Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids MiG-15
A Korean People's Army Air Force MiG-15 at the Chinese Aviation Museum
Role	Fighter aircraft
National origin	USSR
Manufacturer	Mikoyan-Gurevich
First flight	30 December 1947
Introduction	1949
Status	In limited service with the Korean People's Army Air Force
Primary users	Soviet Air Forces (historical) People's Liberation Army Air Force (historical) Korean People's Army Air Force
Number built	13,130 in the USSR + at least 4,180 under license
Developed into	Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17

The MiG-15 Fagot was a very important jet airplane built by a Russian company called Mikoyan. It was designed to be an interceptor, which means it was supposed to quickly fly up and stop enemy planes. However, it often fought as an air superiority fighter, meaning it tried to control the skies by defeating other fighter planes.

This powerful jet first flew in 1947 and started being used by the military in 1949. It was one of the first planes to have a special wing shape called a swept wing. This design helped it fly much faster!

The MiG-15 became famous during the Korean War. It was very good at fighting against American planes like the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. To try and match the MiG-15's speed and power, the United States brought in a new plane called the F-86 Sabre. Today, some MiG-15s are still used to help new pilots learn how to fly.

What is the MiG-15?

The MiG-15 was a type of jet aircraft that could fly very fast. It was built in the Soviet Union, which is now mostly Russia. The plane was made by a design team led by two smart engineers, Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. That's why the company is called Mikoyan-Gurevich.

This plane was a big step forward in aviation because of its advanced design. It showed how jet technology was quickly changing after World War II.

How was the MiG-15 designed?

One of the most important features of the MiG-15 was its swept wing. Imagine a normal airplane wing, then imagine it swept back at an angle. This design helps planes fly faster by reducing drag, which is the force that slows an airplane down.

The MiG-15 also had a powerful jet engine. This engine gave it the thrust it needed to reach high speeds and climb quickly into the sky. It was armed with cannons, which are like big guns, to shoot down enemy aircraft.

MiG-15 in the Korean War

The Korean War (1950-1953) was the first big test for the MiG-15. It was used by the air forces of North Korea and China. They fought against planes from the United States and other United Nations countries.

The MiG-15 was very fast and could climb higher than many of the planes it fought against. This gave it a big advantage in air battles. American pilots soon realized they needed a better plane to compete with the MiG-15.

MiG-15 vs. F-86 Sabre

The main rival of the MiG-15 in the Korean War was the American F-86 Sabre. These two planes were very similar in their abilities. The area where they often fought was even called "MiG Alley" by the pilots.

Pilots flying both the MiG-15 and the F-86 Sabre needed a lot of skill. The battles between these two jets were some of the first large-scale jet-on-jet fights in history. Both planes were important in shaping how future fighter jets would be designed.

Where is the MiG-15 used today?

Even though the MiG-15 is an older plane, some are still flying today. They are mostly used for training pilots. Learning to fly a classic jet like the MiG-15 can teach pilots important skills before they move on to more modern aircraft.

A few MiG-15s are also kept in museums around the world. People can visit these museums to see this historic plane up close and learn about its role in aviation history.

Related pages

• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
• F-86 Sabre