PZL-Mielec Lim-6

Lim-6
	Lim-6bis with visible Mars-2 rocket launchers
Role	Attack aircraft
National origin	Soviet Union ; Poland
Manufacturer	Mikoyan-Gurevich ; PZL-Mielec
Introduction	1956
Retired	1992
Primary users	Polish Air Force; Egyptian Air Force; East German Air Force ; Indonesian Air Force
Developed from	Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17

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The Lim-6 was a Polish attack aircraft used between 1961 and 1992 by the Polish Air Force. It was a variant of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17/Lim-5 (NATO reporting name Fresco).

Development[]

In 1955 Poland bought a licence for the manufacturing of the Soviet MiG-17, the basic jet fighter of Warsaw Pact countries. The licensed aircraft was given the designation Lim-5 (an abbreviation of: licencyjny myśliwiec - "licence fighter"). The first Lim-5 was built in WSK-Mielec on November 28, 1956, replacing the production of the Lim-2 (MiG-15bis). By production's end in 1960, 477 Lim-5s were built, becoming Poland's basic fighter. (This number includes the Lim-5R reconnaissance variant, equipped with an AFA-39 camera). From 1959 Poland began to license-produce the MiG-17PF interceptor, equipped with the Izumrud-5 (RP-5) radar, as the Lim-5P. By 1960, 129 were built.

In the late 1950s work commenced in Poland on developing a light attack aircraft based on the Lim-5. The basic MiG-17 and Lim-5 could only carry two 250 kg bombs, which replaced their underwing fuel tanks. After building prototypes, designated 'CM', in 1960 the Poles began production of an attack aircraft, Lim-5M. It introduced several modifications to the fighter, most of which focused on allowing the modified plane to be based on ground airfields. It had double undercarriage wheels, a braking parachute and attachments for RATO. The wing sections close to the fuselage were noticeably thicker, due to them containing additional fuel tanks. Instead of two bombs, it could carry two launchers for eight 57 mm rockets S-5. By 1961, 60 Lim-5M's were built and from November 1961 given to the Polish Air Force. They were not successful; thicker wings decreased their performance and made flying tricky, while increased drag meant the planned range increase was not achieved. The Lim-5M was regarded only as an interim variant, and workson a more advanced plane continued, testing many different ideas. In 1961, 40 Lim-6 attack aircraft were built. They introduced new blown flaps, but tests showed problems with the modified Lis-6 jet engine and the aircraft were not given to the Air Force. As a result, it was decided to redesign the thick wing sections with fuel tanks, blown flaps, double wheels and RATO and return to only slightly modified Lim-5 construction, with increased weapon-carrying capability instead.

In 1963 the Poles started production of the final variant of the attack plane, the Lim-6bis. It had standard wings and single wheels, like the Lim-5 fighter. One important change was the addition of two underwing weapon pylons close to the fuselage. Another was the fitment of a braking parachute container below the rudder. These aircraft entered the service in the Polish Air Force in 1963, but were not officially accepted until September 14, 1964.

By 1964, 70 Lim-6bis were built and a number of Lim-5Ms and Lim-6s were rebuilt to the Lim-6bis standard. A number were also converted to a reconnaissance variant Lim-6R (or Lim-6bisR) with an AFA-39 camera under a fuselage.

As Lim-5P fighters became obsolete, from 1971 they were also rebuilt to the Lim-6bis standard, under the designation of Lim-6M. Their radars were removed, but the radar covers in the central air intake remained. They were fitted with additional underwing pylons, but not with a braking parachute. Some aircraft were modified to a reconnaissance variant designated the Lim-6MR.

Design[]

The Lim-6bis was armed with two NR-23 23 mm cannons (80 rounds) and one N-37D 37 mm cannon (40 rounds), like the MiG-17 (the Lim-6M was probably armed with three NR-23 23 mm cannons, like MiG-17PF). It had four underwing pylons. Typical armament consisted of two Polish-made Mars-2 launchers for 16 unguided 57 mm rockets S-5 each, or 100 kg bombs. It could also carry 250 kg bombs or launchers on standard outer underwing pods, but usually they were used for 400l fuel tanks.

Operational history[]

Lim-6bis, 6R, 6M and 6MR were used by the Polish Air Force as its most numerous attack aircraft until the 1980s. The last were finally withdrawn in 1992.

Some were exported to the East Germany (German Democratic Republic), Egypt and Indonesia. Some GDR machines found themselves in Guinea-Bissau in the 1980s.

Variants[]

Lim-5: Day-fighter (licenced MiG-17F) (serial numbers: 1C 00-01 to 1C 19-14).
Lim-5R: Reconnaissance version of Lim-5.
Lim-5P: All-weather interceptor (licenced MiG-17PF) (serial numbers: 1D 00-01(?) to 1D 06-41).
Lim-5M: Attack aircraft (serial numbers: 1F 01-01 to 1F 03-30).
Lim-6: Experimental attack aircraft (serial numbers: 1J 04-01 to 1J 04-40).
Lim-6bis: Basic attack aircraft (numbers 1J 05-01 to 1J 06-40).
Lim-6R (Lim-6bisR): Reconnaissance variant of Lim-6bis.
Lim-6M: Attack aircraft, conversion of Lim-5P.
Lim-6MR: Reconnaissance aircraft, conversion of Lim-5P.

Operators[]

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force: 29 Lim-5, 2 Lim-5P

Egypt

Egyptian Air Force

East Germany

East German Air Force: 120 Lim-5, 40 Lim-5P

Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau Air Force

Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force: 20 Lim-5, 5 Lim-5P

Poland

Polish Air Force: 197 Lim-6M/bis in 1975
Polish Navy

Specifications (Lim-6bis)[]

Data from {name of first source}

General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 11.36 m (37 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 9.628 m (31 ft 7 in)
Height: 3.80 m (12 ft 5 in)
Empty weight: 4271 kg (9,396 lb)
Loaded weight: 5651 kg (12,432 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 6652 kg (14,634 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Lis-5 (licence Klimov VK-1F) turbojet, 33.1 kN (7,452 lbf)

Performance

Maximum speed: 1150 km/h (621 knots, 710 mph)
Range: 1080 km (583 nm, 666 mi)without additional tanks
Service ceiling: 16,470 m (54,000 ft) with afterburner

Armament

1 × 37 mm N-37D cannon (40 rounds)

2 × 23 mm NR-23 cannon (80 rounds each)

780 kg ( lb) of bombs, rocket launchers or napalm tanks on 4 pylons

References[]

Piotr Butowski, Wacław Hołyś "Samolot myśliwsko-szturmowy Lim-6bis", series TBiU 117, Wydawnictwo MON: Warsaw 1987 (Polish)
Lim-6bis, shinden.org

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17.

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