Mikoyan MiG-17
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Famous Russian Aircraft Series
Authors: Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Kommissarov
Publisher: Crecy Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-8578-0372-3
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 480
The Famous Russian Aircraft series has produced some of the most complete histories of Russian aircraft, covering such aircraft as the Su-27, MiG-21, and Il-28. Their newest edition takes on one of the most prolific jet fighters of the Soviet Union, the Mikoyan MiG-17. Developed from experiences gained with the MiG-15 fighter, the MiG-17 brought transonic speeds and overall improvements to the basic design, resulting in a fighter that saw decades of service around the world. Thousands of MiG-17s and their license-built derivatives operated in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. This book, written by the well-known Russian aviation historians Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Kommissarov, documents the development, production, and operations of the MiG-17, as well as technical details, combat records, and variant differences.
The book begins with the origins of the MiG-17, which as noted got its start in evaluating the MiG-15. Taking an already good fighter and making it better simplified the development over a clean sheet design, an evolutionary process that Stalin himself approved of. Following the analysis of the development process, the book then jumps into the MiG-17 production and an examination of the Soviet MiG-17 family. The latter part takes up well over 100 pages, as there were many MiG-17 derivatives, ranging from the basic day fighter to advanced all-weather interceptors, fighter-bombers, drones, target tugs, and a wide variety of testbed aircraft. In fact, this section has well over 60 different MiG-17 variants called out in the text.
The Soviet section only tells part of the story of the MiG-17, though, and the next section fills in the rest with the foreign-built MiG-17 options. China and Poland both license-produced the MiG-17 in many different versions, and several other countries undertook extensive reworking of MiG-17s with their own indigenous aviation industries, including Bulgaria, East Germany, Egypt, North Vietnam, and Indonesia. The license-built versions from Poland and China are the most commonly seen MiG-17 variants in the air today, both in private hands and in the handful of nations still employing the type in their air forces.
Now at roughly the halfway point in the book, the remainder of this title documents the MiG-17 in detail, from exterior airframe to avionics, weapon systems, engines, and more. After that comprehensive discussion, the book details the operational record of the MiG-17, first in Soviet service, then the action by the type around the world. Adding to this discussion is a short analysis of the MiG-17 against its contemporaries, followed by an all-inclusive cataloging of the MiG-17 operators worldwide. While the book is amply illustrated with photos and drawings throughout, this section in particular is of great use to those researchers interested in colors and markings of aircraft, especially those of small air forces.
Like other titles in the Famous Russian Aircraft Series, this is easily the single best reference on the subject. While other books might go into more detail on the operations of the MiG-17 in a specific part of the world, or might detail specific variants in more depth, no single book provides as comprehensive an overview of the history of the MiG-17 as this book does, either in written word or in photographic record. If you have an interest in the MiG-17, this book is worth every penny. Visit Specialty Press to pick up your copy, and be sure to check out other titles in the Famous Russian Aircraft Series as well.