LV-X216: Morón’s eccentric MiG-15…

The first of two MiG-15s imported into Argentina since the end of the 20th Century was built in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody wearing c/n 612304 and type designation CS-102, the Czech variant of the Soviet MiG-15UTI two seat trainer. Delivered to the Polish Air Force in 1956, it is know to have undergone three conversions and have flown in pilot training and SBLim-2A artillery observation duties. Withdrawn from service after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the aircraft was sold in the United States in what Jarrett Adams, an aerospace and defense analyst with Forecast International, at the time described as a glasnost-produced “military garage sale of mammoth proportion”.

The aircraft caught the attention of Argentine pilots, Alfonso Bernasconi and Gustavo Caglieri, whom in 1997 invested an estimated US $30,000 for the jet itself, $8,000 for a new engine, $7,500 for having it repainted in plane-Jane white, another $40,000 for new avionics and about $15,000 for having it returned to flying condition by Royal Aviation at Mesa Falcon Field, AZ. After a protracted Argentine import, registration and experimental airworthiness certification process, the aircraft started flying in Argentina in 11/2000 after being repainted in silver with dark blue markings.

A late 1980s shot showing our subject at the end of its military career with Polish Air Force’s 7h Special Aviation Regiment (photo via Waclaw Holys and Tony Morris).

Parked among countless retired MiGs at its ultimate Polish Air Force base (photo: Waclaw Holys vía Tony Morris).

After arriving in Argentina and still wearing its plain-Jane white and US registration (photo: Christian Amado, 11/30/1998).

After arriving in Argentina and still wearing its plain-Jane white and US registration (photo: Christian Amado, 11/30/1998).

An early image showing LV-X216 after repaint in its ultimate color scheme. Notice 7 PLS badge at the top of the fin (photo via Hugo Franchi & Gabriel Pavlovcic).

At the Argentine Wright Brothers flight centennial ceremony (photo: Esteban Brean, 12/01/2003).

At the Argentine aviation centennial ceremony (photo: Esteban Brean, 12/13/2007).

Stored at Alas Argentinas facilities (photo: Gabriel Pavlovcic, 06/27/2009).

US Federal Aviation Administration-mandated plate showing aircraft vitals (photo: Pablo Potenze, 09/01/2009).

Pictured after a runway excursion (photo via @Airprevac, 12/03/2011).

Initial display at National Aeronautics Museum’s Hangar #3 (photo via Carlos Ay, 09/26/2015).

Exhibited at the National Aeronautics Museum’s Hangar #2 in our latest visit to the institution (photo: Carlos Ay, 03/19/2019).

Even though flying-shots depicting it are hard to find, the aircraft managed to appear statically at a couple noteworthy aviation ceremonies: The Wright brother’s centennial in 12/2013 and Argentine aviation’s own centennial in 12/2017 (both in Buenos Aires’s “Jorge Newbery” air park). But the 2001 economic crisis and lack of a flying (paying) public brought the project to a halt after the aircraft suffered a few minor incidents (runway excursions and other landing events) and it was handed over to the National Aeronautics Museum in Morón, where it remains preserved in flying condition to the present day.

Variants:

CS-102 (1956), MiG-15UTI (WSK Mielec conversion, 1966), SBLim-2A (WSK Mielec rebuild using tail, rear fuselage and engine of Lim-2 c/n 1B-01203, 1976) and SBLim-2M (PZL rebuild, 1981).

Identities:

Polish Air Force 304 (unconfirmed, 06/22/1956), Polish Air Force 604 (07/07/1981), N14694 (10/16/1996), LV-X216 (circa 01/06/1998).

Owners or operators:

Polish AF 39 PLM/39th Fighter Aviation Regiment (06/22/1956), 7 PLS/7th Special Aviation Regiment, Mierzecice Air Base (wfu 03/15/1991), Foreign Trade Enterprise Cenzin (for export purposes, date unknown), MCD Inc. & Phoenix Warbirds (date unknown), Aviajet S.A. (17/10/1997).

Fate:

Withdrawn from use, ejection seats removed and handed-over for preservation at the National Aeronautics Museum in Morón (Buenos Aires) in 09/2015.

Acknowledgements: Rubén Alzamora, Christian A. Amado, Esteban Brea, Patricio Egan, Matías Equiza, Jorge Figari (RIP), Carlos García, Roel van Gestel, Nigel Hitchman, Hernán Longoni, Anthony “Tony Polski” Morris (RIP), Livio Mostini, Martín Nostrala, Pablo Potenze and Andrés Rangugni contributed to this research. Bibliography: Aeroespacio (1998), Pavlovcic + Magnusson + Raczynski: “Catálogo completo de aeronaves civiles argentinas registradas” (Argentina, 2016). Internet sources: Air Prevac, Air Fighters, Airliners, Aviation Corner, Military Images, Phoenix New Times and Wikipedia.