Mikoyan MiG-19/Shenyang F-6 * Retired *
Twelve Soviet-built MiG-19PM Farmer-D delivered in October 1959. The MiG-19PM was a radar-equipped all-weather interceptor and the first fighter in Albanian service to be equipped with missiles as its primary armament, (no cannon were installed). The aircraft were based at Rinas. In 1965 these aircraft were withdrawn and shipped to China, in exchange for an initial twelve Shenyang F-6.

The F-6 was a Chinese copy of the MiG-19S Farmer-C cannon-armed day fighter. Additional aircraft were delivered in the late 1960s and a final batch in 1971. A total of more than 70 F-6s were reported delivered, equipping six squadrons at 3 bases, for both interceptor and attack duties. Some of the 1971 batch were late production F-6C version, featuring a prominent braking parachute housing at the base of the rudder.

A few FT-6 two-seat trainers also appear to have been supplied. The FT-6 wasn't certified for production until December 1973, so these examples must have been delivered after this date. It is also reported that 4 F-6 aircraft are fitted with ventral cameras for the reconnaissance role - whether these are export versions of the JZ-6 or local conversions is not known.

On 12 March 1997, Gjader air base was seized by local rebels and two F-6s were damaged beyond repair. In 2002 all survivors were put up for sale. The type was active in 2004, but a crash in September 2004 led to the type being withrawn. Four airframes with Russian construction data plates were identified in 2006 - listed as "MiG-19S" below. Whether these were supplied by China or Russia is not clear.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
50 red			1959	MiG-19PM, to China 1965
52 red			1959	MiG-19PM, to China 1965
56 red			1959	MiG-19PM, to China 1965
62 red			1959	MiG-19PM, to China 1965
64 red			1959	MiG-19PM, to China 1965
'001'	1307		19??	MiG-19S, preserved AFHQ Tirana May 2006
'20/40'	1205		19??	MiG-19S, preserved Rinas May 2006
'20/40'	3301		19??	F-6, preserved Rinas May 2006
3-02	131302		19??	MiG-19S, Rinas stored May 2006
3-03	131303		19??	MiG-19S, Rinas stored May 2006
3-04	131304		19??	MiG-19S, Rinas stored May 2006
3-19				noted 1992
3-30
3-31
3-32	3302			Kucove stored May 2006
3-33				(F-5?) noted Aug 1992
3-34	3304			Rinas stored May 2006
3-35
3-36	3306			Kucove stored May 2006
3-38			19??	Kucove stored May 2005
3-39	3307			Kucove stored May 2006
3-40	3340		19??	F-6, Rinas stored May 2006
3-44	3404			Rinas stored May 2006
3-48				noted 1992
3-71				(F-5?) noted Apr 1993
3-72	7912		19??	F-6C, Rinas stored May 2006
3-74	7114		19??	Rinas stored May 2006
3-75	7115		19??	wreck dumped Rinas May 2005
3-77	7117			F-6, Rinas stored May 2006
3-78	7128			F-6, Rinas stored May 2006
3-83				(photo)
4-02	3402		19??	Kucove stored May 2006
4-03	4038		19??	noted Apr 1993, stored Kucove May 2006
4-04	1113		19??	MiG-19S, stored Kucove May 2006
4-05	1116		19??	MiG-19S, stored Kucove May 2006
4-06	7116		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-08	3308		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-09	1207		19??	MiG-19S, stored Kucove May 2006
4-15	4105		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-19	7119		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-22	4226		19??	preserved Kucove May 2006
4-27			19??	Kucove stored May 2006
4-30			19??	(F-5?) noted Apr 1995
4-33	3333		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-34	3334		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-35	3335		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-36	4036		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-37			19??	noted 1992
4-38	3408		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-39	3339		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-41	4104		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-42	4233		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-43	4033		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-44	4034		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-45	4035		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-47	4037		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-49	4039		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
4-53	3303		19??	stored Kucove May 2006
8-01	7911		19??	F-6C, stored Kucove May 2006
8-02	7902		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-03	7903		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-04	7904		19??	F-6C, stored Kucove May 2006
8-07	7907		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-13	7913 or 4313?		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-18	7908		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-19	7909		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-20	7120		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-21	7121		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-22	7122		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-23	7123		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-24	7124		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-25	7125		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-26	7126		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-27	7127		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-45	3405		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-46	3112		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-47	1119		19??	MiG-19S, stored Gjader May 2006
8-49	3409		19??	stored Gjader May 2006
8-71	7901		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-75	7915		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-76	7916		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006
8-79	7906		19??	F-6C, stored Gjader May 2006

Known losses: 1972 - 1 a/c, 20 Aug 1993 - 1 a/c, 16 Sept 2004 - 1 a/c.

References:

1. Air International December 1992
2. Aerospace Encyclopedia of the World's Air Forces (Aerospace, 1999)
3. Air Forces Research March 1996
4. Wings of Fame Vol 9 p.147-149
5. Air Forces Monthly April 2004
6. European Air Forces Directory 2007/08 (Mach III)