AEROFAX: MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MiG-19

The MiG-19 "Farmer" appeared in the 1950s and represented a major technological leap for the VVS as it was one of their first fighters capable of accommodating air-to-air missiles, ground colour intercept system and other advances. By the end of the 1950s it had become the standard VVS fighter and was integrated into the inventories of most Warsaw Pact countries and other Soviet allies. It was produced in many thousands in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and China (as the J-6, JJ-6 and Q-5 Fantan); a significant number of export customers included Cuba, Egypt, Albania, Vietnam and Pakistan. As usual, Yefim Gordon has come up with a mass of previously unpublished information and photographs, from original Russian sources.