The Mikoyan and Gurevich MiG-19, known also by its NATO nickname
Farmer, was the first Soviet mass supersonic fighter. The first
production aircraft took off in March 1955. Total number of
produced MiG-19s reached 5500, first in the USSR and in
Czechoslovakia as the Avia S-105, but mainly in the People's
Republic of China as the Shenyang J-6.
During their service with Soviet Anti-Air Defense and in East
Germany, MiG-19s were involved in multiple intercepts of Western
reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft participated in combat in the
Vietnam War, the 1967 Six Day War, and the 1971 Bangladesh War.
MiG-19s are still in service in North Korea, Myanmar, Zambia and
Nepal. Despite its age, the MiG-19 exhibit good handling
characteristics at low altitudes and high rate of climb, and their
heavy cannon armament makes them dangerous in close air combat.
The aircraft is single-seat, two-engined jet fighter, equpped
with 3 30-mm cannons and capable to lift up to 250 kg of bombs and
rockets or four air-to-air missiles. Its maximum speed was up to
1455 km/h and service seiling up to 17500 meters. Latest versions
were equipped with radar.
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One of the few remaining MiG-19s was converted to a monument to
military pilots in the Aviators` park, on territory of former
airfield.
