The story
When the MiG-15 appeared over the Yalu in November 1950 it could outclimb and outrun every Allied jet in theatre, and it took the F-86 Sabre to even the fight. Its secret was a swept wing and a Rolls-Royce Nene engine the Soviets had bought legally from Britain and copied. With more than 17,000 built including licence production, it is one of the most-produced jet aircraft ever. The two-seat UTI trainer is what survives, flown by collectors and used for decades to train pilots across the Soviet bloc.
Britain's postwar government let Rolls-Royce sell Nene jet engines to the Soviet Union. Soviet engineers copied the design, and the copies powered the MiG-15.
Quick answers
How do you identify a MiG-15?
Round nose intake, a mid-set swept wing with fences on top, and a high tailplane halfway up a swept fin. Barrel-shaped and short; the MiG-17 is longer with a more sharply swept wing.
What does a MiG-15 sound like?
A rough, hollow roar from the centrifugal-flow engine with a distinctive howl in the turn.
How fast is the MiG-15?
Top speed is 580 kts.
How many people does the MiG-15 carry?
Typical configuration: Single-seat fighter or tandem UTI trainer.
How far can the MiG-15 fly?
Range is about 1,360 nmi (ferry, drop tanks).
How big is the MiG-15?
It is 33 ft 2 in long and 33 ft 1 in across the wings.
When did the MiG-15 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1947.
How many MiG-15s have been built?
17,000+ built.
How rare is a MiG-15 in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first MiG-15 catch is worth 250 points.
