The MiG-21 Is a Great Fighter Jet Still Flying After Decades

War is Boring ^ | August 30, 2016 | Robert Farley

[C19fan]

Military aircraft can have notoriously short lifespans, especially during periods of technological ferment. The most elite aircraft of World War I could become obsolete in a matter of months. Things weren’t much different in World War II. And at the dawn of the jet age, entire fleets of aircraft became passé as technologies matured. The advanced fighters that fought in the skies over Korea became junk just a few years later. But a few designs stand the test of the time. The B-52 Stratofortress first flew in 1952, yet remains in service today. New C-130s continue to roll off the production line, based on a design that became operational in 1954.

[Yo-Yo]

[Celtic Conservative]

The MiG-21 is a tractor with delta wings compared to most modern fighters and more than a few older ones. They were cheap, easy to fly and were handed out like party favors during the cold war. They were part of the Russian philosophy of quantity over quality, which is great if you’ve mastered the science of cloning fully trained pilots. So far the only one who has is George Lucas.

CC

[Fiji Hill]

Mig-21--a Vietnam War-era cocktail

• 1.5 oz top shelf Scotch or Glenlivet 15
• .75 oz Drambuie
• Lemon twist
• Ice

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour ingredients into the glass and stir well. Garnish with lemon twist.

[C19fan]

The MIG-21 was originally designed to shoot down bombers. So the only job of the pilot was to take off, vector to the target based on ground control input, fire the missiles, and land.

[Celtic Conservative]

So it’s the aeronautical equivalent of a field goal kicker?

CC

[Snickering Hound]

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/08/the-trouble-with-indian-air-forces-mig-21-fighter-jets/?_r=0

India would tell you something different.

[Terry L Smith]

Dear yo-Yo,

Oh Yeah!

Asst. Shop Chief, Radar Calibration Docks, 35th TFW, 35th AMS, George AFB, CA, 1977 - 1980.

[RayChuang88]

There was a reason why North Vietnamese AF pilots--who talked openly in the 1990's after US relations with Vietnam was normalized again--hated the MiG-21. They thought the plane was not a very effective dogfighter and guzzled WAY too much fuel just for a single mission. In fact, NVAF pilots far preferred the MiG-17 and MiG-19 with their powerful cannon armament.

[katana]

Can’t fool me. That drink’s an overdressed (Fifteen Year Old Glen Livet in a mix? Do you also use Beluga Caviar as fish bait?) Rusty Nail.

[bkopto]

The MiG-21 Is a Great Fighter Jet Still Flying After Decades

This is rich, coming from the crew who routinely trashes the F-35.

[Fiji Hill]

That drink’s an overdressed...Rusty Nail

It sure is!

[Robe]

The last MiG-21 I saw in Vietnam wasn't flying very well at all and the smoke prob was a EPA violation!!!!

Victory 22

[muleskinner]

For a manly drink, try a Smokey Nail:

2 shots Lagavulin over crushed glacial ice chips acquired from the slopes of Ben Nevis

1/2 oz. Drambuie

To be consumed with a La Flor Dominicana Digger Natural.