This aircraft is on display at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona.

The MiG-21 is the most widely produced and used supersonic fighter ever with over 10,000 built since 1955.  The Fishbed was originally designed as a short-range interceptor to combat the B-52s and B-58s of the U.S. Air Force.  The later MiG-21PF version incorporated a better radar, and slightly longer range for use as an all-weather fighter.  The MiG-21, like its American counterpart the F-4 Phantom, does not have an internal gun and relies on missiles for air-to-air combat.  The MiG-21 was exported extensively to Soviet allies and client states many of whom still use the fighter for training.

Service History

Built for the Hungarian Air Force and delivered between 1964 and 1965.  It was retired by 1988.   It appears to have come into the collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps sometime in the early 1990s, but it is not known when it left Hungary.  The aircraft was placed on loan to the Pima Air and Space Museum by the National Museum of the Marine Corps in the year 2000.  In 2003, Pima placed it on loan to the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in Mesa, Arizona.

Manufacturer
MiG

Markings
Hungarian Air Force, ca 1980

Designation
MiG-21PF

Serial Number
507

The MiG-21 is the most widely produced and used supersonic fighter ever with over 10,000 built since 1955.  The Fishbed was originally designed as a short-range interceptor to combat the B-52s and B-58s of the U.S. Air Force.  The later MiG-21PF version incorporated a better radar, and slightly longer range for use as an all-weather fighter.  The MiG-21, like its American counterpart the F-4 Phantom, does not have an internal gun and relies on missiles for air-to-air combat. 

Service History

This aircraft was built in the Soviet Union as the second aircraft of the second batch of MiG-21PFs built.  It was delivered to the Polish Air Force on May 7, 1964 and was assigned to the 11^th Fighter Regiment.  This unit was later redesignated as the 9^th Fighter Regiment.  The aircraft was later moved to the 9^th Fighter Regiment at Lask, Poland.  It was retired from Polish service on March 23, 1989.

May 1991                    Sold to David Baskett of Santa Maria, California and registered as N21MF.

June 1991                    Sold to EDF Associates of Camarillo, California.

October 1998              Sold to Great Basin Aircraft Leasing Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada.

October 1998              Traded to Pima Air & Space Museum.

Manufacturer
MiG

Markings
Soviet Air Force, 1967

Designation
MiG-21PF

Registration
N21MF

Serial Number
2410