All about the Russian MiG-21 Jet Fighter, Models, Books, DVD Videos, Software.

All about the MiG-21 Fishbed Russian Military Aircraft Pictures, Scale Model Airplanes, Russian Fighter Jets, books and DVD Movies.

The "Mikoyan OKB", was founded in 1939 on Leningradskiy Shassi (highway) with a series of buildings and a small factory for use in building prototypes. The OKB was at first, as the title implies, strictly an R&D facility that built prototypes. The Mikoyan flight test center is located at Zhukovskiy (called Ramenskoye, or abbreviated "RAM" by western intelligence and used in the intelligence designation of new aircraft such as "RAM-K", "RAM-J", etc.) and at Volga, on the Crimean peninsula, and other facilities on a temporary basis. There has always been the question of why did the US intell organizations recognize Ramenskoye as the name of the test facility when the Russians have always addressed it as Zhukovskiy. When the facility first opened the town of Ramenskoye was the nearest population center. There was a worker's construction camp, named Zhukovskiy, that eventually grew into a larger town and became the nearest population center and official Russian name for the facility.

Read the descriptions of the MiG airplane models, and books and videos about the MiG Aircraft below and learn a lot more. This page also contains software and aviation art prints of these MiG aircraft.

General Designer and recognized academician, Rostislav Apollosovich Belyakov, took over the MiG Bureau in 1970 following the death of its founder, Anushavan "Artyom" Ivanovich Mikoyan (05Aug1905-09Dec1970). This was made possible because of Mikhail Iosifovich Gurevich's (12. Jan 1893-12. Nov 1976) retirement in 1964. Belyakov was a graduate of the Moscow Aviation Institute during World War II. He received a State Prize for design excellence in 1951, and was chief designer of the MiG-23 during the 1960's. Belyakov ran the Mikoyan establishment with four Chief Designers, of which Mikhail Romanovich Waldenberg and Anatoly Andreevich Belosvet were the most known in the west, and fourteen deputy Chief Designers. A new Department of Foreign Economic Relations was formed under Leonid Borisovich Leshchiner and his immediate deputy, Yuri Petrovich Golovin, and chartered to work with all of the potential export customers.

These names are mentioned because they show up regularly at the major international air shows and exhibitions. The "Mikoyan OKB", was founded in 1939 on Leningradskiy Shassi (highway) with a series of buildings and a small factory for use in building prototypes. The OKB was at first, as the title implies, strictly an R&D facility that built prototypes. The Mikoyan flight test center is located at Zhukovskiy (called Ramenskoye, or abbreviated "RAM" by western intelligence and used in the intelligence designation of new aircraft such as "RAM-K", "RAM-J", etc.) and at Volga, on the Crimean peninsula, and other facilities on a temporary basis. There has always been the question of why did the US intell organizations recognize Ramenskoye as the name of the test facility when the Russians have always addressed it as Zhukovskiy. When the facility first opened the town of Ramenskoye was the nearest population center. There was a worker's construction camp, named Zhukovskiy, that eventually grew into a larger town and became the nearest population center and official Russian name for the facility.

The Mikoyan OKB could hand tool up no more than two prototypes at one time and usually there were strict security precautions in place. Aircraft manufacturing for flight test articles would move to two production facilities, the closest of which was the Moscow Aircraft Production Organization No. 30 (MAPO), known also as the GAZ-30 plant. The second was the Nizhny Novgorod State Aircraft Plant or the "Znamya Truda" (Banner of Labor) factory which eventually re-organized under the corporate name of Sokol.

The MAPO facility is located in Moscow proper, on Botkinski Street, at the Khodinka bus stop. It is the oldest aircraft production facility in Russia, first utilized in 1909. During 1939, it was redesigned the State Aircraft Works No. 1. Today the factory is still run under Plant Director General Anatoly Sergyevich Manuyev who reports to Mikoyan's Chief Designer Waldenberg and Russian Air Force Plant Representative Colonel Viktor Isayenko. Note that Lenin's glass covered and pressurized casket was built here after his death in 1924.

MAPO employed at its peak up to 30,000 people with an additional 3,000 for non-aviation related production items. It covers over 618 acres of land and space. Production of the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, and MiG-29 aircraft were all centered at this facility. Flight certification and delivery flights are conducted from Lukhovitsy airfield, which is close by and today occasionally hosts an international air display.

Once the aircraft are in production, the OKB is responsible for designing improvements based on requests and reports from the operational units designated by the air force. The overall design process is done in close collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation Industry (MAP), its Research Institutes (such as TsAGI the aero center), and the military customer. Flight Testing is done in three stages, "plant testing" (no military) at Zhukovskiy, "design testing" (with a mix of military pilots) at environmental facilities all over the country, and "state testing" (extensive military participation) at designated military installations where the aircraft become certified for use by the Air Forces.

During a visit to colleges and defense plants in the United States, Rostislav A. Belyakov candidly voiced his opinions on the objectives and lessons learned from the MiG-29 development program and they were published in "Some Aspects of the MiG Aircraft Development", Mikoyan Design Bureau, 1989.

Russian MiG-21 Fishbed Model Aircraft. All prices are subject to change without notice, click on item for the latest price.
	MiG-21MF 1/72 Die Cast Model Czech Air Force, Test Squadron "Stress Team" Pre Built Diecast Aircraft Model. Replicating the export version of the MiG-21 in exquisite detail, this 1/72 scale die cast model - made by Hobby Master, the best in the business - features engraved panel lines, a detailed cockpit with a perfectly uniformed pilot and an optional-position canopy, wing-mounted missiles and fuel tanks, optional-position landing gear with real rubber tires, the markings of the Czech Air Force's "Stress Team" test/air show squadron, and more. Measures 8½" long and includes a display stand. #0098076 Price: $29.95
	MiG-21MF 1/72 Die Cast Model Fayid Air Force Base, Egypt, 1981 Pre Built Diecast Model. Replicating the export version of the MiG-21 in exquisite detail, this 1/72 scale die cast model - made by Hobby Master, the best in the business - features engraved panel lines; a detailed cockpit with a perfectly uniformed pilot and an optional-position canopy; wing-mounted missiles and fuel tanks; a centerline cannon; optional-position landing gear and air brakes; a beautifully painted Egyptian Air Force camouflage scheme with orange IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) panels that were added when tensions with Libya increased in 1981; and more. 8½" long; includes a display stand. #0098059 Price: $27.95
	MiG-21MF 1/72 Die Cast Model Iraqi Air Force, No. 681 Pre Built Diecast Model Replicating the export version of the MiG-21 in exquisite detail, this 1/72 scale die cast model is made by Hobby Master, the best there is. You get engraved panel lines, a detailed cockpit with a perfectly uniformed pilot and an optional-position canopy, wing-mounted missiles and fuel tanks, a centerline cannon, optional-position landing gear and air brakes, and the Iraqi Air Force camouflage scheme that was painted on the craft that, in 1983, shot down an F-14 during the Iran-Iraq War. 8½" long; includes a display stand. #0098012 Price: $27.95
	MiG-21MF 1/72 Die Cast Model Luftwaffe, JG 1 Pre Built Diecast Display Model. Replicating the export version of the MiG-21 in exquisite detail, this 1/72 scale die cast model - made by Hobby Master, the best in the business - features engraved panel lines, a detailed cockpit with a perfectly uniformed pilot and an optional-position canopy, wing-mounted missiles and fuel tanks, a centerline cannon, optional-position landing gear and air brakes, a wonderfully painted East German camouflage scheme that includes the shark mouth markings of JG 1 from 1990, and more. 8½" long; includes a display stand. #0098001 Price: $26.95
	MiG-21 PFM 1/72 Die Cast Model 927th "Lam Son," Vietnam People's Air Force. Pre Built Diecast Model Aircraft Replicating a Soviet-built MiG-21 "Fishbed" that fought against the F-4 Phantom II in North Vietnam, this limited edition 1/72 scale die cast model features engraved panel lines; a clear canopy; wing-mounted armament; an aerial refueling probe; optional-position landing gear; authentic 927th "Lam Son," Vietnamese People's Air Force markings from 1972; a display stand; and more. Measures 8" long with a 4" wingspan and includes a display stand. #0091849 Price: $39.95
	J-7D 1/72 Die Cast Model Chinese PLAAF Pre Built Diecast Model Airplane. Replicating a Chinese J-7D, which was reverse-engineered from a MiG-21MF, this 1/72 scale die cast model - made by Hobby Master, the best in the business - features engraved panel lines, a detailed cockpit with a perfectly uniformed pilot and an optional-position canopy, wing-mounted missiles and fuel tanks, optional-position landing gear with real rubber tires, a beautifully applied People's Liberation Army Air Force night fighter paint scheme, and more. Measures 8½" long and includes a display stand. #0098080 Price: $29.95
	MiG-21 PF Fishbed D 1/48 Kit Plastic Model Airplane Kit. An all-weather fighter designed for air superiority, this MiG was once the most widely used aircraft in the world. Plastic kit requires assembly. ....#0009240 $24.95
	MiG-21 MF 1/48 Scale Model Kit Plastic Model Airplane Kit One of the most produced and widely used jet fighters ever, the MiG-21MF variant features an upgraded engine, improved avionics and more versatile weapons capability. Plastic kit features recessed panel lines; detailed cockpit with ejection seat, instrument panel, and more; realistic wheel wells and landing gear including gear door linkages; optional position canopy, flaps and speed break; assorted weapons and choice of markings. 142 pieces; assembly required. .....#0090691 $24.95

*Russian MiG-21 Fishbed Aircraft Books.*
	Mikoyan MiG-21 Hardbound Book Gordon. Entering service in 1959, the MiG-21 "Fishbed" was one of the most successful of all Soviet-era jet fighters, seeing service with air forces worldwide. This definitive history provides a detailed description of every member of the MiG-21 family, from the Ye-2 development aircraft to the latest distant relatives of the Fishbed developed in China, and presents their combat experiences from Vietnam to the Middle East and Africa. 512 pages; 600 B&W and color photographs, line drawings, and color profiles; fleets lists; and more. 8½"x 11", hardcover. #0011099 Price: $62.95
	Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed Warbird Tech Vol. 45 Softbound Book. Gordon & Davison. The MiG-21 Fishbed, a light weight air-combat fighter, is the world's most produced aircraft since World War II, with more than 12,000 manufactured for service in 56 air forces. Here, you'll get a detailed look at its design, including all upgrades and variants; development history; systems and structures; armament; operations; and combat record. 104 pages; 250 B&W and 50 color photographs, many previously unpublished; technical diagrams; and more. 8½"x 11", softcover. #0011273 Price: $16.95
	MiG-21 Fishbed Walk Around Part 1. Softbound Book. Stapfer. This is a detailed look at early variants of the widely employed MiG-21 series (NATO code name Fishbed), which were very successful point defense interceptors and tactical fighters for the Soviet Union and its clients in the late 1950s and early 1960s. You get 80 pages with 40 pages of color, extensive internal and external photography of the plane and its systems, 12 color profiles and more. 11"x 8¼", softcover. #0030166 Price: $16.95
	MiG-21 Fishbed Walk Around Part 2. Softbound Book. Stapfer. Continues the coverage begun in Volume 1 with a detailed inside and out look at the third and fourth generation MiG-21s, which featured improved performance for both the Soviet Air Force and for export from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. So good were these aircraft that large numbers remain in service even today. 80 pages with 40 pages of color, 12 color profiles, 11"x 8¼", softcover. #0030167 Price: $16.95
	Warsaw Pact Air Forces. Softbound Book. Stapfer. After WWII, the Warsaw pact was a powerful Soviet-dominated military instrument facing off against NATO in the Cold War. But in 1991, as relations thawed, the Warsaw pact alliance was officially disbanded. This book is a pictorial history of the air forces of that historical alliance from 1955 on. 64 pgs., 275 color and B&W photos, color profiles, and more. 8½"x 11", sfbd. #0004158 Price: $12.95
	MiG-21 "Fishbed." Softbound Book. No longer available. Gordon & Gunston. The MiG-21 is unquestionably one of the greatest fighters of the post-WWII era, and was Russia's first operational Mach 2 interceptor. The files of the MiG design bureau and other previously inaccessible sources reveal the secrets of the fighter that has flown and fought in more countries than any other supersonic jet. 144 pgs. 335 B&W and 46 color photos, color plates and scale plans 8½"x 11", sfbd. #0002175
	MiG-21 Units of Vietnam War. Combat Aircraft Vol. 29. Toperczer. Having honed their skills on the MiG-17 and MiG-19, pilots of the Vietnamese People's Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in late 1965. Soon in combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped "Fishbed" proved a deadly opponent for the U.S. crews striking communist targets. Indeed, by the time the last U.S. aircraft was claimed by a VPAF fighter in late 1972, 13 pilots had achieved ace status. Well over 200 MiG-21s were supplied to the VPAF, and the numerous models, and the schemes they wore, are chronicled in great detail in this unique volume. 96 pgs., 89 B&W and 18 color photos, 18 color profiles, and more, 7¼"x 9¾", sfbd. #0006167 Price: $20.95
	Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units. Combat Aircraft Vol. 44. Nicolle. The MiG-21 provided the backbone of frontline Egyptian, Syrian and Iraqi air combat strength for many years and was the Arabs' best hope for challenging Israeli air supremacy. Combining material from official sources, private collections and interviews, this is a detailed history that also includes numerous previously unpublished photos. 96 pgs., 99 B&W and 6 color photos, 39 color profiles, line drawings and more. 7¼"x 9¾", sfbd. #0015159 Price: $20.95

Russian Air Force MiG-21 Fishbed DVD Videos
	Secret Superpower Aircraft Set 4 - DVD Documentary Set For nearly half a century, the USSR and the U.S. engaged in the dangerous battle for hearts, minds and power known as the Cold War. In the name of deterrence and defense, they assembled the most advanced and powerful militaries in history. Now, this series examines the airplanes involved, introducing and interviewing the designers and pilots and detailing the advances that propelled aviation into the future. 50 minutes each. Bombers When waves of massive Soviet "Bison" bombers flew over stunned guests at a Moscow air show, it prompted a rapid response from the West, which was unaware that the impressive display was the result of just 18 circling prototypes. As the bomber war heated up, both sides deployed innovation and propaganda in seemingly equal measure. Now, you can tour the Cold War command centers of both sides and see how the dream of constant deterrence powered the development of some of the most successful planes in history. (V9137) Fighters See Moscow's 1952 revelation that its fighter jets were outdated lead to a reorganization of air defenses and the MiG-21, learn why a revolutionary Canadian fighter was abruptly cancelled, and discover how fighter defenses over the U.S. were left to Korean War vintage F-86 Sabres well into the 1950s as you watch each new Cold War fighter design inspire the other side to ever greater accomplishments. (V9138) Quest for Vertical Take-Off Military planners are obsessed with the vulnerability of airstrips, and the answer to this threat is the ability to fly without them. Enter the VTOL (vertical take off and landing) airplane, which Russia and the U.S. worked for decades to perfect. Here, you'll review the full history, from World War II Nazi designs through early U.S. efforts such as the "Pogo" to the versatile and successful Harrier Jump-Jet. (V9139) Spy Planes Armed only with cameras, they flew higher, faster and farther. They had names such as Neptune, RB-57D, U-2, RB-57F, and SR-71 Blackbird. This program tells the tales of these extraordinary creations, detailing their missions and introducing the pioneers who made it all possible. From unforgettable encounters to cancelled projects, this is the complete story of a high-stakes, high-high-altitude battle. (V9140) Buy All Four DVDs, Save $20! #00V7000 Price: $79.80
	Hell Over Hanoi Dogfights - DVD Documentary In this gut-gripping episode, computer graphics, animation and archival footage put you in the cockpit for some of the fiercest dogfights ever seen over Vietnam! American F4 Phantom pilots Fred Olmsted and Dan Cherry tell you how they took on the famed MiG-21 - the most feared threat in the sky - while Steve Ritchie shows you how he became the only U.S. Air Force ace of the Vietnam War. So strap in, spool up, and hit the afterburner: you're going MiG hunting! 50 minutes. #00V9144 Price: $24.95
	Fighters Secret Superpower Aircraft - DVD Documentary For nearly half a century, the USSR and the U.S. engaged in the dangerous battle for hearts, minds and power known as the Cold War. In the name of deterrence and defense, they assembled the most advanced and powerful militaries in history. Now, this series examines the airplanes involved, introducing and interviewing the designers and pilots and detailing the advances that propelled aviation into the future. Fighters See Moscow's 1952 revelation that its fighter jets were outdated lead to a reorganization of air defenses and the MiG-21, learn why a revolutionary Canadian fighter was abruptly cancelled, and discover how fighter defenses over the U.S. were left to Korean War vintage F-86 Sabres well into the 1950s as you watch each new Cold War fighter design inspire the other side to ever greater accomplishments. 50 minutes. #00V9138 Price: $24.95
	Air Ambush Dogfights - DVD Documentary Colonel Robin Olds, legendary fighter pilot, is your guide to one of the most audacious ploys in the history of aerial warfare. In this program, computer animation, historical footage, and Olds' firsthand accounts take you back to the Vietnam War to ride along with Olds' lethal F-4 Phantom squadron, the Wolfpack, as they set an intricate trap for enemy MiG-21s. The result was Operation Bolo, the most elaborate air sting of the war. 50 minutes. #00V9147 Price: $24.95

*Russian MiG-21 Fishbed Aviation Art.*
	Splash One. Aviation Art. Michael Newcomer. Lts. Randall Cunningham and William Driscoll of VF-96 flying their F-4 Phantom from the USS Constellation achieve the first of their five Vietnam kills - a North Vietnamese MiG-21. 15½"x 12" print is signed by the artist. #0072963 Price: $19.95