The LIM-5 fighter jet has been repainted by Bialystok University of Technology. It will soon be on display at the Army Museum in Białystok.

Just take a look at the fairing. After several decades of being stationed in the open air on the premises of the Podlaski Border Guard Regional Unit, it has almost completely lost its transparency.

– After three days of sanding, it is unrecognisable – enthuses Assoc. Prof. Jarosław Szusta, DSc, PhD, Eng, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, who was personally involved in the #odnawiamyodrzutowiec campaign. Earlier, the powerful machine was transported through the streets of Bialystok in a spectacular manner from the Podlaski Border Guard Regional Unit to the machine hall of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology. Here, the final touches are being put to the restoration of the unique museum object.

First, the missing parts of the sheathing were filled in. Experts from the Bialystok University of Technology’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering have fixed the fuel tanks and dismantled the engine, which will become a separate museum object. Removing the engine will make it easier to suspend the monument on a pylon specially designed by scientists from Bialystok University of Technology, which, placed in the Military Park of the Army Museum in Białystok, will draw the eyes of passers-by with its unique museum object. Particularly since it has just been repainted in accordance with historical details.

– The jet we are restoring has colours in accordance with the aircraft’s technical specifications – stresses Professor Szusta. – It took us some time to obtain the original paint numbers, but the curator of the Army Museum in Białystok has already approved the final effect. The aircraft looks as it did in its first period of use.

The Army Museum in Bialystok has reconstructed the service history of the fighter jet manufactured in Mielec under Soviet licence.

Renovated by Bialystok University of Technology, the jet served for a year in Słupsk, from 1958 it was stationed in Malbork, and from 1973 it belonged to the 58th Airborne Training and Combat Regiment in Dęblin. From 1980 LIM-5 flew in the 38th Airborne Training and Combat Regiment in Modlin. It completed its service in 1989 in Biała Podlaska, after which it ended up in the collection of the Army Museum in Białystok.

The aircraft is armed with a 37 mm Nudelman N 37 cannon and two 23 mm Nudelman-Richter cannons.

– We used the machine hall of Bialystok University of Technology to restore this museum object to the full splendour of the original – recalls Professor Szusta. – The jet was in a deplorable condition, with many elements missing. Using modern technologies, i.e. 3D printing, laser cutting and plasma cutting, we reconstructed the missing elements.

The periscope placed at the top of the perfectly refreshed original cockpit fairing will look particularly spectacular. Thanks to the knowledge of specialists from Bialystok University of Technology, missing elements of side lights, marker lights and the radar installed in the machine were also created. Any moment now, the tactical number of the jet and the red-and-white chequers reproduced according to the communist canons will appear on the machine.

– The plane is already painted in the colours corresponding to its service – confirms Sylwia Trzeciakowska, PhD, Chief Inventor of the Army Museum in Białystok. – Impressions are excellent, the jet looks like new, as if it came straight from the factory in Mielec. It will be one of the most representative objects in our collection.

Work on the jet’s display in the Military Park at 3 Węglowa Street is also coming to an end. A huge anthracite-coloured steel pylon will be installed any day now. Attached to it will be a refurbished LIM-5 taking to flight. The result will be ready in the first half of September.