Strana 51
MiG-21MF, 10th Tactical Squadron, Lask AB, Poland, 2001-2003
MiG-21SM, 812th UAP, Kharkov Higher Military Academy, Kupyansk AB,
the Soviet Union, August 1991
MiG-21MF, Jagdfliegergeschwader 3, Preschen AB,
German Democratic Republic, 1990
At the turn of the century, Poland began to
reequip its air force, moving from Soviet (and
later Russian) aircraft to American equipment,
namely Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.
One of the MiG-21MFs that were, at the time,
nearing the end of their service life was the
No. 7809, serving with the 10th Tactical Squadron.
This unit was based at Lask Air Base between
2001 and 2003.
This aircraft, adorned with a shark mouth
and eyes, served with the 812th UAP (Training
Regiment), operating within the structure of
the Kharkov higher military academy. This
MiG-21SM was among the aircraft displayed
during the open house day on August 18, 1991.
Red ‘687’ was assigned to JG-3 based at
Preschen air base near the town of Forst
through the eighties and into the nineties. At that
time, the unit operated MiG-21MFs as well as
MiG-29s, and pilots also had MiG-21UM and
MiG-29UB available for training flights. The unit,
which was part of the air force of the German
Democratic Republic, also known as East
Germany, was graced with the name ‘Wladimir
Komarow’, in honor of the Soviet cosmonaut who
died on April 24, 1967, during the landing after
return from the orbit in the Soyuz 1 capsule. This
aircraft is part of the collection of the Deutsches
Museum Flugwerft in Oberschleissheim.
KITS 04/2026
INFO Eduard
51
April 2026