For a job training i had to go to today, i came round to visit one of the former WarPact aircraft which nowadays are more or less common here in the Netherlands. The aircraft, a former Czechoslovak MiG-21PF (s/n 0403, c/n 760403), is now laying in a very sorry state between a few abandoned caravans on a large camping ground in the town of Ommel.
Having chatted with the owner a bit, it appeared to me he doesn’t really know what to do with the aircraft. I can’t really blame him: the pylons are bent, the canopy doesn’t close, the wings are improperly attached, the cockpit is gutted… In a sort of a tongue-in-cheek way, i said it would be nice if someone would try and restore it to a more or less presentable condition. And in a similarly tongue-in-cheek way, he said he didn’t really oppose that idea.
Considering you guys are my connection to the world of aeroflews, i thought someone might be able to tell me some basics about the restoration (and preservation) of an airframe like that of the MiG-21. I actually know of some people who might also be willing to spend some time on her, at least one of them being an aeronautical engineer. Obviously i’m not thinking of getting it airborne again, but i would hope to give 0403 a few more years as a static.
I’ll try to get a few pics tomorrow, to illustrate the shape the poor thing’s in.
By: Eddie - 25th June 2005 at 13:22
Just a thought, but assuming you get on and do something with this aircraft, if the markings on it are original you would probably be well advised to keep a notebook, database or something where you can record details of colours, size, style etc, and also try and get photos giving positions relative to other parts. You might find it useful to trace some of the markings also. It sometimes feels like it will be easy to remember all the markings etc when you start a project, but you’ll probably appreciate the record when you get to the end of it 😉
By: monsum - 25th June 2005 at 12:56
@Arthur,
would be a positive happening when this mig got some cleaning up.
Should you guys archieve getting it, I can provide you with a left and right underwing pylon (though from a F.13 and SPS, I think they would fit).
The other donation to the project would be a set of 5 new static dischangers that are screwed into the wingtips (l+r), top of the tail and into the horizontal stabilizers (l+r).
Good luck !
By: JetBlast - 24th June 2005 at 13:25
Arthur, she looks to be fairly sound from the exterior, but have you managed to take a few panels off to see what she is like on the inside?
Much time will be spent on just cleaning her up and you will get to know your local WD-40 stockist very well. If you want more info on preservation products and techniques that we have used to good effect in the past then please PM me.
By: Arthur - 24th June 2005 at 13:09
Here are some pictures i took today. The guy who’s currently responsible for the aircraft was really enthusiastic to see me drop by again…
I doubt there is any significant amount of kerosene still left in the airframe. Even though this one never had internal armament, it seems to be rigidly de-militarised. Engine gone, bang-seat gone, an empty shell for a cockpit…
Apologies for the quality of the pics. It’s a combination of a poor photographer (me), 20 megatons of sunlight and a very cramped parking spot between the caravans. They do illustrate the condition of the aircraft though.
By: ZRX61 - 23rd June 2005 at 19:58
I’ve worked on some F5’s & T38s, hate the smell of kero tho, used to go home stinking like a truck driver… 🙁
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June 23, 2005 at 7:19 pm