MiG-21

The story of the Soviet MiG-21 pilot that rammed an Iranian RF-4C with mixed USAF – IIAF crew flying a clandestine operation inside the USSR

The story of the Soviet MiG-21 pilot that rammed an Iranian RF-4C with mixed USAF – IIAF crew flying a clandestine operation inside the USSR

PVO, the Soviet Air Defence Force In the 1950s the Soviets had managed to grow a major Air Defence Force… Read More

5 days ago

Did you know Su-27 pilot Viktor Pugachev Wasn’t the First to Perform the Cobra? The Story of the Syrian MiG-21 Pilot who Developed the Cobra Manoeuvre

During a test-flight, in early 1967, Syrian pilot Mohammad Mansour inadvertently pitched the nose of his MiG-21 too hard, so… Read More

3 months ago

The Story of the College Student that scored the first ever Gun Kill for an Israeli F-4 Phantom II

Three or four times a week Aviem Sella returned from missions over Egypt flying at low altitude over Haifa to… Read More

4 months ago

North Vietnamese MiG-21 pilot recalls when his two wingmen were shot down by USAF F-4Cs acting as RF-4Cs in a new tactic devised by Robin Olds four days after Operation Bolo

Col. Robin Olds briefed F-4Cs of the 555th TFS/8th TFW to fly in tight formation along a flightpath regularly used… Read More

6 months ago

Romanian Air Force retires its MiG-21 LanceR fighter fleet

On May 15, 2023 the Romanian Air Force retired its fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets as the NATO member and… Read More

7 months ago

Slovak Air Force to donate approximately 13 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine (in return Slovakia will receive unspecified US military systems worth $700 Million)

The Slovak Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď commented on the unspecified systems delivery, saying that it should be made public… Read More

9 months ago

Israeli F-4 Navigator tells the story of when he and his pilot and their wingman engaged a North Korean MiG-21 during the Yom Kippur War

“The MiG pilot was extraordinarily good, flying wild and reacting time. He was alone against the two of us and… Read More

1 year ago

Romania had to ground its MiG-21 LanceR fleet earlier this year because the jets were supplied with low-quality jet fuel

Overtime, the fuel pumps of the MiG-21 LanceR jets began exhibiting symptoms and were unable to operate properly. Alert 5… Read More

1 year ago

The Cuban Air Force pilot that defected to the US with his MiG-23. He then borrowed a Cessna 310, flew back to Cuba and brought his family to America.

On Mar. 20, 1991 MiG-23 pilot Orestes Lorenzo Perez circled the Naval Air Station Key West three times, waggling the… Read More

2 years ago

F-105 pilot Merlyn Dethlefsen made multiple passes to destroy a North Vietnamese SAM site with his Thud heavy damaged by AAA and engaged by MiG-21s

For his conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Capt. Dethlefsen was… Read More

2 years ago

The story of the North Vietnamese MiG-21 Fishbed fighters tasked to attack USAF EB-66 Destroyer electronic attack aircraft

EB-66 Destroyer Vs MiG-21 Fishbed As explained by Peter E. Davies in his book B/EB-66 Destroyer Units in Combat, orbiting at… Read More

2 years ago

Did you know the F-104 had not been the only “Widow Maker?” During the Cold War the MiG-19, MiG-21 and F-100 had high accident rates too

The F-104 was not the only fighter aircraft to have a high accident rate during the Cold War. The first… Read More

2 years ago

In 1970s Israeli pilots who would have led Operation Opera went to TOPGUN and taught instructors tactics for F-4 versus MiG-21 and One versus Many

The Israelis sent an F-4 crew to TOPGUN following the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The history of air combat has… Read More

2 years ago

Exercise Skyshield: the day RAF Vulcan strategic bombers fooled American and Canadian interceptors and penetrated NORAD’s massive surveillance system

RAF Vulcan bombers at Exercise Skyshield The best of the three RAF jet bombers to serve during the Cold War,… Read More

2 years ago

Soviet Pilot who test flew captured F-5 against MiG-21, MiG-23 explains why the Tiger beat the Fishbed, Flogger in every engagement

‘Every flight ended with the same result: MiG-21 lost, although he had much higher thrust-to-weight ratio,’ Vladimir Kondaurov, Soviet pilot… Read More

2 years ago