MiG - 15 Fagot
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was originally developed in the Soviet
Union as an interceptor. The RD-45 turbojet powered it, which was a copy
of the Rolls Royce Nene. Designed to shoot down heavy bombers, it carried
one 37mm and two 23mm cannons. German experience in WWII had shown the
need for cannons larger than 20 mm to bring down four-engine heavy
bombers.
The prototype MiG-15 first flew in December 1947. It began appearing in
service in 1949 and by 1952 it had been provided to a number of Communist
satellite nations, including North Korea where it was used extensively
against United Nations forces. The MiG-15 was deployed against American
Air Forces in December of 1950 in Korea. On November 8, 1950, 1st Lt.
Russell Brown, flying an F-80, shot down a MiG-15 in the first all-jet
dogfight in history. It was apparent, however, that the MiG-15 was
superior to any aircraft then in the US inventory.
Initial encounters with American aircraft led to the development of the
MiG-15bis (improved). Its VK-1 engine had 1,000 lbs more thrust than the
RD-45 engine of the earlier version, and had hydraulic ailerons. Although
the MiG-15bis could climb faster and higher than the F-86, poor turning
performance and high mach instability limited its dogfight performance. In
aerial combat against the F-86, the MiG-15 suffered high losses, but
against the B-29 it was very effective and prevented the heavy bombers
from operating in daylight
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 33 ft. 1 1/2 in.
Length: 33 ft. 3 5/8 in.
Height: 11 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 11,270 lbs. max.
Armament: Two 23mm cannons and one 37mm cannon, plus rockets or
2,000 lbs. of bombs
Engine: VK-1 of 6,000 lbs. thrust (copy of British Rolls-Royce "Nene"
engine)
Serial number: 2015357
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 670 mph.
Cruising speed: 525 mph.
Range: 500 miles
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