Mig-17 Development

The success of the MiG-15 allowed the OKB-155 to receive from the senior management of the country a kind of carte blanche for further improvement of this machine. Thus, Stalin on the other fighter OKB proposals for new types of aircraft each time objected: "We have a good MiG-15, and there is no point in the near future to create new fighters, better to follow the path of modernization of MiG ...". Moving in this direction, staff and Mikoyan M.I.Gurevicha launched work on the equipment, "the fifteenth" new wing that promised improved flight characteristics, above all, an increase in speed. While in the Soviet Union, several organizations were very frantic activity on the properties of the wing with a sweep angle of 45 degrees through 1/4 chords.

It was tested in wind tunnels and on flying models. Similarly, an experienced fighter wing equipped with "176" Lavochkin Design Bureau, which December 26, 1948 for the first time in the Soviet Union failed to reach a speed corresponding to M = 1.02 (with a reduction in flight). Some material obtained in the course of work on experimental cars "5" and the captured German construction MR Bisnovatyi Siebel 346.

Designer of OKB-155 joined the new wing to power the frames of the fuselage of the MiG-15 and save at the same time centering the aircraft. As a result, received a double wing sweep from side ribs semispan to about - 45 degrees, and then - 42 degrees. (sweep angles of the leading edge, respectively, equal to 49 deg. and 45 deg. 30 '). Wingtips were rounded hoping to increase aerodynamic efficiency. On the upper surface of each arm were added one ridge to prevent overflow stream along the span. The relative thickness of the wing to reduce and improve its interface with the fuselage.

It was taken to finalize the MiG-15bis with engine VC-1. No wonder the upgraded machine, in addition to corporate cipher SI, named the MiG-15bis 45 degrees (or MiG-15bis "boom 45"), the front part of the fuselage left unchanged, rear extended by 900 mm, entered the brake pads increased area (1.76 m2), the keel is also slightly increased. Horizontal tail carried out again with a sweep angle on the leading edge of 45 degrees. (MiG-15 - 40 deg.). To increase the directional stability a ventral ridge was added. The power management system introduced ailerons, which is installed behind the seat of the pilot. Later, to reduce the effort on the handle of the form of socks elevators changed to a semi-circular instead of elliptical. The total internal volume of the fuel dropped to 1412 liters. Armament SI was similar to arming the MiG-15bis, one H-37 gun and two HP-23.

The main differences from the MiG-15bis were:

• wing with a sweep angle of 45_ through 1/4 of chords;
• angle cross V increased to -3_;
• on the upper surface of wing panels installed on three aerodynamic ridge;
• aft fuselage lengthened by 900 mm;
• horizontal tail with a sweep angle 45_;
• increased vertical tail area of 4 to 4.26 m_ m_;
• set ventral ridge.

MAP Order N851 from September 1, 1951 ordered the begining of production of the MiG-17 at five plants: in Kuibyshev, Tbilisi, Gorky, Novosibirsk and Komsomolsk-on-Amur. During the production of the fighter aircraft the design was being finalized. For serial MiG-17 had an opportunity to carry on the locks instead of D4-50 PTB two bombs of 50 or 100 kg. Lamp headlight carried out under the wing of the air intake. Fuel system improved by sealing safety valves in the line of boost external fuel tanks.

In 1952, the OKB-155 conducted a study to determine the optimum shape and area of the brake flaps. Two MiG-17 were tested in flight five variants of these devices. As a result, guards an area of 0.88 m 2 and received a satisfactory evaluation from September began to be used in the construction of a fighter. Since the end of 1953 began to install ejection seats with a shutter, which expanded the permissible speed range of emergency evacuation of the airplane. It was modified sliding cover of the lamp, which greatly improved visibility to the rear hemisphere. Later production aircraft appeared with periscopes. It was expanded and upgraded structure of the equipment, in particular, began to use the sight of TSA-3H, added system radar warning receiver "Sirena-2", originally referred to as "the instrument of protection of the tail." Fighter was upgraded VC-1A, which have significantly greater resources. Aircraft with this engine, and minor changes in equipment designated MiG-17A.