Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 – NATO code name Fishbed is a single-engine interceptor developed in the Soviet Union. The MiG-21 entered service in 1959. Outside the USSR, it was first stationed in the former East Germany with the Soviet 16th Air Army.

The MiG-21 was introduced into the air forces of more than 50 countries and was produced under license in many variants. MiG-21 variants were produced in the People’s Republic of China until the mid-1990s (designated J-7 there). In total, there were about 15 different versions of the MiG-21, and with about 10,300 built – after the MiG-15 with 18,000 and the MiG-17 with 10,800 – it is one of the most built fighters in the world since World War II.

The MiG-21’s fuselage is of all-metal shell construction. The aircraft has a pressurized cabin with ejection seat. There are two air brakes/air flaps on the lower fuselage in the front wing/cabin area. A third was located behind the beam of the fuselage. A brake chute housed in the tail can be used during landing.

The aircraft is a cantilever delta mid-wing monoplane. Just before the wing tips is a small boundary layer fence. The tail unit is heavily swept. It is designed in cantilever normal construction. In addition, there is a stabilizing fin under the tail of the fuselage.

While the MiG-21 was often seen in the skies over Europe until the 1990s, these robust aircraft have become rare in Europe today. Only the Croatian Air Force still uses MiG-21s, although these are to be replaced by the French Dassault Rafale in the future.

At AIRPOWER22 there will be a rare opportunity to admire a MiG-21 of the Croatian Air Force in the Flying Display.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21