MiG Alley

The central part of the outdoor exhibition is the so-called MiG Alley. Along the pathway stand aircraft from the Lim family — Soviet MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters manufactured in the 1950s at the WSK Mielec factory. The MiG-15 was the primary jet fighter used by North Korean aviation during the Korean War; these aircraft were also used in combat during conflicts in the Middle East in the 1950s. The MiG-17, successor to the MiG-15, became famous primarily for its participation in the Vietnam War, where these aircraft were able to inflict significant losses on far more modern and faster American aircraft. The first in the row, with a side number, is the two-seat MiG-15UTI. Behind it, with side number 712, stands a Lim-1 — a licence-built MiG-15. It was the first jet aircraft manufactured in Poland. With number 1230 stands a Lim-2 — a licence-built, improved MiG-15bis. Beside them stand two-seat combat trainers — the Polish SBLim-2. These were used for type conversion training on the MiG-15 and MiG-17. Soviet MiG-15UTIs were built from scratch as two-seat machines, while Polish SBLims were converted from single-seat aircraft during major overhauls.

Behind them, with side number 1023, stands the fighter variant Lim-5 — a licence-built MiG-17F. Side number 1414 belongs to the Lim-5R — a Lim-5 additionally equipped with a photographic camera for reconnaissance missions, mounted on the underside of the fuselage. Next to the Lim-5R stands the Lim-6bis, a ground-attack aircraft designed in Poland based on the Lim-5. The armament of these aircraft consisted of two 23 mm cannons and one 37 mm cannon, as well as bombs or rocket launchers under the wings. The next two machines are the Lim-6MR and Lim-6M — ground-attack aircraft created as modifications of the Lim-5P interceptor, a licence-built version of the MiG-17PF equipped with radar.

Along the second pathway stands the family of Soviet supersonic MiG-21 fighters. This was the primary type of fighter aircraft in the Polish Air Force and in other Warsaw Pact countries, used in several variants differing in equipment, armament, and engines from the early 1960s until the beginning of the 21st century. The Museum’s collection includes all versions used by the Polish Air Force. In one row stand successive fighter variants — from the right, the oldest MiG-21F-13, without radar, followed by the radar-equipped PF and PFM versions, the reconnaissance R variant, the MF fighter, and the U and US combat trainers. On the other side of the pathway stand the M fighter version and the most advanced bis variant. The MiG-21 is one of the most widely used fighters in the world since World War II. These aircraft were employed in numerous armed conflicts, including the Vietnam War, the Middle East wars, the Iran–Iraq War, and the Gulf War.

Behind the MiG-21s stand the Soviet supersonic Su-7 fighter-bombers. Poland purchased these aircraft in 1964 in order to have the capability to carry nuclear bombs within the Warsaw Pact framework. Three Soviet nuclear weapons depots were located on Polish territory; in the event of a war with NATO countries, these weapons were to be made available to the Polish Armed Forces. Here we can see all three versions of this aircraft used in Poland — the single-seat combat Su-7BM and the newer Su-7BKL, as well as the two-seat combat trainer Su-7U. They served in the Polish Air Force with the 3rd Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment in Bydgoszcz until mid-1990. Their armament consisted of two 30 mm cannons as well as bombs, including nuclear ones, and unguided rocket launchers.

The Su-7 had fixed, highly swept wings, which resulted in very high take-off and landing speeds. To address this issue, the Su-17 was developed with variable-geometry wings — that is, with sweep adjustable depending on flight speed. During take-off, landing, and low-speed flight, the wings are set to a low sweep angle to increase lift. During high-speed flight, the wings are set to a high sweep angle, thereby reducing drag. In 1974, Poland purchased 27 such aircraft under the export designation Su-20. They served until 1997 with the 7th Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment in Powidz.

The successor to the Su-20 is the Su-22, featuring more advanced avionics and armament. Two such aircraft in the single-seat combat version Su-22M4 and one in the two-seat combat trainer version Su-22UM3K stand behind the Su-20. Poland purchased 100 of these aircraft in the mid-1980s. They were also adapted to carry nuclear weapons. The last examples were retired in September 2025. The Su-22M4 with a black rose painted on the vertical stabiliser is the personal aircraft of Colonel Leszek Cwojdziński, commander of the 7th Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment in Powidz and the 21st Air Base in Świdwin.

The next aircraft with variable-geometry wings is the MiG-23MF interceptor, armed with a 23 mm cannon and air-to-air missiles with infrared and radar guidance. It is the fastest aircraft in the museum — capable of reaching a maximum speed of 2,500 km/h. These machines were operated by only one unit in Poland — the 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Słupsk from 1978 until the late 1990s. They flew patrol missions over the Baltic Sea, scrambling to intercept Swedish, Danish, or West German aircraft approaching the borders of Polish airspace.

The last aircraft on MiG Alley is the MiG-29UB — a two-seat combat trainer version of the MiG-29 fighter. It is a twin-engine, supersonic aircraft with so-called strake wings and a lifting-body fuselage. The strake wings provide a high lift coefficient across a very wide range of speeds and angles of attack, thereby enhancing the aircraft’s manoeuvrability. The first aircraft of this type arrived in Poland in 1989; additional examples were purchased from the Czech Republic and acquired from Germany. They serve with the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork and the 23rd Tactical Air Base in Mińsk Mazowiecki.