Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5910MIG-17 Fresco C 2047, flown by Nguyen Van Bay, 923rd Fighter Rgt., 1972
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
In 1972 the area of Dong Hoi was being bombarded by U.S. ships sitting off shore in the Gulf of Tonkin. MiG-17Fs # 2047 and 2011 from the 923rd Fighter Regiment were modified to carry bombs to attack and destroy the U.S. ships. On April 19, 1972 MiG-17s from the 923rd “Yen The” led by Nguyen Van Bay (B) and Le Xuan Di attacked using 500 pound bombs. The USS Higbee received a hit on the rear turret while the cruiser USS Oklahoma City received minor damage.
Hobby Master HA5910, MIG-17 Fresco C 2047, flown by Nguyen Van Bay, 923rd, 1:72
- Number All MiG-17 Manufactured: 8,000+ in USSR and 3,000+ licensed (Shenyang J-5/F-5/JJ -5/FT-5, Avia S-104, PZL Lim-5/6)Crew: 1PerformanceEngine: 1 X Klimov VK-1F Afterburning TurbojetThrust Dry: 5,955 lbf (26.5kN)Thrust With Afterburner: 7,423 lbf (33.8 kN)Maximum Speed @ 10.000 ft (3,000 m): 711 mph (1,145 km/h / 618 knots / Mach 0.968)Service Ceiling : 54,450 ft (16,600 m)Rate Of Climb: 12,800 ft/min (65 m/sec)Range With Drop Tanks: 1,280 mi (2,060 km)WeightEmpty: 8,640 lb (3,919 kg)Loaded: 11,770 lb (5,350 kg)Max Takeoff: 13, 375 lb (6,069 kg)DimensionsWing Span: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)Length: 36 ft 11.5 in (11.26 m)Height: 12 ft 5.5 in (3.80 m)Armament: 1 X 37 mm Nudelman N-37 Cannon w/ 40 Rounds2 X 23 mm Nudelman-Rilhter NR-23 Cannons w/80 Rounds Per Gun2 X External PylonsUp To 1,100 lbs – Bombs, Unguided Rockets, Fuel Tan
