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The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.
The Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB design buro is a well known Soviet design buro. Following Second World War designed aircraft, they started
with jet fighter design. In the nineteen-fifties, after the emerge of the Mig-15, Mig-17 and Mig-21, the Mig-21 was designed as a
Mach 2-capable interceptor fighter. The MiG-21 was born from a variety of prototypes and developmental flight models. After numerous
wing designs, the final design got a delta main wing with both pairs swept and mid-mounted to the fuselage. The main wings were thin
and near-triangular shapes with clipped wingtips. It got NATO code name "Fishbed". Deliveries of the MiG-21 to the Soviet Air Force began
in late 1957 and continued into 1985. The type was officially introduced as the MiG-21F in 1959. Many versions, including the Mikoyan
Gurevitch MiG-21PFM, were developed with later types being significantly different from early types. Production of trainers and fighters
was split between three major plants in Gorkiy, Moscow and Tbilisi. Gorkiy produced no less than 5,278 airframes; Moscow 3,203 and Tbilisi
delivered some 1,660 aircraft. The official total topped 10,158 aircraft while overall totals ranged up to 11,496. In the Soviet/Russian
inventories alone, the aircraft served for decades until it was throughout the 1990s replaced in active service by the MiG-29 Fulcrum. |
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On 26 January 2017, the Mikoyan Gurevitch MiG-21PFM Fishbed was seen in Soviet Air Force '47 red' colors on display at the ramp of the NMM
(Nationaal Militair Museum) at the former AFB Soesterberg. The MiG is on display armed with original Soviet AA-2 Atol air to air missiles.
This MiG-21PFM was built as c/n 940MS13. The former Soviet Air Force aircraft became the gate guard at Kluczewo AB, a former Soviet airbase
located in Kluczewo, Poland. The last unit stationed was the 159th 'Novorossiysk' Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment flying Su-27 Flankers.
After this Air Base was closed in 1992, the MiG was transported to the Netherlands and added to the collection of the MLM (Militaire Luchtvaart Museum)
at Soesterberg and displayed outside on a lawn on the museum grounds. On 1 July 2013, the MLM (Militaire Luchtvaart Museum) was closed and the
collection, including the Mikoyan Gurevitch MiG-21PFM Fishbed '47 red', moved to the new build NMM that opened on 11 December 2014. To be precise,
on 25 November 2014 the aircraft was transported by road to the new location of the NMM. The aircraft saw feeded out and was stored first
outside the former "298" hangar that is in use as depot. In November 2016, after the plane was cleaned and somewhat restored it went to the
display at the ramp of the NMM. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
