I have a question regard very old (useful) fighters.

We all know that quite a few countries still have very old fighters like Mig-17, Mig-19, (Chinese copies), early F-5A and B, Hunters… in their active or reserve (mostly) squadrons. Now, how good are many of these frames? Do they have to fly every now and then to be in shape, or can they just be put in the reserve and at a moment notice, be pull out and put on active squadrons (a few countries still have them as frontline).

For me, personally, a missled-arm Mig-17, Mig-19 (easy to do), though really old, is a much better dog-fighters than the Hawk, MB machines that a number of countries tasked for secondary air-defense with two Sidewinders (even the British). Those fighters have an illustroused record, and a missled-armed Mig-17 is going to be quite a bit more “yank-and-bank” and “turn-and-burn” than these new secondary fighters/advance trainers. Beside, those guys can turn on a dime!

Now, for those countries that still have these old fighters, how long can they be kept around? (Consider all options and remember that quite a few of those machines also participate in air-show events.) Let’s say North Korea, Cuba, Iran…, when situation call for large number of fighters to cover the country against an enemy (just a scenario so it could be any country), couple these fighters with modern or modern-equipped fighters, Mig-21-93, SU-27,30, F-14s, F-16s and Mig-29 machines – Improvise a plan for Mig-17, 19s, F-5s to be low while the Su-27s, Mig-29s to stay high. Therefore, if they stay out of radar-ranges of opposing forces, or the opposing forces will just be too busy conteding with the modern SUs, F’s and the Migs, they will go behind, or go higher at a distance then come back and pounce on the unexpected enemies (this was done in the Middle East, Viet Nam and other places where F-4s and more modern Mirages were down by those fighters).

Beside couple with modern fighters, since they will be fighting mostly on their soil first, they will have the support of very heavy and some modern AD systems – It those are the scenarios, can they still be useful?