Hungarian Shark

Text: Vladimír Šulc

Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz

Cat. No. 2151

The Hungarian MiG-21bis Model 75A, with the serial number 75061904 and the fuselage number 1904, was repainted in its famous anti-camouflage livery in 1992. This colour scheme was originally intended to represent enemy aircraft during combat training exercises. Around this time, aircraft 1904 became part of the Sky Hussars aerobatic team. It bore the logo of the Camel tobacco company on the side of the fuselage and in several other places, and due to the shark's mouth on the nose it was named Cápeti ('Shark') and presented at an air show in Taszár.

It took part in a number of other air shows and, in 1993, its paintwork was restored, giving the aircraft a slightly different look. In the same year, the Sky Hussars performed at the International Air Tattoo in Fairford, UK, probably the most famous performance in the group's history. The International Air Tattoo was first held in Fairford in 1993 and has been held there annually ever since. Until then, it had been held every two years since 1971. That memorable year, the Slovak Biele Albatrosy also took part in the event alongside other famous aerobatic groups. The newly formed Czech Republic was represented by Su-25Ks from the 30th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Pardubice.

The Sky Hussars performed their final demonstration in Kecskemét on 6 August 1993. Following their decommissioning, the Shark 1904 ended up in the aviation museum in Szolnok. Although it was completely renovated, the museum's livery differs in detail from the original design. The Shark's mouth, gills and eyes are different; it has different insignia on the tail and wings; the font used for the pilot and technician's names is different; and most importantly, there are no labels. The aircraft in the kit represents the second colour scheme of the 1904 aircraft, as it appeared at Fairford.

If you are surprised by the high mountains in the background of the MiG-21bis box art, don't expect to see an air show in the foothills of the Alps or Scandinavia. This is artistic licence on the part of the title image's author, Piotr Forkasiewicz. Unlike the cover images of the Profipack and Weekend series, where we aim to depict real historical events and combat scenes realistically, the Limited series is different. In this series, the background and scene are fictional and neutral, and the focus is solely on the colour scheme of the aircraft. The mountains are therefore mainly in the picture to make it look better. The image gains drama and dynamism, and that's what counts!