Strana 43
Air Test Department, Czech Air Force, Čáslav Air Base,
Czech Republic, 1994
353 izviđačka eskadrila (353rd Reconnaissance Air Squadron), Ratno vazduhoplovstvo
i protivvazdušna odbrana, Zelyava Air Base, Yugoslavia, 1971
263 Independent Reconnaissance Air Squadron, Soviet Air Force,
Kabul Airfield, Afghanistan, 1981
The appearance of the MiG-21R No. 1501
(s/n 94R001501) changed many times during
its service in the Czechoslovak and Czech
Air Force. Delivered in natural metal finish, it
served in that form until general overhaul when
a green and brown camouflage was applied. The
black and white checkerboard on the rudder and
triangles on the nose were painted afterwards.
The aircraft was delivered to Czechoslovakia
in January 1969 and was flown by the
47th Reconnaissance Air Regiment till 1993. In
1994, after overhaul, it was flown by the 28th
Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment for a short period
and then used by the Air Test Department (also
known as 'Stress Flight') during late 1994 and
1995. The 47th Recce Air Regiment unit badge
– a jackal head – is painted on the port side of
the nose. The nickname of ground personnel
member DOKTOR is painted on the canopy frame.
Currently, the aircraft is preserved in Prague-
Kbely Air Museum.
The Yugoslav Air Force purchased a dozen
MiG-21Rs from the Soviet Union. These were
delivered either in 1968 or 1969 and served under
the local type designation L-14I. The first user
of Aircraft 26104 was the 126 Reconnaissance
Squadron that flew all of the Yugoslav MiG-21Rs.
This Squadron was a part of the 204 Fighter Air
Regiment. The next users of this aircraft were
the 352 and 353 Reconnaissance Squadrons,
before it was scrapped at Kraljevo. The white
lightning appeared on the nose during “Sloboda”
military exercise in 1971.
Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan,
recce aircraft appeared at local airfields. The
263 Independent Reconnaissance Air Squadron
(ORAE) moved to Afghanistan in early January
1980 and found its home at Bagram and
Kandahar air bases. The squadron began to fly
their aircraft from Kabul in late April 1980 and
stayed there till 1984. The MiG-21R depicted was
one of the recce aircraft that operated from this
air base. The camouflage scheme was created
to match the appearance of the local landscape.
Many Soviet aircraft flown in Afghanistan were
equipped with chaff and flare dispensers. These
could be carried by this specific aircraft as well,
however they are not visible in photographs.
KITS 04/2026
INFO Eduard
43
April 2026