Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA5911MIG17F Fresco "Nile Delta" Egyptian Air Force, 1973
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
During the Yom Kippur/Ramadan War in 1973 Egypt operated some MiG-17F strips on the Nile Delta. The 6 Day War of 1967 saw Israel take control of the Sinai Peninsula and the 1973 war was Egypt’s attempt to reclaim the area. The MiG-17 aircraft equipped the Egyptian Air Force from the 1950s into the 1980s. The Egyptians obtained MiG-17s from various countries until they had hundreds. After the 6 Day War Egypt began to apply various camouflage schemes and one was called “Nile Valley”.
