That the signs of the times point to farewell for the European MiG-21s has become more than clear at the latest since last year's Croatian decision to procure the Rafale as successor and the Romanian suspension of MiG-21 flight operations, followed by limited continued use, at the beginning of this year. Add to that the still not subsided corona hysteria, which hangs like a sword of Damocles over every trip, and finally the war in Ukraine, which makes access to anything military more difficult and in Zagreb means that even previously granted photography permits are no longer valid. Nevertheless (or precisely because of this), in June 2022 the author decided on another trip to the last reasonably accessible MiG-21 base in Europe. As expected, the results fall short of those of previous years, but at least a year without MiG-21s has been prevented.
The start is – traditionally – a visit to a displayed MiG-21. For lack of new targets nearby, it is the restored 102 at ZTZ Velika Gorica.
On the premises of the maintenance company, a CL-415 can also be seen, which is there for overhaul.
Two pair take-offs are announced for 10 a.m. and 11.20 a.m., and almost to the minute the two-seaters 164 and 166 take off, although the author unfortunately misses the latter completely. Because of the great distance from which the pictures have to be taken due to the photography ban in force, the results remain modest.
Hoping that the aircraft would land from the same side as last year, the author stays put and thus misses the touchdown on the opposite side :-(. In the meantime ...
... a few snapshots of other flying objects ...
... help to shorten the wait for the second round.
This wave takes off a few minutes later than planned, and while the first aircraft comes out somewhat better in the picture, ...
... the second can only be seen going away. As the MiGs are already coming in to land when the author finally reaches the other side of the runway, there are again no pictures of the landing.
Two single take-offs 10 minutes apart are announced for the afternoon. The first aircraft takes off considerably earlier than planned. So as not to miss the landing this time, ...
... immediately after its take-off ...
... there is a change to the other side. After a few test shots at civil traffic ...
... the first MiG-21UMD lands again, ...
... closely followed by another airliner ...
... and the second aircraft. Even if the light is not optimal, at least frame-filling pictures succeed thanks to a more favourable position.
On the way back to the car, one of the new Croatian UH-60 helicopters appears. The even less favourable light, however, only allows a "documentary shot".
On the second day on site there are to be only single take-offs, and so after the take-off of the first aircraft, photographed at the edge of a nearby road, ...
... it is straight to the other side, which promises better pictures. However, the weather conditions are worse and the clouds denser.
Pleasingly, the second aircraft is a MiG-21bisD, which rounds off the yield, and so it is not difficult for the author to get into the car immediately after its landing and drive home, where he arrives without major delays about eight hours later.
