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

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, part four, Asian users

Note: This will be the last post before our holidays. See you all back in August!
The basic variant of the MiG-17 saw action with various Asian Air Forces.

• People's Republic of China: The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) adquired a number of MiG-17 in the early 1950s, which were designated as J-4. Most of them served with the PLAAF and were later sold to North Vietnam where they saw some action and were denominated, and often misidentified as Shenyangs.
• Democratic Republic of Afghanistan: After the communist coup of 1978 the Afghan Premier Mohammed Daoud Khan relied heavily on the Soviet material to modernize the Army. The USSR supplied the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan with obsolete MiG-17s which suffered heavy casualties during the Soviet-Afghan War. Some of them were still "active" in 1990 but their airworthiness it's doubtful to say the least.
• Mongolia: The Mongolian People's Army Air Force received some MiG-17s in the early 1960s which constituted the bulk of their fighter force. They were replaced in the 1970s by the MiG-21.
• Sri Lanka: After the 1971 communist insurrection, Ceylon received some Soviet material, among them some MiG-17. They were taken over by the subsequent government and kept in active until the 1990s. Nowadays one of them is preserved in a museum.
• North Vietnam: The North Vietnamese Air Force (NVAF) received its first jet fighter aircraft in February 1964. They weren't based in North Vietnamese soil but in mainland China as they were undergoing formation. On 3rd February 1964 the first fighter regiment, No.921 fighter regiment was formed, led by Lt. Col. Nguyen Phuc Trach. Few "pure" (IE Soviet made) MiG-17s served with the NVAF.

Sources:

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

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

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

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

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

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters