Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot – Black 8170, Soviet Air Force, USSR, 1950s

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA2420: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot Black 8170 of Soviet Air Force, USSR, 1950s. Production run of 450 models.

Length 6 inches Wingspan 5.5 inches

The MiG-15 was designed in 1948 and completed its maiden flight on December 31. In 1949 the aircraft entered service with the Soviet Air Force as one of the first swept- wing jets and quickly earned the reputation as a killer flying against USAF F-80s, RAAF Meteors, P-51 and Corsairs. The MiG-15 ruled the skies until the USAF F-86 Sabre arrived on scene. The original goal of the MiG-15 was to shoot down B-29 bombers so the MiG was equipped with two 23 mm and a single 37 mm cannon located under the nose.

Designed to meet a Soviet Air Force requirement for a high-performance jet fighter, the MiG-15 was first flown on December 30, 1947. The MiG-15 was used by several communist nations-including the USSR and North Korea-and was one of the first truly successful swept-wing fighters. It could shoot down heavy bombers and could climb faster and higher than its American rival, the F-86. Fortunately for the F-86, it also turned poorly and had high mach instability, which limited it as a dogfighter. It was poorly matched with the F-86 but excelled in its role as a bomber interceptor, frequently preventing B-29s from operating during the day.