Fleet Air Arm Museum Display - Friends & Foes (1948)
Since the establishment of the Fleet Air Arm, Australia has been involved in a number of wars or conflicts. The period of conflict, tension and competition (Cold War) between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from the mid 1940s until the early 1990s was a central element to these conflicts. During that time the aircraft flown by both 'sides' were synonymous with which camp you were in.
Countries flying MiGs were generally in the Soviet Union sphere of influence whilst countries flying US or UK built aircraft were nominally in the Western sphere. The MiG 17 and Hawker Hunter on display here were designed at about the same time and are indicative of the differences in jet design philosophy of the two contending camps.
The MiG was designed for a single role as a high-speed bomber interceptor while the Hunter, although a fighter, was a more flexible aircraft that could be modified for other roles.
Regardless of their roles, all military aircraft are a tool of national policy and it is often proven that your foe today is your friend tomorrow.
Contents |
Foreign Aircraft
Hawker Hunter F6
| Type | Fighter/bomber |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hawker Aircraft Ltd, Kinston-on-Thames, Surrey UK |
| Ordered | 1951 |
| Number purchased | 1,972 (all types) |
| First delivered | July 1954 |
| Crew | One |
| Weight (lbs) | Light: 14,122 Loaded: 23,000 approx. |
| Dimensions | Wing Span: 33 ft 8 in Length: 45 ft 11 in Height: 13 ft 2 in |
| Engine | One Rolls-Royce Avon 207 turbojet of 10,145 lbs thrust |
| Performance | Ceiling: 50,000 ft Speed: 715 mph Range: 1,900 miles (ferry) |
| Armament | Guns: 4 x 30mm Aden cannon Bombs - Missiles - Rockets |
| Operated by | RAF, RN and numerous others including Singapore |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
| Type | Fighter/intercepter |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau, USSR |
| Ordered | 1949 |
| Number purchased | 6,000+ (all types) |
| First delivered | 1952 |
| Crew | One |
| Weight (lbs) | Light: 8,646 Loaded: 11,803 |
| Dimensions | Wing Span: 31 ft 7 in Length: 36 ft 5 in Height: 12 ft 6 in |
| Engine | One Valer-Klimov VK-1 turbojet of 5,952 lbs thrust |
| Performance | Ceiling: 52,366 ft Speed: 696 mph Range: 1,290 miles (ferry) |
| Armament | Guns: 2 x 23mm cannon, 1 x 37 mm cannon 4 x 57mm rocket pods |
| Operated by | USSR, China and numerous others including Indonesia and North Vietnam |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 UTI
| Type | Two seat fighter/trainer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau, USSR |
| Ordered | 15 April 1947 |
| Number purchased | 14,000+ (all types) |
| First delivered | 31 December 1948 |
| Crew | Two |
| Weight (lbs) | Light: 7,900 Loaded: 10,935 |
| Dimensions | Wing Span: 33 ft 1 in Length: 33 ft 2 in Height: 12 ft 2 in |
| Engine | One Klimov RD-45 turbojet of 5,005 lbs thrust |
| Performance | Ceiling: 50,580 ft Speed: 668 mph Range: 1,225 miles (ferry) |
| Armament | Guns: 2 x 23mm cannon, 1 x 37 mm cannon 2 x 100 kg bombs or rockets |
| Operated by | USSR, China and numerous others including North Korea and North Vietnam |
