a batch of PFs in 1954. They were kept in active for a long period of time as some of them were still active in the late 1980s when communism fell in Romania. 
• USSR: The MiG-17PF served alongside the MiG-17F in the Soviet Air Defence Forces from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s when they were serving alongside more modern types. They were gradually replaced by more modern types.

Sources:

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

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

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

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

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

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Aero L-29, part four, various European users users

As we've previously said many time, the Aero L-29 was used by many Eastern bloc countries. The ones covered in this post are:

• Hungary: As it happened with almost every other Warsaw Pact country, Hungary bought a number of Aero L-29 in the mid 1960s (in 1965 to be more precise) to equip their training squadrons. They served until the fall of communism in 1989 together with other more advanced and modern types. 
• Romania: Being a Warsaw Pact member, the Romanian Air Force was supplied with a number of Aero L-29 to equip their training squadrons and flight schools. They served until the fall of communism in 1989 and shortly beyond, together with other types.
• Slovakia: After the creation of the Slovak Air Force in 1993, there were many L-29s left in the country which served as the main trainer for the newly created air force. It served alongside the more advanced Aero L-39 until the very late 1990s when it was phased out.
• USSR: The Soviet Air Force (VVS) was the main user of the Aero L-29. It served as its main trainer, together with other types until the dissolution of the USSR in 1992.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-29_Delfín

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

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

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

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

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)