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The Polish operator of historic jet aircraft FUBAR Aviation LTD announces, among others on its Facebook page, that it has acquired a MiG-21UM which is to be restored to flying condition (!). So there is hope that a MiG-21 will fly in Europe once again.

The author congratulates Major General (ret.) Rumen Radev on his election as Prime Minister of Bulgaria.



Among other types, numerous FT-7s of the Iranian Air Force fell victim to the US and Israeli air strikes against Iran in recent days, as reported by The War Zone (the article mentions F-7s, but mainly FT-7s are based at Isfahan). It cannot be ruled out that the first encounter of the author with the Iranian FT-7s was also the last ...

As announced by the Sri Lanka Air Force on its Facebook page among others, it will celebrate its 75th anniversary with an airshow at Ratmalana air base next weekend. As the war in the Middle East prevents the author from attending, all that remains is the memory of the 60th anniversary event 15 years ago.

On Saturday, March 28, 2026, the author will give the lecture "China's fighter for the world – the F-7 / FT-7 aircraft family" (in German) at the Fliegerstammtisch Cämmerswalde.

70th anniversary of the MiG-21's first flight: On January 9, 1956, the (almost) final silhouette of the MiG-21 was seen in the sky for the first time. On that day the Ye-5/1 became the first prototype to fly that combined the most important features of the production MiG-21 – delta wing and R11 engine – even though details (wing tips, wing fences) were changed later.

25 years of MiG-21.de – A quarter of a century has passed since the start as MiG-21Zone.de in December 2000, and while this website has hardly changed since the last anniversary, the world around it has. The hysteria of the Covid years was replaced, with the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, by warmongering and anti-Russian reflexes, which also claimed the Romanian MiG-21s, which could otherwise still be flying today. The author was not spared the effects of high politics either and, on his last visits to Romania, was first kept at a distance and finally arrested as a "spy". Last year the service of the Croatian MiG-21s ended without fanfare, and with it MiG-21 operations in Europe.
With the farewell to the Indian MiG-21s in September, the Soviet-built MiG-21 models have finally disappeared almost completely from the inventories of the world's air forces, and only the J/F-7s built in China still ensure that the distinctive silhouette of the MiG-21 (in more or less modified form) can still be seen in the sky. Accordingly, the first volume, published in July, and the second volume, released in November, of the author's new book are devoted to precisely these versions of the MiG-21. Before that, his first book on the MiG-21 had already seen a new edition.
Even if the new circumstances make it even more difficult to follow the worldwide career of the MiG-21, the author hopes that there will continue to be opportunities to experience the (for him) most fascinating fighter aircraft in the world in action and to report on it here.

Will the MiG-21 return to Europe, and was the farewell to the Indian MiG-21s not a farewell forever? In view of a high-ranking military delegation's visit to China and the presentation of the Chinese AVIC at the Partner fair in Belgrade, the Serbian aviation portal TangoSix speculates about a possible procurement of the FTC-2000. And according to Indian press reports, the continued operation of some MiG-21s with the IAF Heritage Flight, which was still being speculated about in Chandigarh, has already been decided.

MiG-21 farewell in India: The author's article "An icon retires" has been published in FLUG REVUE issue 12/2025.

MiG-21 farewell in India: Report from the farewell ceremony at Chandigarh.

MiG-21 farewell in India: The author's article on last Friday's farewell ceremony at Chandigarh has been published on flugrevue.de (in German).

Further reports in the Indian press deal with the imminent retirement of the MiG-21, which according to the latest reports is now to take place on September 26. On August 18 and 19, the Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, flew his last sorties in the MiG-21. On Friday, several aircraft with special paint schemes were ferried to Chandigarh in preparation for the farewell ceremony.

The author's article "Rescue helicopters compete at the SAR Meet" has been published on flugrevue.de (in German).

70 years ago today, the Ye-4 became the first MiG-21 prototype to fly with delta wings, the classic feature of the MiG-21.

Although the first volume has not even been published yet, the website of Helion & Co. is already announcing the second volume of the author's new publication on the Chinese MiG-21 derivatives for export. Here, too, there will surely be some changes before publication – including the cover.



MiG-21 farewell from Europe: The author's article "The incredible career of the MiG-21 in Europe" has been published on flugrevue.de (in German).

In addition to service regulations and training materials, the author now also offers books from his collection for sale.

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: Report from the author's farewell visit to Pleso air base (Croatia) in March 2025.

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: The author's article on the farewell visit to Croatia has been published on flugrevue.de (in German).

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: New titles in the bibliography section.

70 years ago, the first prototype of the MiG-21, the Ye-2, took off on its maiden flight. Although the aircraft differed from the later production aircraft both in its swept wings and in the RD-9 engine borrowed from the MiG-19, many features of the later aircraft family are already visible, above all the central air intake with movable cone. Pleasingly, Flug Revue has dedicated an article (in German) to the anniversary.

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: Today the Croatian Air Force confirmed to the author that the MiG-21s no longer fly. Therefore, starting with the report from the public farewell, the AirShow AirVG in May 2024, a loose series of articles on the occasion of the MiG-21's farewell from Europe begins here.

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: The author's report on the MiG-21 farewell in Croatia is now also available on flugrevue.de (in German).

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: Yesterday, without prior announcement, flight operations of the Croatian MiG-21s – and thus MiG-21 operations in Europe – ended with two farewell flights. By lucky circumstances the author was at least present for the penultimate flight. Here is the report (including a review of the last months).

MiG-21 farewell from Europe: Today at sunset the QRA duty of the Croatian MiG-21s ended. As announced by the Croatian Ministry of Defence, Croatian airspace will be protected by Italian Eurofighters and Hungarian Gripens until the Rafale reaches full operational capability, probably in early 2026. Until the end, a MiG-21 usually took off for a training flight once a week. Let us hope there will still be a farewell flight (announced in good time) ...

At the press conference presenting the programme for the celebrations of the 29th anniversary of Operation "Oluja" on August 5, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Colonel General Tihomir Kundid, announced MiG-21 flights on the occasion of the anniversary. So the Croatian MiG-21s are still active ...
Addendum of August 9, 2024: Here is a video of the flight.

Contrary to previous reports (see entry of December 17, 2023), No. 3 Squadron 'Cobras' of the Indian Air Force, based at Bikaner AFS in Nal (Rajasthan), has not yet converted from the MiG-21 to the HAL Tejas LCA. As this press report shows, No. 23 Squadron 'Panthers', also equipped with the MiG-21, has instead moved from Suratgarh to Nal, so that both remaining MiG-21 squadrons are now concentrated at this base. The reason for the extended operation of the MiG-21 is obviously – even if the article does not say so explicitly – the slow delivery of the Indian-built successor type.

With a whole series of ceremonies the South Korean Air Force has bid farewell to the F-4 Phantom, which served there for 55 years.
The MiG-21, the Phantom's great rival, has not recently been granted a similarly dignified farewell from its operators. While atmospheric farewell events took place in Finland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Romania, the last major European MiG-21 operator, could not get rid of its fleet fast enough for political reasons. Croatia, the only remaining operator in Europe, simply lacks the necessary number of aircraft for such a tribute, and it can be assumed that the appearance at the AirVG airshow in May will remain the last public appearance of the Croatian MiG-21s.
Outside Europe, significant numbers of MiG-21s only fly in India and North Korea. Whether and how many aircraft are in service in Libya, Syria, Cuba and possibly Mozambique is not known. India's imminent retirement of the MiG-21 – perhaps this year, but next year at the latest – is probably the last opportunity for a dignified public farewell of the MiG-21. Let us hope it gets one.

Report from the visit to Zagreb airport (Croatia) in September 2023.

Having had to announce the farewell to Fliegerrevue in the entry of March 1, the author has now reached the point of saying goodbye to another magazine that was a constant in his involvement with aviation for a long time – Air Forces Monthly (AFM) of the British publisher Key Publishing, which, unlike Fliegerrevue, continues to be published. A subscriber since 1993, the author owes the magazine many interesting articles and much information, with its numerous news items and monthly loss lists being its outstanding features.
In recent years, however, an increasing loss of profile was noticeable. Articles on air forces outside Europe and NATO became fewer. With the war in Ukraine came an unprecedented one-sidedness of reporting, at times culminating in embarrassing hero worship. The final nail in the coffin for the subscription of the author, who had himself published a handful of articles in AFM, were increasing delivery problems since Brexit, which meant that issues arrived later and later and in almost a third of cases not at all.

On June 8 and 9, an airfield festival will take place on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Neuhardenberg airfield – under the name Marxwalde home base of fighter wing JG-8 and duty station of the author.

Next Saturday, May 11, the AirVG airshow will take place at Zagreb airport, where the Croatian MiG-21s are to be officially retired.

The day before yesterday, April 25, the replacement for the Croatian MiG-21s arrived with the first six Rafales. Contrary to what many spectators expected, the aircraft were not welcomed in home airspace by MiG-21s.

Last Saturday, March 23, two MiG-21bisD of the Croatian Air Force made several flypasts at the open day at Pula airport. So the Croatian MiG-21s are still flying ...

On its website, the editorial team of the magazine Fliegerrevue today announces the cessation of operations following the insolvency of the publisher PPVMedien GmbH. The author, a subscriber between the 1980s and the turn of the millennium and writer of more than 30 articles in Fliegerrevue and Fliegerrevue extra, takes note of this with regret. However, he also sees it as the result of the rude treatment of authors since PPV Medien took over the magazine, which led to a considerable loss of substance. What remains is the memory of many exciting articles, especially in the years after the fall of the Wall and in the 1990s as a whole, when the magazine's expertise on the East was in line with the rapprochement between East and West at that time ...

35 years ago today, on February 27, 1989, the author completed his first flying shift with fighter wing JG-8 at Marxwalde and saw MiG-21s take off and land for the first time. This was the beginning of an intense relationship with this aircraft type that continues to this day ...

Yesterday, the last MiG-21 unit in Europe, the 191st eskadrila lovačkih aviona of the Croatian Air Force, celebrated the 32nd anniversary of its formation.
At the event, which took place almost two weeks before the actual date of January 17 and behind closed doors, three MiG-21s were displayed on the ground – the MiG-21R in which Rudolf Perešin fled to Austria in 1991, the red and white MiG-21UMD 165 "Kockica" and, with 166, another two-seater. A pair of MiG-21bisD – 116 and 117 – made two flypasts over the military part of Zagreb-Pleso airport.
In view of contradictory information about the continued operation of the MiGs until the arrival of the Rafales in April and the lack of official statements, it cannot be ruled out that this event already marks the quiet end of MiG-21 operations in Croatia and in all of Europe.



According to press reports, No. 3 Squadron 'Cobras' of the Indian Air Force, based at Bikaner AFS in Nal (Rajasthan), will be the second unit (the first is No. 51 Squadron 'Sword Arms' in Srinagar, which is already converting) to receive the improved HAL Tejas LCA Mk.1A from February 2024, replacing the MiG-21 Bison flown so far. This probably leaves No. 23 Squadron 'Panthers' at Suratgarh as the only Indian MiG-21 unit.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first flight of the JL-9 / FTC-2000 which, with its fixed nose and lateral air intakes, represents the final development stage of the Chinese MiG-21 derivatives.

At a press conference yesterday it was announced that this year the MiG-21 will take part in the Indian Air Force Day Parade, held on October 8 in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), for the last time. According to the Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, the indigenous Tejas Mark 1A will replace the MiG-21 from 2025. The statements suggest that the MiG-21 will be retired before a replacement is available, so that the IAF's fleet size will shrink further.

Looking back: While going through his photo archive, the author discovered that he had overlooked one visit to an air base of the German Air Force when documenting his earlier trips. So, fittingly for the Day of German Unity (which, as the example of the armed forces shows, did not turn out to be quite so unified), here is the report from the visit to JG 73 Laage 1995.

On Thursday, September 28, the author will give the lecture "Halfway around the world for the MiG-21" (in German) at the Fliegerstammtisch Dresden.

The author's account of the last months of Romanian MiG-21 operations has made it into the Romanian press. The comments are interesting, too – one wonders whether this really is the voice of the people ...

The new Facebook page Mighty MiGs Of 86 by MiG-21 pilot Adrian Trifa, whom the author met on several occasions in Romania, commemorates the service of the MiG-21 LanceR of Baza 86 Aeriană Fetești-Borcea.

An abridged version of the author's account of the last months of Romanian MiG-21 operations has been published on FLUG REVUE Online (in German).

According to press reports, the Indian Air Force has grounded its fleet of MiG-21 Bison (upgraded MiG-21bis) until the cause of the May 8 crash has been clarified.

Today the Romanian MiG-21s were retired with ceremonies at Câmpia Turzii, Fetești and Bacău. More on this here soon.

Just announced – the new book by the author. As dealing with the subject of this website is becoming increasingly difficult in view of rapidly shrinking numbers worldwide, it is time for a new thematic orientation, at least a little. And what could be more obvious than the aircraft that was derived from the MiG-21 and, unlike the MiG-21, was still being produced in China until a few years ago? Especially as there are still many uncertainties on this subject – even among experts. Which promptly led to an error in the cover draft shown here. Who can find it?



P.S. In the meantime, the error has been corrected on the linked page.

On its Facebook page the Indian Air Force today celebrates 60 years of MiG-21 service in India. However, March 1 only marked the 60th anniversary of the formation of No. 28 Squadron "The First Supersonics". According to the unit history, the first flights of Indian MiG-21s took place the following month.

Report from the visit to Zagreb airport (Croatia) in June 2022.

At a press conference last night the Croatian Minister of Defence announced that the crew successfully ejected from the aircraft that crashed yesterday. The aircraft is the MiG-21UMD with serial 164, seen here during flight operations this summer:



As the Romanian Ministry of Defence announces, the contract for the delivery of Norwegian F-16s as a replacement for the MiG-21 LanceR has finally been concluded today. The first aircraft are to arrive at the end of 2023, more than half a year after the planned retirement of the MiG-21 on May 15 next year.

According to the programme published today, this year's Bucharest International Airshow (BIAS) on September 3 will take place without MiG-21 participation. Instead, a display by a Croatian MiG-21 has been announced for Airpower 2022 at Zeltweg in Austria, held on the same weekend.

According to a statement of the Croatian Ministry of Defence, the country's MiG-21 QRA pair today intercepted a civil aircraft whose avionics had failed and which was therefore not communicating with air traffic control.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the first flight of a MiG-21 with German national markings. Fighter wing JG-8 at Marxwalde began flight operations with the MiG-21F-13 on June 20, 1962.

A J-7 of the Chinese Air Force crashed today in the city of Xiangyang (Hubei province). One person on the ground is said to have been killed and two others injured. The pilot apparently escaped largely unhurt, as can be seen in this video.

As the Romanian Ministry of Defence announces, flight operations of the MiG-21 LanceR resumed yesterday. According to a decision of the Supreme Council of National Defence, the aircraft will remain in service exclusively for air policing and pilot proficiency until May 15, 2023, and will then be retired.

Yesterday Comandor Daniel MOTANU Moise, MiG-21 display pilot of the Romanian Air Force and long-time companion and successor of Georghe GICA Stancu in this position, made his farewell flight. That this took place not in a MiG-21 but in the back seat of an F-16 is – alongside the suspension of flight operations that has now lasted a month – a further indication that the farewell to the Romanian MiG-21s could be final. Comandor Moise was last seen in action in public last year at Kecskemét. Before that, the author met him among other occasions in 2008 at Erfurt and in 2019 at Nörvenich.

By order of the Chief of the General Staff Daniel Petrescu, flight activities of the Romanian MiG-21 LanceR are suspended with effect from today. The reason given for the surprising measure is the accumulation of accidents and technical problems recently. After the crash of March 2 there was at least one further incident in the meantime.
So it cannot be ruled out that this symbolic picture from the Bucharest International Airshow 2019 will remain the last one of an active MiG-21 LanceR taken in Romania by the author ...



60 years ago today, on April 11, 1962, a German flew in a MiG-21 for the first time. The flight took place during the conversion course for pilots of fighter wing JG-8 at Krasnodar in the Soviet Union, which initiated the comprehensive equipment of the wings of the East German Air Force with this aircraft type.

The new edition of the MiG-21 book written by the author is being delivered from today. With the same number of pages, the new edition contains around 20 updated or added pictures as well as extended, updated and corrected texts. The chapter on the Chinese MiG-21 variants has been completely revised and the sections on the European operators remaining since 2012 have been supplemented with the developments in the meantime.



Yesterday a MiG-21 LanceR C of the Romanian Air Force crashed in Constanța county. As reported by the Romanian Ministry of Defence, the pilot was killed. In addition, an IAR 330 helicopter crashed during the subsequent rescue operation, killing all seven crew members. The MiG-21 belonged to Escadrila 861 Aviație Luptă based at Mihail Kogălniceanu.

30 years ago today, on February 4, 1992, the Croatian Air Force obtained its first MiG-21 when Danijel Borović defected with a Yugoslav MiG-21bis from Bihać to Pula. On the occasion of the anniversary, Borović was awarded the Order of Duke Domagoj with Necklace by the Croatian President.

According to media reports, AEROSTAR Bacău has once again received a contract for the industrial maintenance and overhaul of MiG-21 LanceR of the Romanian Air Force. This ensures the operation of the aircraft until their forthcoming replacement by the F-16.

As the Romanian Ministry of Defence announced today, both chambers of parliament have approved the procurement of F-16s from Norway (see December 10).

According to various Romanian media (see among others www.defenseromania.ro), the country's Minister of Defence, Vasile Dîncu, has requested funds from the Senate in Bucharest for the procurement of 32 F-16s from Norway. If the purchase of these aircraft, which will be retired at the end of the year, goes ahead as planned, it means the end of MiG-21 operations in Romania within a very short period. Given the planned replacement of the Croatian MiG-21s by the Rafale by 2024, it can be assumed that no MiG-21s will fly in Europe in the second half of the decade.

Report from the visit to Zagreb airport (Croatia) in October 2021.

In spring 2022 the new edition of the book written by the author will be published. In addition to updates on the European operators covering almost 10 years since the first edition, there will be a completely revised chapter on the Chinese MiG-21 variants and numerous new pictures.

The author was able to get hold of a few remaining copies of his book and offers them for sale here.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the devastating attacks by Islamist terrorists on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Almost everyone who consciously experienced that day will still remember where they first saw the pictures of the planes crashing into the twin towers. For the author it was in downtown Plovdiv, on the way to the opening of the exercise Cooperative Key 2001, where the same pictures were on the TV screens in all the bars.

A recently published video by Sam Chui recalls the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, which took place five years ago and was – not only for Sam Chui but also for the author – the most outstanding airshow he has ever attended.

Report from the visit to Zagreb airport (Croatia) in June 2021.

Anyone who wants to spice up their next event or party with a real MiG-21 will find what they are looking for at the Dutch Abacus Theater, which offers a transportable MiG-21bis, obviously of Hungarian origin.

At the Czech Kunovice aviation museum (Letecké muzeum v Kunovicích), the elaborately restored MiG-21MF-75 5612 was presented to the public the day before yesterday.

New titles in the bibliography section.

After "Twitterisation" has spread in many areas of politics, it is now reaching the military sector, too. After the crash of the Indian MiG-21 last week, friends and relatives of the killed pilot launched a campaign under the hashtag #EndMiG21 with the aim of retiring the remaining MiG-21s. Even though there are no meaningful figures on Indian MiG-21 losses per flight hour, which makes comparison with other air forces impossible, two figures should at least allow a basic assessment. Years ago, the Indian website Bharat Rakshak determined a value of 0.83 to 1.07 per 10,000 flight hours for the losses of all types of the Indian Air Force between 1991 and 1998. In contrast, the manufacturer Lockheed Martin (certainly not impartial, but surely verifiable) states on its website 3.86 losses per 100,000 flight hours (ten times the reference value!) for US Air Force F-16s from introduction to fiscal year 2004. Thus the Indian losses are 2.15 to 2.77 times the American ones. And the Indian figures include all types flown at that time, i.e. also those that are supposedly much safer than the MiG-21. So it is not far-fetched to suspect that the problem is not called MiG-21 (the IAF's MiG-21 Bison are also comparatively new and completely upgraded) but has other causes ...

Today a ceremony at Batajnica airfield officially ended MiG-21 service with the Serbian Air Force (V i PVO). After the crash of MiG-21UM 16185 on September 26, 2020, Serbia no longer had an operational MiG-21, so today's event in the presence of the Minister of Defence and the commander of the V i PVO was merely a formality. For 58 years MiG-21s served in Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia respectively, and for just as long they operated from Batajnica. With the retirement in Serbia, Romania and Croatia remain the last MiG-21 operators in Europe.
Here is a review of the author's brief but intense involvement with the Serbian MiG-21s:

Yesterday a MiG-21 Bison of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in the Punjab region. The pilot was killed. This is the third crash of an Indian MiG-21 this year alone.

The Croatian daily Jutarni List has just reported that Croatia has chosen the French Dassault Rafale as successor to the MiG-21. The decision is to be announced on Armed Forces Day on May 28. If ordered this year, the first aircraft could be delivered in 2024.

As reported on the website of the Romanian Air Force, a MiG-21 LanceR C of Baza 71 Aeriană at Câmpia Turzii crashed during a training flight on Tuesday, April 20, at around 2.30 p.m. The incident occurred over uninhabited terrain near Dedrad (Deutsch-Zepling) in Mureș county. The pilot ejected safely.
According to as yet unconfirmed reports, the aircraft involved is 5917, seen here during flight preparation on the author's visit to Câmpia Turzii in 2018:



According to a press release of the Romanian Ministry of Defence, an incident occurred on Tuesday evening at Baza 71 Aeriană at Câmpia Turzii during the landing of a MiG-21 LanceR B due to a landing gear malfunction. As according to the release there was neither personal injury nor damage to property, it can be assumed that the landing gear could only be extended after several attempts. Pending clarification, MiG-21 flight operations – with the exception of QRA – were suspended.

150 years ago today, the German Empire was founded with the proclamation of King Wilhelm I of Prussia as German Emperor.
What does that have to do with the MiG-21 and the author? Quite simply: the foundations of our life in (relative) freedom and prosperity – and thus also of the involvement with this subject – were laid 150 years ago. That is worth remembering.

In recent weeks, numerous aviation and defence portals have reported that Vietnam plans to convert its MiG-21s, retired in 2015, into target drones for surface-to-air missiles. So far, however, no reliable source for this information could be found. According to available pictures, at least parts of the deactivated fleet were stored reasonably well protected. In addition, both the Soviet Union and China converted MiG-21s and J-7s into drones. In this respect, the alleged conversion project does not appear completely unrealistic.

20 years of MiG-21.de – Launched on December 22, 2000 as MiG-21Zone.de, this website can look back on 20 years today. The author has given up counting users and page views in the meantime, but it should at least be mentioned that the website has grown to more than 400 html pages and a good 4,500 pictures.
Due to the worldwide corona hysteria and the associated travel restrictions, only one new travel report was added this year, while at the same time the processing of the author's earlier aviation activities has been completed. And so the regular updating of this website ends with a review of a visit in 2009 to the place where it all began in 1988: the former Military Technical School and today's Federal Police Department Bad Düben.
In future – as in recent months – there will be current news on the MiG-21 here and of course, whenever possible, new travel reports by the author. In addition, one or other chapter of this website may be supplemented or changed. As the MiG-21 and its Chinese sister J-7 are still in service worldwide more than 60 years after the first flight and no end is in sight, there should be no shortage of material for this website ...

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is making another attempt to sell its MiG-21s, which have been stored since the early 1990s. The portal The War Zone reports on a corresponding offer on the website trade-a-plane.com. 20 aircraft are offered as a package, including 11 MiG-21bis, five MF and four UM two-seaters, as well as 15 engines and spare parts. The aircraft had already been offered to the author and other interested parties years ago. Given the low flight hours of these aircraft, the question arises why Nigeria did not opt for an upgrade like Mozambique, but instead procured new F-7s from China.

Yesterday the last MiG-21 Bison overhauled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to current plans (which have been changed repeatedly in recent years), the MiG-21 is to be replaced in the IAF by the indigenous HAL Tejas by 2022. Depending on the source, between 60 and 130 MiG-21s are currently still in service with the Indian Air Force.

According to reports from various domestic and foreign agencies, Romanian Defence Minister Nicolae Ciucă announced at a press conference in Bucharest the continued operation of the MiG-21 LanceR fleet for the foreseeable future. On the occasion of a visit by his counterpart from Portugal, from where the Romanian F-16s were procured, he held out the prospect of procuring further aircraft compatible with the existing ones (i.e. probably further F-16s) and at the same time confirmed the service life extension of the MiG-21, which is unavoidable given the slow delivery of the successor type. According to experts, the corresponding resources are available anyway.

Today the long-standing MiG-21 display pilot of the Romanian Air Force, Comandor Georghe GICA Stancu, made the last flight in his work tool. Unfortunately, the cancellation of this year's BIAS prevented a public farewell. The author fondly remembers the spectacular displays of the rather taciturn protagonist, among others at Erfurt, Paris and Kecskemét in 2008, at Otopeni in 2011, at Radom in 2015 and finally at Nörvenich and Bucharest in 2019.

Yesterday MiG-21UM 16185, probably the last-built MiG-21 of Soviet production, crashed in Serbia. Both pilots were killed in the crash. The aircraft with construction number 516999513 was completed at Tbilisi on December 1, 1986 and taken into service by the Yugoslav Air Force on the 26th of the same month.
Only in May of this year the commander of the Serbian Air Force had announced that the existing MiG-21s would remain in service until 2025. Of the three MiG-21UM two-seaters, the one that has now crashed was the only active one. So it cannot be ruled out that yesterday's disaster means the end of MiG-21 operations in Serbia.

Looking back: Report from a tour through Poland 2001.

Looking back: Report from the second factory visit to AEROSTAR Bacău (Romania) in November 2013.

Looking back: Report from the visit to Zagreb airport (Croatia) in April 2013.

New titles in the bibliography section.

Looking back: Report from the fourth factory visit to OdesAviaRemServis (Ukraine) in April 2011.

Looking back: Report from the visits to Batajnica airfield (Serbia) in March and November 2010.

Looking back: Report from the visit to Batajnica airfield (Serbia) in July 2009.

Looking back: Report from the third factory visit to OdesAviaRemServis (Ukraine) in 2009.

Looking back: Report from the factory visit to LOM PRAHA (Czech Republic) in January 2009.

Looking back: Report from the second factory visit to OdesAviaRemServis (Ukraine) in 2008.

Looking back: Report from the first factory visit to OdesAviaRemServis (Ukraine) in 2007.

Looking back: Report from the visit to Šiauliai airfield (Lithuania) in 2007.

Looking back: Report from the visit to Batajnica airfield (Serbia) in 2007.

New titles in the bibliography section.

The author congratulates Major General (ret.) Rumen Radev on his election as President of Bulgaria.



Today, with a farewell ceremony closed to the public, the more than 52-year service of the MiG-21 with the Bulgarian Air Force came to an end. The last two operational MiG-21bis and one MiG-21UM officially remain in the inventory until December 31 and then belong to the operational reserve, but will probably not fly again. Contrary to original promises, the author did not receive an invitation to the event, so he was unable to say goodbye to the aircraft and their technicians and pilots, whom he had seen in action almost as many times in the last 15 years. So the Bulgarian-Polish air policing in October was already the anticipated farewell – but one that will not be forgotten quickly. Otherwise, what remains are memories of eventful hours at Graf Ignatievo, Sofia and Krumovo, of manifold hospitality, thousands of beautiful photos and numerous travel reports: More will follow. The first is a report on several visits to the Krumovo aviation museum between 2000 and 2011.

New titles in the bibliography section.

Report from the exercise Dacian Viper 2012 at Câmpia Turzii (Romania).

10 years of MiG-21.de. Since the launch as MiG-21Zone.de on December 22, 2000, almost 1.2 million visitors have been counted. The website currently comprises more than 350 html pages and around 3,000 pictures.

50 years of MiG-21 in service: On March 5, 1960, the 32nd Guards Fighter Regiment (32 GvIAP) at Kubinka became the first operational unit to be equipped with the MiG-21. More on this in the author's publications in FLiEGERREVUE extra 27 and FLiEGERREVUE 03/2010 (in German).

Looking back: Since 1991 the author has visited a wide variety of aviation events, companies and museums at home and abroad. Pictures of these visits are available from 1993 onwards. The reports MAKS and Moscow 1993 and Elbe Flugzeugwerke Dresden 1993 open a loose series of articles on aviation events up to 2001. At that point the continuous reporting on MiG-21.de begins.

70th anniversary of formation of Experimental Design Bureau Mikoyan / Gurevich (OKB MiG).

MiG-21.de welcomes the 1.000.000th visitor.

Report from LAVEX 2009 Tripolis (Libya).

New title in the overview section of bibliography.

New title in the GDR section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New titles in the service and versions sections of bibliography.

New title in the overview section of bibliography.

New titles in the service and overview sections of bibliography.

New publication by the author published in Top Gun 06+07/2007.

Updated information on Namibia.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New title in the overview section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

New titles in the service and overview sections of bibliography.

New publication by the author published in Мир Авиации 02/2006.

New title in the GDR section of bibliography.

New titles in the service and GDR sections of bibliography.

MiG-21.de welcomes the 500.000th visitor.

New publication by the author published in FLiEGERREVUE extra 15.

New title in the overview section of bibliography.

MiG-21.de welcomes its 400,000th visitor.

MiG-21.de welcomes the 400.000th visitor.

Author's note: To slow down the increase of web space (with almost 3.000 pictures online) caused by the continous grow of MiG-21.de from now on all pictures are available in 300 x 200 pixels size only.

New titles in service (3) and armament sections of bibliography.

New title in the service section of bibliography.

50th anniversary of the MiG-21's first flight: On January 9, 1956, the Ye-5 became the first prototype to fly that combined the most important features of the production MiG-21 (delta wing, R11 engine).

50th aniversary of MiG-21's maiden flight: On Januar 9, 1956 the Ye-5 got airborne - the first prototype featuring all characteristics of the MiG-21 series (delta wing, R11 engine).

MiG-21.de welcomes the 300.000th visitor. Almost 1.7 Million hits were counted until today.

Report from CIAF Brno-Tuřany (Czechia).

New titles in versions and service sections of bibliography.

New chapter History.

MiG-21.de welcomes the 200.000th visitor. The number of hits exceeds 1.2 Millions.

New titles from Hungary and Poland in the bibliography section.

New articles by Michael Wegerich in the Album.

Report from CIAF Brno-Tuřany (Czechia).

New publication by the author published in FLUG REVUE 07/2004.

New publication by the author published in Air Forces Monthly 04/2004.

After the last flight of a MiG-21 with the 3. ELT at Poznan-Krzesiny took place on December 16, 2003 the official retirement ceremony of the Polish Air Force's MiG-21s took place on December 19th at 41. ELT Malbork. Until the end of January the MiG-21 will remain in QRA duty what makes final flights of Polish MiG-21 possible.

On December 12, 2003 the Czech government announced its decision for the JAS-39 Gripen which will replace the MiG-21. So the service of the MiG-21 with the Czech Air Force probably will end in summer 2005.

New publication by the author published in Soldat + Technik 11/2003.

MiG-21.de welcomes the 100.000th visitor since its launch
as MiG-21Zone.de on December 22, 2000. 700.000 hits were counted until today.

Report from Cooperative Key exercise in Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

Report from DOL exercise near Kliniska (Poland).

Report from MAKS in Zhukovsky near Moscow (Russia).

The Czech Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (VZLU) sells its MiG-21U flying test bed. For more information contact VZLU.

Last week the first upgraded MiG-21s arrived in Croatia. Deliveries are said to have comprised two MiG-21bis and a single MiG-21UM.

MiG-21 of the Croatian Air Force are currently upgraded in Romania at Aerostar Bacău. The aircraft involved are eight MiG-21bis from Croatian inventory and four MiG-21UM purchased by Aerostar from a yet unknown source.

New publication by the author published in FLUG REVUE 02/2003.

New publication by the author published in Cockpit 01/2003.

New publication by the author published in TRUPPENDIENST 1/2003.

New publication by the author published in Helico Revue 01/2003.

New publication by the author published in AVIA 01/2003.

New publication by the author published in letectví+kosmonautika 01/2003.

First pictures from Aero India Bangalore.

On January 30 the last flight of Polish Naval Aviation's MiG-21s took place. All operational aircraft were / are handed over to air force units at Malbork and Poznan.

New articles in the Album.

A formation flyby of eight aircraft on January 13 and a ceremony today, both at Lask airbase, Marchked the end of MiG-21MF's service with the Polish Air Force. Until the arrival of the F-16 the 10th ELT will fly the TS-11 Iskra.

The Romanian government cancelled all plans for upgrade of the MiG-29. The aircraft stored at Mihail Kogălniceanu are to be sold. The regiment based there gets MiG-21 LanceR. This means all combat units of the Romanian Air Force are equipped with that type.

Completely surprisingly and contrary to the original planning on December 23 flying service of the Slovak MiG-21s ended. The event took place without official solemnities and under exclusion of the public.

Report from CIAF Hradec Králové (Czechia).

Launch of this website as MiG-21zone.de.