Markings for EFKA 1/48
COL A
MiG-21F-13, c/n 269903, Air Force Training Center, Milovice-Mladá AB, Czechoslovakia, 1962-1966
Four MiG-21Fs arrived at the Vodochody factory in a so-called “scattered” state, i.e., in various stages of completion, for the purpose of mastering production at Czech manufacturing plant. This series differed from later production aircraft in the canopy part behind the cockpit. After the start of serial production, this aircraft, together with others from the “scattered” series, was handed over to the Air Force Training Center at Milovice-Mladá Airport. Later, it served with the 9 Air Force Regiment in Bechyně. It ended its service in Czechoslovak air force on October 13, 1973, when it was donated to Syria. The atypical rounded font of the fuselage numbers is only documented on aircraft with fuselage numbers up to 0109. This font was probably created during repairs at the Air Repair Workshop Kbely. The aircraft which underwent later repairs featured square divided numbers with rounded corners.
COL B
MiG-21F-13, c/n 660416, 1 Fighter Air Regiment, České Budějovice AB, Czechoslovakia, 1968-1970
Czechoslovak political changes in the spring of 1968 were also reflected in the coloring of some of MiG-21Fs. Members of the 1 Air Force Regiment in České Budějovice took the initiative to design their own squadron insignia. While the insignia for the MiG-21PF and PFM all-weather and night interception squadrons featured nocturnal creatures, specifically a bat and an owl, the symbol chosen for the first training squadron was a devil with a pitchfork against a clear blue sky. The author of the design was Miloslav Martenek, later known for his cartoons and illustrations. The inspiration for the drawing was the strict squadron commander, Major Jan Jansa. It was said that serving under him was hell. His red nose was also an inspiration for the devil drawing. All designs were approved on May 17, 1968, and subsequently spray-painted onto the aircraft. The same symbol also appeared in a smaller form as a decal on the pilots’ helmets. The devil drawing was used until August 20, 1970, when an order was issued to remove all such symbols. The aircraft served until 1983 with the 1. Air Regiment in České Budějovice, then between 1983 and 1991 with the 5 Air Regiment in Plzeň-Líně, and in 1991 it ended its service with the 1 Air Training Regiment in Přerov.
COL C
MiG-21FR, c/n 061002, 3 Flight, 5 Fighter Air Regiment, Plzeň-Líně AB, Czechoslovakia, 1972-1987
The 5. Air Force Unit emblem consisted of four colored fields inspired by the emblem of the city of Pilsen with a dog’s head in the center. The whole emblem was complemented by a red star. In this form, it survived the “normalization” tightening of conditions, and therefore this emblem was also drawn on the newly introduced MiG-21F. The same emblem was later applied to the new MiG-21MFs and is also documented on the MiG-21F 0711 after a major overhaul in 1974. The aircraft with the fuselage number 1002 was one of two that Major Jaroslav Krýda managed to land despite malfunctioning engine. The red-painted tip of vertical stabilizer and red elevator tips reveal its affiliation with the 3 Squadron of the 5 Air Regiment. The aircraft’s service in the Czechoslovak Air Force ended on November 25, 1987, with 1,205 hours and five minutes of flight time. Throughout its service life, 1002 was operated in Líně by the 5 Air Regiment.
COL D
MiG-21FR, c/n 061013, 5 Fighter Air Regiment, Plzeň-Líně AB, Czechoslovakia, 1979-1989
The MiG-21FR with fuselage number 1013 was one of ten aircraft that received experimental LERAN camouflage at the end of a mid-life overhaul in 1979. The aim was to reduce visibility to the enemy in combat conditions. The aircraft bore a small emblem on the nose with the silhouette of a MiG-21 and branches. Originally, it was supplemented with the inscription “In socialist care.” The aircraft’s service in the Czechoslovak Air Force ended on April 19, 1989, with a flight to the Military Aviation Museum in Prague-Kbely. Due to its unsuitable location in the outdoor exhibition, its camouflage was irreparably damaged. The aircraft’s total flight time in the Czechoslovak Air Force was 1,086 hours and 15 minutes.
COL E
MiG-21F-13, c/n 560316, 2 Flight, 9 Fighter Air Regiment, Bechyně AB, Czechoslovakia, 1970
The devil drawings on both sides of the nose of MiG-21F 0316 was created as pure folk art, not as a unit insignia. The aircraft returned from overhaul at the division repair shop in Líně AB in 1970 with these drawings on both sides of the nose. It was probably a prank by someone at the repair shop. The brush-painted drawings did not last long, but the members of the Bechyně squadron were happy to carry out several flight operations with the aircraft decorated in this way. The MiG-21F itself served in Bechyně from 1965 to 1985, after which it was transferred to Pardubice. The aircraft’s service in the Czechoslovak Air Force ended on April 12, 1990, with a total flight time of 1,657 hours.
COL F
MiG-21F-13, c/n 460110, Air Force Training Center, Milovice-Mladá AB, Czechoslovakia, 1964-1965
Some sources state that in this form, supplemented with red washable paint, Lt. Col. Rostislav Luska performed a solo aerobatic display at an air show in Sliač on August 29, 1964, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising. However, film footage shows that at that time, 0110 was still without red paint. It was apparently applied in 1965, when Lt. Col. Luska performed with the red 0110 in April at Sliač and in June during the Spartakiad. MiG-21F 0110 first flew at the Air Force Training Center and was then used to rearm the second squadron in Bechyně. The 0110 aircraft itself was not the luckiest one. After a first fire on the ground on October 4, 1970, it was repaired at Air Repairs Kbely on June 4, 1971. However, it did not escape fire in the end, as it burned down on the tarmac in July 1977, and this fire also damaged the adjacent 0613.
COL G
MiG-21FR, c/n 161105, 3 Flight, 4 Fighter Air Regiment, Pardubice AB, Czechoslovakia, May 1975
The aerial part of the parade on May 9, 1975, was led by the command Tu-134A 1407, accompanied on each side by a pair of Pardubice MiG-21Fs from the 3 Squadron of the 4 Air Force Regiment. The formation took off from Pardubice Airport, and a color documentary film entitled “Conduct a Flyover” was made about the entire event. The Pardubice unit received the honorary title of Slovak National Uprising Unit for organizing the air show. Probably for color harmonization with the Tu-134A transport aircraft, the MiG-21s were equipped with pale blue marking details with washable paints. The aircraft was modified to a reconnaissance version and its operation in the Czechoslovak Air Force was terminated on December 22, 1987, with 1,234 flight hours.
COL H
MiG-21F-13, c/n 760609, 1. Fighter School Regiment, Přerov AB, Czechoslovakia, 1989-1991
The aircraft, originally intended for export to Egypt, ultimately remained in Czechoslovakia. For the first two years, it served in Bechyně with the 9 Air Regiment, but most of the time it served in Líně with the 5 Air Regiment. After a general overhaul in 1988, it flew in Přerov with the 1 Air Force Regiment. The emblem combining the Moravian and Silesian eagles was created in September and October 1989, when the regiment was supposed to train Algerian pilots with the 3 Squadron in Mošnov and was intended to stylize the connection between Přerov and Mošnov. The training of Algerian pilots ultimately took place in Přerov, and the emblem was not spread to other aircraft. The aircraft’s service in the Czechoslovak Air Force ended on March 21, 1991, with 1,733 flight hours.