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| SPECIFICATIONS |
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| ENGINE |
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Klimov VK-1F turbojet 7,452 lbs. of thrust |
| ARMAMENT |
|
One UBK-Ye 12.7mm machine gun or one NS-23 23mm cannon |
| WING SPAN |
|
33 feet, 3 inches |
| LENGTH |
|
33 feet, 4 inches |
| HEIGHT |
|
10 feet, 10 inches |
| MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT |
|
12,006 pounds |
| CREW |
|
2 |
| MANUFACTURED BY |
|
Mikoyan Gurevich |
| TOTAL BUILT |
|
Over 7,500 |
| TOTAL EXISTING |
|
Unknown |
| FIRST BUILT |
|
1949 |
| MUSEUM'S AIRCRAFT BUILT |
|
1954 |
| ON DISPLAY AT |
 |
Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison Airport (KADS), Dallas, Texas |
| MAXIMUM SPEED |
|
579 m.p.h. |
| RANGE W/EXTERNAL TANKS |
|
450 miles |
| SERVICE CEILING |
|
49,729 feet |
|
The spectacular MiG-15 fighter used a combination of Russian ingenuity and “borrowed” advanced European aviation technology to become one of the most
famous aircraft designs of its era. Called the “aircraft-soldier” by Russian pilots, the aircraft was exceptionally strong and dependable. The MiG-15
is still respected for its speed, maneuverability and firepower; advantages that made it a worthy adversary of the North American F-86 during the
Korean War.
The Mikoyan and Gurevich (MiG) design team utilized captured German technology when developing the layout of the MiG-15. The plane's 35-degree swept wing,
fuselage-mounted engine and clean lines gave the aircraft exceptional performance. Powered by a unlicensed copy of the famous British Nene centrifugal-flow
jet engine, the MiG-15 was capable of speeds up to Mach .934. The initial prototype, the I-310, made its first flight in December 1947 and won a fly-off against
the Lavochkin La-15. The MiG-15 went into production and entered front line service in 1949.
Shortly after its introduction the MiG-15 entered combat over Korea. Flown by Russian, North Korean and Chinese pilots, the swept-wing MiG fighter terrorized
USAF B-29 bombers flying strategic bombing missions over North Korean cities. The MiG-15's speed, maneuverability, and heavy armament (two 23mm and one 37mm
cannon) allowed it brush aside escorting fighters and rip through the B-29 formations. B-29 losses to MiGs reached such high levels that the USAF stopped
daylight B-29 bombing raids and flew all strikes under the cover of darkness. Although several MiG-15s were brought down by B-29 gunners and other UN aircraft,
only the North American F-86 Sabre was the MiG-15's equal in combat. The MiG's combat success and its dependability made the plane very popular with Eastern Bloc
and Communist nations around the world. Since 1950, roughly 7,500 MiG-15s have been built in Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and China. In addition to the Korean
War, the MiG-15 has been used extensively as an air defense fighter, an air superiority fighter, a ground-attack aircraft and reconnaissance fighter in a number
of conflicts in the Middle East and the Orient.
The two seat MiG-15UT1 trainer (known as the “Midget” by NATO) was introduced soon after the standard MiG-15 entered service and served as the standard
Soviet advanced trainer for many years. The Cavanaugh Flight Museum's MiG-15UT1 was produced in Poland in 1954, and received the designation SBLim-2. The
fully restored aircraft features operational dual controls. It carries Soviet markings and is armed with a single 12.7mm machine gun.
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