A Soviet era fighter jet made a pit stop at the Ruston Regional Airport last Thursday, drawing a small crowd of aircraft enthusiasts.
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the Soviet Union beginning in 1952 and was operated by numerous air forces around the world. North Korea and two small countries still use a few of the fighters today.
Because of its famous heritage and great maneuverability, the MiG-17 makes one of the best air show jets in the world, able to stay in front of the fans while still flying at great speeds. The jet that landed in Ruston is flown by Randy W. Ball, an airline pilot who performs at numerous air shows each year.
Randy Ball’s MiG-17F spent almost four years in restoration, and is one of only a handful of vintage jets flying the North American air show circuit. It has an authentic paint job and is the only MiG available for ground display with fully restored guns. Randy’s MIG has been seen by millions of air show fans across North America.
Learn more about Ball, his M-17, and scheduled air show appearances at https://fighterjets.com.
