The Effective, Long-Lasting MiG-21

Ride along on a 'Microsoft Flight Simulator' journey through history in Russia's iconic supersonic jet fighter.

Patrick Chovanec

Friday, June 09, 2023 at 12:08 PM ET

Verified

[Image courtesy Patrick Chovanec]

Key Takeaways:

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 was a iconic Cold War Soviet supersonic jet fighter, introduced in 1959 as a rival to advanced U.S. aircraft, and became the most produced supersonic jet in history.
Characterized by its powerful engine, delta wing, and simple, robust design (dubbed the "AK-47 of airplanes"), it proved surprisingly effective in combat, notably against U.S. F-4 Phantoms in Vietnam and F-104s in the Indo-Pakistani War.
Widely exported to over 60 countries, the MiG-21's longevity is remarkable, with some nations still operating modernized versions today, though often facing challenges with maintenance, safety, and obsolescence compared to newer aircraft.

See a mistake? Contact us.

For this session in Microsoft Flight Simulator, I’ll be flying the Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, a Cold War icon that was produced in larger numbers than any other supersonic jet fighter in the world.

The MiG-21 was produced by the Soviet state design bureau led by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. Founded in 1939, the bureau achieved modest success during World War II, but broke through as a leading designer of jet fighters with the swept-wing MiG-15, which contended with U.S. aircraft for control of the skies during the Korean War.