MiG-15 Fagot warbird loses canopy after taking off during the Classic Jet Aircraft Association air show

About 10 a.m. on Saturday Mar. 4, 2023 the MiG-15 Fagot took off from Fairhope Airport and shortly after liftoff, the canopy broke away from the Korean War-era aircraft.

Taken by Montie Mann the incredible picture in this post shows the canopy over the cockpit of a Russian two-seater Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (NATO code name “Fagot”) fighter jet flying off while in flight during the Classic Jet Aircraft Association air show Saturday in Fairhope, Alabama.

About 10 a.m. on Saturday Mar. 4, 2023 the MiG-15 took off from Fairhope Airport and shortly after liftoff, the canopy broke away from the Korean War-era aircraft.

“I wasn’t sure what was happening at first,” Mann, a local photographer, said of his reaction when he saw the canopy through his lens. “It all happened so quickly. When I looked up, I saw the canopy falling to the ground.

“I was pretty surprised since it’s something you definitely don’t expect to happen.”

As reported by Al.com, the canopy hit the ground away from spectators and participants, there were no injuries, and the pilot safely landed the plane. The airshow was suspended until the debris was cleared and flights resumed later Saturday afternoon.

“I was glad it was just the canopy and that the pilot was okay,” Mann added.

The Soviet Union developed the MiG-15 following World War II and the fighter entered service in 1949. By 1952 the Soviets provided the MiG-15 to a number of communist satellite nations, including North Korea. In 1950 the Soviets began production of a more capable version, the MiG-15bis. The MiG-15bis used a more powerful engine and hydraulically boosted ailerons. During the Korean War, both versions of the MiG-15 operated extensively against United Nations forces.

Photo credit: Montie Mann