My first warbird recovery (MiG-17)
Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:10 pm
This wasn't some major recovery in the traditional sense. The plane wasn't resurrected from the depths of some obscure lake somewhere or from some forest preserve, but rather from an obscure corner of a little airport in Connecticut. 
Nevertheless, on my normal scale of doing things it was a pretty exciting experience.
Around the end of last year I came across an obscure posting (on a firearms forum of all places) regarding this MiG-17 (Polish Lim-6bis) that was languishing away at Danbury Airport in Connecticut. The owner, who was not a pilot, had apparently traded some collectable firearms for the plane a couple of years prior, and he was now "stuck" with this nifty albeit cumbersome conversation piece. His tie down fees had long since lapsed and as a result he had suffered a complete falling out with the airport manager and most of the FBO operators at the field. The MiG had been bounced around to every available corner of the tarmac until the owner had completely run out of favors. He was now in a bind to either sell the plane, move it, or submit to having it scrapped on site.
It turns out this was somewhat of a unique variant of the MiG-17, sporting full ground attack and photo recon mods. There were even some experimental fuselage mods added that were not native to the MiG-17, which were later incorporated into the MiG-19 series. I decided to do what I could to keep it from being destroyed, so I bought out the owner and put a plan in motion to have it relocated back home to Louisiana.
Once the New England ice storms had passed for the season, I enlisted MiG specialist Greg Shepard to help me disassemble the plane for transport. We finally arrived on site in late June to get it done. We found that the reputation of the previous owner far preceded us, and after being railroaded and grudgingly forced to relocate the plane no less than twice to different areas around the field, we finally found an FBO who could comprehend that the previous owners were now out of the picture. Luckily, I ran into the field’s air traffic controller (thanks Dan!) who by chance was a transplant from my hometown of Longview, Texas! There’s no way we could have knocked out this recovery in a day and a half without Dan kicking the doors open and finding us a “good guy” at the field that would allow us a place to work. It was the one hangar at the field where the owner was laid back and totally accommodating, and once in place we made short work of the process.
With less than two days of labor behind us, we had the plane disassembled and ready to load aboard the flatbed. Here are some shots of some of the action.
P.S. - The plane has now been sold on to a collector in Texas.
Nevertheless, on my normal scale of doing things it was a pretty exciting experience.
Around the end of last year I came across an obscure posting (on a firearms forum of all places) regarding this MiG-17 (Polish Lim-6bis) that was languishing away at Danbury Airport in Connecticut. The owner, who was not a pilot, had apparently traded some collectable firearms for the plane a couple of years prior, and he was now "stuck" with this nifty albeit cumbersome conversation piece. His tie down fees had long since lapsed and as a result he had suffered a complete falling out with the airport manager and most of the FBO operators at the field. The MiG had been bounced around to every available corner of the tarmac until the owner had completely run out of favors. He was now in a bind to either sell the plane, move it, or submit to having it scrapped on site.
It turns out this was somewhat of a unique variant of the MiG-17, sporting full ground attack and photo recon mods. There were even some experimental fuselage mods added that were not native to the MiG-17, which were later incorporated into the MiG-19 series. I decided to do what I could to keep it from being destroyed, so I bought out the owner and put a plan in motion to have it relocated back home to Louisiana.
Once the New England ice storms had passed for the season, I enlisted MiG specialist Greg Shepard to help me disassemble the plane for transport. We finally arrived on site in late June to get it done. We found that the reputation of the previous owner far preceded us, and after being railroaded and grudgingly forced to relocate the plane no less than twice to different areas around the field, we finally found an FBO who could comprehend that the previous owners were now out of the picture. Luckily, I ran into the field’s air traffic controller (thanks Dan!) who by chance was a transplant from my hometown of Longview, Texas! There’s no way we could have knocked out this recovery in a day and a half without Dan kicking the doors open and finding us a “good guy” at the field that would allow us a place to work. It was the one hangar at the field where the owner was laid back and totally accommodating, and once in place we made short work of the process.
With less than two days of labor behind us, we had the plane disassembled and ready to load aboard the flatbed. Here are some shots of some of the action.
P.S. - The plane has now been sold on to a collector in Texas.
Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:17 pm
there is 1 here at the wakeman airport, with polish insignias, complete with cockpit instruments etc. owned by a dentist. it's in worse shape. it's an old post on the wix if you have the determination to find it.
Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:40 pm
Good stuff Rob - glad to hear it was a success! Any idea what plans the collector in Texas had for the MiG?
Any idea what plans the collector in Texas had for the MiG?
Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:08 pm
Good to see that she went to a good home... broke my heart to see her like that for so many years.
Now if only the Beverly, MA (KBVY) Mig-15 would have a similar story to her...
Now if only the Beverly, MA (KBVY) Mig-15 would have a similar story to her...
Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:03 pm
Thanks for saving the Mig, Rob!
I wish you had dropped me a line, I could've rounded up a whole team to give you a hand! I only live about 40 miles from Danbury.
We love helping out on that kind of "rescue"!
Blue skies,
Jerry
I wish you had dropped me a line, I could've rounded up a whole team to give you a hand! I only live about 40 miles from Danbury.
We love helping out on that kind of "rescue"!
Blue skies,
Jerry
Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:04 pm
Great work, Rob!
Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:17 pm
Great save. Can I ask what a MIG in this condidtion goes for these days?
Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis
Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis
Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:22 pm
quite an affectionate name she's got.. 
nice job on the recovery!
nice job on the recovery!
Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:04 pm
Seeing this MIG made me want to see Bill Ward's demo............again
http://airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=f5bd0a62
Do you think a MIG 17 (in the right hands) could give a Viper or Eagle driver arun for his money in a good old fashion DOGFIGHT?!?!?
Sure as heck surprised our boys over in Vietnam with newer jets.
Shay
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Semper Fortis
http://airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=f5bd0a62
Do you think a MIG 17 (in the right hands) could give a Viper or Eagle driver arun for his money in a good old fashion DOGFIGHT?!?!?
Sure as heck surprised our boys over in Vietnam with newer jets.
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:43 am
Goog going there Rob. You done good! 
Robbie
Robbie
Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:16 am
Nicely done Rob!
Gary
Gary
Re: My first warbird recovery (MiG-17)
Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:27 am
Rob Mears wrote:P.S. - The plane has now been sold on to a collector in Texas.
retroaviation wrote:Nicely done Rob!
Gary
Hmmmmm.......Keep your eyes on "Lake Austin" for it's latest addition.
It's another kind of round motor, right Gary?
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 am
The new owner is actually closer to the San Antonio area. Still not sure of his exact plans regarding the plane as of yet.
Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:11 am
Great job Rob! Who gave it the name "Tin Bitch" written below the cockpit?
Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:59 am
There was a MiG-17 demo at the Scott AFB show last weekend. Tell you what, that puppy scoots! 
Also had Viper West and Eagle West (Eglin F-15C's) performing, and they were great, but the MiG was not embarrassed.
Also had Viper West and Eagle West (Eglin F-15C's) performing, and they were great, but the MiG was not embarrassed.