KITS 07/2021

MiG-21bis, HävLLv 31, Suomen ilmavoimat, Kuopio-Rissala AB, Finland, 1980

The newest version of the MiG-21, the “bis”, was purchased to the tune of twenty-six pieces by the Finnish Air Force in the latter

half of the seventies. The first aircraft were delivered in 1978, and at the beginning of the eighties, these aircraft began to be

westernized. The process included a new instrument panel and radio equipment compatible with those of west European aircraft. The aircraft coded MG-130 was delivered to Finland on July 17th, 1980, and its westernization was conducted during 1982.

It made its last flight on March 7th, 1998, and it can currently be seen on the roof terrace of the Verkkokauppa Oy Shopping Center in Helsinki. At the beginning of the eighties, MG-130 carried the camouflage scheme in which it was delivered from the Soviet

Union, i.e. brown and green on the upper and side surfaces, while the lower surfaces in light grey.

MiG-21bis, C2283, No.3 Squadron „Cobras“, Pathankot AB, India, early ´90s

C2283 displays a unique combination of camouflage scheme and colorful ID markings. The unit personnel named their aircraft

after snakes, among which “Rattler”, “Mamba” and “Cobra” are known. The dorsal section of the fuselage was taken from another

MiG-21bis, probably from a “Mamba”. The history of No.3 Squadron goes back to October 1941, when the unit was activated in

Peshawar, equipped with the Hawker Audax. During the second half of the Twentieth Century, the unit took part in every conflict

that India was involved in with neighboring states. The No.3 Squadron used the MiG-21bis from July 1980 to 2002, when it was

re-equipped with the modernized MiG-21 “Bison”.

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eduard

INFO Eduard - July 2021