Mig-17 NVAF Vietnam airplane model. This deadly Russian fighter earned the respect of U.S. pilots in the war-torn skies over Vietnam. Flown by North Vietnamese pilots, the MiG-17 boasted excellent maneuverability and a heavy cannon armament. First introduced in l951, the MiG-17 has seen combat throughout the world and has been used by more than 40 countries.
However, the MiG-17F's most visible role came during the Vietnam War. The MiG-17 proved the continued worth of automatic cannons in a era of advanced air-to-air missiles. The North Vietnamese Air Force's leading ace and MiG-17 pilot, Col. Toon, was credited with destroying 13 American aircraft before being shot down in 1972 by a U.S. Navy F-4J Phantom II. American flight crews repeatedly stated they feared the North Vietnam's elderly MiG-17s far more than the newer, faster and missile armed MiG-21 Fishbeds.
Mahogany Wood. Scale 1/32. Wingspan 13 1/2 inches, Length 14 1/2 inches.
