N117MG1964 PZL-Mielec Lim-5

Overview

This airframe, registered as N117MG, is a 1964-built PZL-Mielec Lim-5 (MiG-17F) bearing serial number 1C1020. Constructed by PZL-Mielec under license from Mikoyan-Gurevich, the jet is recorded as owned by the museum operator Planes of Fame Air Museum and based at Chino, California, United States. Acquired into a museum collection, the airframe’s U.S. registration and museum ownership mark its transition from historical military use to static and interpretive display under a civilian custodian. Notable registry actions are limited to its recorded museum ownership and U.S. registration; valuation and condition specifics are not published beyond its classification as a historical single-seat fighter airframe.

Operations & Cabin

The airframe features a single-seat military cockpit configured for one pilot, consistent with the Lim-5/MiG-17F design and the provided cabin description. Avionics fit and specific mission equipment are not published; operational use under the museum is therefore primarily static exhibition and potential limited demonstration rather than routine operational sorties. Typical mission profiles historically associated with this type include short-range interception and point-defense roles, but for this particular airframe its operational role is curtailed by museum ownership and the requirements of preservation. Maintenance considerations for the airframe focus on preservation of the single-engine powerplant and airframe integrity appropriate to a historical military exhibit.

Model & Market Context

As a license-built example of the MiG-17F family produced by PZL-Mielec, this Lim-5 occupies a historical performance niche as a subsonic jet fighter with modest range and high service ceiling relative to contemporary piston and early-jet types. Competing models in historical collections typically include other Cold War-era fighters; demand among museums and collectors tends toward airframes with verifiable provenance and intact cockpits. Maintenance and resale considerations center on the availability of period-correct engines and parts for the Klimov VK-1F and the regulatory implications of its U.S. registration as a museum-owned historical military type.