Early Mig Fighters In Action

Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the MiG Design Bureau had a near monopoly on the supply of fighter aircraft to the Soviet Air Force and the nations within Moscow's sphere of influence. Yet the early designs of Mikoyan and Gurevich are not widely known; the MiG-1 was the fastest fighter in the world in 1940 and the improved MiG-3 was more than a match for the Bf 109F at high altitude. Other early designs included high-altitude fighter prototypes, rocket-powered aircraft, and the MiG-9, the first pure jet-powered Soviet fighter. Updated with seven pages of new material.

As indicated by the subtitle, “The Real Story of the First MiGs in America”, this is a collection of stories that offer, for the first time, a concise depiction of many first-hand accounts of how these jets were acquired. In addition to historical facts and figures dating to the inception of the Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau, substantial effort has been taken to expose myths and bring to light facts that are significant and important regarding how, where, when and why the MiG aircraft were obtained and who obtained them. In addition to the history of the MiG jet’s inception, the modern day stories of the people in America that acquired them are no less intriguing. As a bonus, you’ll learn of the experiences of the first person to own and operate a MiG in the United States and the free world including a peek into the arena of airshow flying.

When the Mikoyan Gerevich MiG-15 first appeared in combat against the Western powers during the Korean War it caused consternation amongst its opposition. Its performance far outstripped any jet fighter aircraft produced by the West at the time and its duels with the US F86 Sabre have entered into aviation legend. The success of the MiG-15 was such that it went on to become the most widely produced jet fighter aircraft in history, and although figures vary it is believed over 12,000 were built plus another 6,000 under licence. The protoype of the distinctive fighter, built by the Mikoyan design bureau, with its high swept wing and tailplane and nose intake first flew in 1947, and was first deployed in the Korean War at the start of the 1950s. Although it suffered from handling problems when involved in dogfights with the F86, and a number were shot down, it had been built primarily with the role of interceptor in mind and was highly effective against the US heavy bombers. The MiG-15 was produced in a number of variants, both in single seat and two-seat versions and remained in service as a trainer aircraft for Warsaw Pact countries into the 1970s. Its improved successors, the MiG-17 and MiG-19 became the standard Soviet jet fighters of the early Cold War, including the Vietnam War. The MiG-15 was also produced in Czechoslovakia, Poland and China and aircraft were exported throughout the world. Its rugged build has ensured that a number survive in flying condition today. This book is a worthy addition to the acclaimed 'Famous Russian Aircraft' series, with a comprehensive history of the aircraft's development, design history and use, throughout the world. The comprehensive text is supported by almost 1000 photographs and line drawings as well as over a 100 detailed colour profiles. This will be the definitive book on the market of this historic Soviet jet fighter.

The MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter from the Soviet Union. It was first built in the mid-1950s, around the same time as the US Century Series jet fighters, the F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105, and F-106. However, the MiG 21 would outlive all those fighters. The three largest MiG factories in the USSR manufactured the MiG-21s in many variants. The Moscow Gorki plant (no.21) saw the most extensive production; 5,278 units. The second facility, also in Moscow, was the 'Znamya Truda' (Moscow Aircraft Production Association) plant, which produced 3,203 units, and the no. 31 plant in Tbilisi, Georgia, built 1,677 units. Production lasted 27 years, from 1959 until 1986. MiG fighters for internal and export use totaled an amazing 10,158 MiG-21s built, including the last of a great breed, 2,030 MiG-21bis fighters, and 1,133 MiG-21 UM 'Mongol' training versions. It was the most mass-produced supersonic fighter aircraft in aviation history, and it still holds that title.Although the MiG-21 was an excellent jet fighter, one aircraft had its measure, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. The air battles that took place between the two rival jets during the long Vietnam conflict are legendary. This book devotes a section on the MiG's operations in the Vietnam War.

This book is the story of a group of military pioneers who were intent on using their experience and knowledge to develop a new training paradigm for fighter pilots. As a Vietnam veteran and Phantom F-4 pilot, Col. Gail Peck (call-sign "EVIL") had been disappointed with the level of training offered to US fighter pilots. He was determined to ensure that US fighter pilots were unbeatable in the air particularly against their Cold War adversaries flying the already legendary MiG fighter jets. Working with the support of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr., and under conditions of the upmost secrecy the CONSTANT PEG program was launched with Peck as the original "Red Eagle." This fascinating unknown history was first revealed in Steve Davies' acclaimed Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs but this book is the insider's perspective complete with never-before published anecdotes and photographs, revealing how Peck battled bureaucracy and skepticism to ultimately establish the premier fighter pilot training center. Along the way Peck explores many of the central questions surrounding the project: why did the combat Air Forces of the USA find themselves in need of a major revision in their approach to air-to-air combat training? How did they secretly build an airfield to clandestinely conduct air-to-air combat training using actual MiGs as the adversary training platforms? What was it like to be a Red Eagle pilot or maintainer and what were the major challenges they faced on a daily basis? What did the USA get out of the program in terms of a return on investment? Was it worth it and where do we go now? Despite operating for a decade no single pilot ever revealed the secret nature of the training until the program was eventually declassified in 2006. Now for the first time we can read about what it felt like to build the airfields, source the MiG aircraft and finally take them to the skies above America itself all in the quest to establish the USAF as the premier fighter jet force the world over.

The Soviet-built MiG-15 swept-wing fighter startled the world when it was introduced into combat during the Korean War in the early 1950s. The West had no idea that Russia could produce such a capable fighter. Some 35 years later, former Marine aviator Paul Entrekin burst onto the North American Air Show circuit with the first civilian-owned MiG-15. His story tells of the myriad of challenges in obtaining, test-flying, licensing this first-of-its-kind air show aircraft. It's a walk down memory lane that includes some of the most well-known names in aviation and shares the ups and downs, joys, triumphs, and also the tragedies and bitter losses of friends and fellow aviators. Mr. MiG is an engaging, informative, and entertaining story that any aviation aficionado will enjoy.

The first of the Legends of the Air series. This volume contains the stories of three of the classic jet fighters of the 1950s: the North American F-86 Sabre; the Soviet MiG-15; and the Hawker Hunter, which was Britain's first transonic fighter aircraft.

Beautifully illustrated with many rare and unpublished photographs, Soviet Cold War Fighters looks at the main development periods of Soviet fighter designs and covers all the important features and developments for each - a total of four generations of fighter were developed from the late 1940s to the early 1980s - that witnessed the most iconic and powerful fighters such as the legendary MiG-15, MiG-21, Tu-128, Su-9, MiG-23, MiG-25 reach for the skies, followed by the modern day MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27, which strike fear in the West for their phenomenal weaponry and blistering performance. All aircraft are described in detail with facts and figures, including their weapons and instances of combat employment, as well as explaining how the Cold War drastically changed Soviet fighter design to counter the West. Researched and written by Alexander Mladenov, a leading aviation journalist, this is a highly detailed testament to leading Soviet fighter design and development.