Manufacturer: KP-Model
Scale: 1/72
Additional parts: none
Model build: Apr-Aug 2022
Ukrainian MiG 17
KP
1/72
1/72
Three Cannons Roar
Made with Suno
Steel Winged Defender PT.1
Made with Suno
Steel Winged Defender PT.2
Made with Suno
Phoenix of Steel
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Stryi Air Base as Major Andriy Melnik tightened his grip on the worn control stick of the MiG-17. This wasn't supposed to be his plane. This museum relic, cobbled back together from spare parts and sheer desperation, was all they had left. No fancy radar, no heat-seeking missiles, just the grit of his own reflexes and the three roaring 23mm cannons.
They called him the "Ghost of Kyiv," a moniker both exhilarating and unwelcome. He craved the anonymity of a squadron, the backup of wingmen. But those days were gone. Russia's juggernaut had chewed through Ukraine's air defenses, leaving him and his MiG the sole guardian of the western skies.
Intelligence crackled through the headset. A pair of Russian Hind helicopters, notorious for their ruthless attacks on civilian targets, were spotted heading for a nearby village. Melnik's heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs. This was it.
He taxied down the cracked runway, the MiG straining against its leash. Lifting off, the world tilted as he pushed the aging machine to its limits. The familiar scent of hot oil and old leather filled the cockpit, a grim reminder of the plane's vintage.
Spotting the Hinds lumbering towards the village, Melnik knew a head-on fight was suicide. He banked sharply, using the setting sun as cover. The Hinds, their guns swiveling nervously, were oblivious. This was his only chance.
Emerging from the sun's glare, Melnik slammed the throttle forward, the MiG screaming in protest. He squeezed the trigger, a torrent of cannon fire erupting from the nose. One Hind shuddered, spewing black smoke, then corkscrewed wildly before slamming into a field. The second reacted faster, unleashing a volley of rockets.
Melnik jinked violently, the sky erupting in orange flashes. The MiG shuddered, an alarm blaring about a damaged aileron. He ignored it, focusing on the remaining Hind. This was a dance of death, a ballet of desperation.
He lined up another firing pass, his tracers arcing towards the helicopter. The deafening roar of the cannons felt like a symphony of defiance against the overwhelming odds. The Hind swerved, its return fire chewing away at Melnik's wing.
Suddenly, the helicopter lurched, its blades flailing uselessly. It spun out of control, vanishing into a plume of smoke. Silence descended, broken only by the ragged gasps of Melnik's own breath.
He had won. But at what cost? The MiG sputtered, protesting every remaining turn. Limping back towards Stryi, the altimeter screamed a warning about fuel. Melnik wrestled with the controls, praying the runway would appear before the engine gave out.
Just as the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, the rough outline of the base emerged. Ignoring the failing instruments, Melnik guided the crippled MiG home, collapsing onto the tarmac the moment the plane settled.
He emerged from the cockpit, a shaky smile on his face. The "Ghost of Kyiv" had lived to fight another day. But as he looked at the battered MiG, a single tear traced a path down his cheek. This wasn't just a museum relic anymore. It was a symbol of resilience, a testament to the unwavering spirit of Ukraine.
The Return of the MiG-17 — Ukraine’s Silver Phantom of 2022
For decades, the Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum in Kyiv stood as one of Europe’s largest collections of Soviet-era aircraft — a quiet archive of the Cold War. Rows of MiGs, Sukhois, and Tupolevs lined the grassy airfield, their faded markings and chipped paint telling stories of another time. None of them were ever meant to fly again.
That changed in early 2020, when the museum began a small but ambitious project to restore several aircraft to airworthy condition for public demonstrations. Among the chosen few was a MiG-17F Fresco, a classic 1950s jet fighter meticulously restored by volunteer engineers and retired Ukrainian Air Force technicians. By February, the gleaming silver jet was ready for its first post-restoration flight — its engine tested, systems verified, and a ceremonial rollout scheduled for late in the month.
Then came February 24th, 2022 — the day the Russian invasion began.
Kyiv’s skies, once meant for airshows, filled with missiles and chaos. Within hours, the Ukrainian Air Force scrambled every operational aircraft it could find. In those desperate days, even museum pieces were pressed into service. The MiG-17, still fueled and armed with its original three NR-23 23-mm cannons, was hastily repainted with Ukrainian markings and recommissioned for combat.
Though hopelessly outdated compared to modern Russian Su-35s and MiG-31s, the MiG-17’s simplicity, ruggedness, and low-altitude agility made it surprisingly effective in certain roles. On March 4th, during a defensive operation near Chernihiv, the veteran aircraft — flown by Major Andriy Melnyk, a former display pilot — engaged a formation of Russian transport helicopters ferrying troops toward the front. Diving from cloud cover, the MiG opened fire with a brief cannon burst, destroying a Mi-8 Hip. It was the first aerial victory by a museum aircraft in modern warfare.
Encouraged by the success, Ukrainian commanders authorized limited use of the MiG for anti-helicopter and low-level ground-attack sorties in the following weeks. Flying at treetop altitude to avoid radar detection, Melnyk and his “Silver Phantom,” as it was nicknamed by his comrades, became a legend. By mid-April, the old jet had reportedly destroyed eight Russian helicopters, with three additional kills unconfirmed.
But the triumphs came at a cost. The aging Klimov VK-1 engine began to fail, spare parts were impossible to source, and maintenance grew increasingly dangerous. Each flight became a gamble — the machine held together by the determination of its ground crew as much as by bolts and rivets.
On May 27th, 2022, the MiG-17 flew its final combat sortie. After returning from a low-level patrol near Vinnytsia, engine temperatures spiked dangerously, forcing Major Melnyk to divert and land at Stryi Air Base in western Ukraine. The aircraft was grounded permanently afterward — its skin scorched, its airframe strained, but intact.
Today, the MiG-17 remains at Stryi, under a weathered tarp, awaiting possible restoration once more — this time not for war, but for history.
The model shows the MiG 17 at Stryi Airbase
This is a 1/72 scale KP-Model kit of a Mig17, build OOB with custom made decals. Painted with Revell Aqua Color.
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