The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic performance jet fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants. The MiG-17 is still used in a few Air Forces today. During the production of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, the the aircraft was improved and modified several times. The basic MiG-17 was a general-purpose day fighter, armed with three cannons. It could also act as a fighter-bomber, but its bombload was considered light relative to other aircraft of the time, and it usually carried additional fuel tanks instead of bombs. The MiG-17's major advance was a compound sweep configuration in the wing and is easily identified by its three fences on top of each wing. Originally designed to intercept straight and level flying enemy bomber, the MiG-17 saw considerable time as an air-to-air combat fighter during the Vietnam War. As the tighest turning fighter in the world, the MiG-17 more than held its own during the Vietnam War, inflicting early losses on US aircraft. The MiG-17 flew head-to-head with variations of the F-86, the A-4 Skyhawk and the F-4 Phantom. This lead to advance combat training for the US military pilots in programs such as the Navy's "Top Gun" and the Air Force's "Red Flag". Over 9,000 MiG-17s have been built and it is estimated that fewer than 10 are airworthy and flying in the United States. Want to see the The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17?  Buy your tickets to the 2010 Duluth Airshow today! Read about other performers: · CC Gerner · Bryan Jensen · Fagen Fighters