NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Mikoyan MiG-19 was the first supersonic Soviet jet fighter. Rather than being based on another design, the aircraft was all new.
The first production aircraft was powered by a pair of Mikulin engines. These were the first mass produced Soviet jet engines. Due to instability, particularly at trans sonic speeds, the aircraft was withdrawn from service pending major modifications.
The result of the modifications was the Mikoyan MiG-19 model S. It featured a full flying elevator that solved the instability problems. Also new were a pair of more reliable and powerful Tumansky engines.
Versions of the Mikoyan MiG-19 included an all-weather radar equipped model PF and the model PM that was equipped with air-to-air missiles as its primary weapons and no guns. Export variants were used by Poland and also by Czechoslovakia.
A licensed Mikoyan MiG-19 was built by the Chinese from 1961 through 1986. They sold their aircraft to a number of countries around the world.
Chinese MiG-19 aircraft saw action against U.S. aircraft over Vietnam and were used by Pakistan in combat with India.
The Mikoyan MiG-19 was known as a "pilots aircraft" for its forgiving flight characteristics. It is said to be one of the best fighter aircraft of its time.
A total of approximately 10,000 of the aircraft were produced.
Mikoyan MiG-19
