Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5904
MIG-17F "Fresco C" EP-01 Major Gen. Kukel, Czechoslovak Air Force, 1957
 
General Background
The Soviet built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (Fresco) was initially called the MiG-15bis+45° and completed its maiden flight on January 13, 1950 and entered service in 1952. There were five variants of the MiG-17 with the MiG-17F (Fresco C) becoming the main variant. The new Klimov VK-1F engine was the first Soviet built engine with an afterburner and variable nozzle. The installation of this new engine gave the MiG-17F double the rate of climb of previous variants and greatly improved vertical maneuvers. This aircraft lacked radar and was purely a day-time fighter.
 
The Aircraft 
MiG-17F Fresco C EP-01 and EP-02 were delivered in late 1955 to the Czechoslovak Air Force for evaluation purposes. The plan was to possibly produce the MiG-17F under license but authorities decided it was more practical to build the super-sonic MiG-19P/S Farmer. With that the two MiG-17Fs became the personal aircraft of the Commander of the 1st Fighter Division, Major General Josef Kukel and Deputy Defence Minister Lt. General Josef Vosahlo respectively. In 1957 EP-01 received a new serial 0952 and in December 1966 was scrapped.