When all is said and
done, the IAF will almost certainly be remembered as the greatest exponent of
the MiG 21. Indeed when you say you
flew ‘migs’ in the IAF you mean the MiG 21 and not any of the 23s, 25s, 27s
or 29s. At its peak the IAF fielded
some 550 MiG 21s. From the earliest
1963 PF version to the latest Bis Upgrade, MiG-21s have formed a credible
detterent and a large chunk of the IAF’s fleet.
Considered a potent machine with each subsequent modification along the
60s-70s and 80s, the latest upgrade also known as the MiG 21-93 has finally
remedied the lack of a capable avionics/radar/EW/BVR weapon capability sorely
missed on the earlier versions.
So here is my
tribute to this fantastic machine. These
are the famous FL version-C991 in the 1971 war scheme, the MF version in one of
two camouflage schemes that were used on the MiG (the other version simply
replaced the sand yellow with ocean grey) in the markings of 37 sqn the “Black
Panthers” and three 490 l tanks. Then
the standard Bis in the air superiority grey of the eighties with a shark mouth
from 32 sqn and armed with two R-13Rs and two 490L tanks.
Finally the Bis Upgrade also called the Bison???.
This machine is armed with two R-77 RVV-AE AMRAAMSKIs and two R-73E close
combat missiles. The serial is of the first of two machines converted in
Russia.
The main differences
are in the new single piece windscreen, bubbled hood to accommodate the helmet
mounted sight (no rear view periscope here) chaff and flare canisters on the
wing roots and RWR antennae on the fin top.
The ac is painted in the new all grey scheme which is a shade darker than
the earlier grey of the Bis.
Polly
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