MiGs in Sydney/NSW – was it worth it?

When i was younger, i assisted with a company who was restoring a MiG-17 and a MiG-21.

After many years since i did this work, it is interesting to still see both these types of warbirds not flying. Very few of the frontline Russian jets do fly. mainly trainers that do.

I have wondered over the years, all the money spent on these 2 planes by the owners has it gone to waste perhaps?, as both now still sit very quietly in museums i recall.

So all up importing, restoration, limited flying and then static.
Was it worth it and was there enjoyment from it?
Only the owners can know that i guess.

I can only speak about the MiG-17. If it was restored to airworthy condition, and the engine is well preserved it is not a very big deal to make it fly again…
As we operate a MiG-15 here in Poland I can help you if you are interested… 🙂

When i was younger, i assisted with a company who was restoring a MiG-17 and a MiG-21…
Was it worth it and was there enjoyment from it?
Only the owners can know that i guess.

That is a good point: have you actually asked the owners concerned? I’m sure they’d be happy to talk to you seeing as you worked on them 🙂 Have you any photos of your time on them? Private MiG-21s fascinate me to no end. A bloke here in NZ even tried to operate one around 1993.

Comrade Daniel

I understand from a recent discussion with the owner of a earthbound MIG that time expired components such as hydraulic hoses etc would need to be replaced in order for permission to fly to be granted. The cost of removing and replacing the time expired components is what keeps things on the ground. Having some connections to get parts out of former Warsaw Pact manufacturing nations would help. I understand many of the MIGS in Australia came from or via Poland with Polish Australians doing the legwork. I guess many people bought these a/c because they were tremendously exotic after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and a low cost way to hit seagulls at Mach speeds.

Once the initial thrill had subsided and the bills piled up, I guess there was not the emotional connection to carry through the necessary maintenance, because no one’s uncle or grandfather flew a MIG during the war. Like a pile of old George Michael records, they sit forlornly at the back of the cupboard.

The bloke with the MIG was still amazed after all these years at the lack of corrosion and quality of build. I think these things will last. I did once meet a technologist from the former Soviet Union’s space effort, who explained in detail the effort and quality that went into the Soviet aerospace effort in the 70’s, and I sense it is true. Comrades may have eaten cold, grey porridge, but they made good aircraft.

In 1990 I met a bloke who was trading MIG 29s to the subcontinent out of former Soviet airbases for things like bulk alcohol and gold. These were surreal times, and nobody in Australia in the 1980’s could have dreamed that MIGS would one day be here. I suspect the MIGS will have a resurgence with a new generation that does not know that 20 million people were starved in the Ukraine through the depravity of Stalin and just want a good motor. I must say seeing a MIG 21 fly over at full tilt makes me think about it.

There are a lot of variables where aircraft cant be made airworthy.Paperwork is usually the biggest issue.

The money to import, restore, fuel costs etc is often a factor in keeping historic aircraft flying, as well as other factors. It depends, I have put a lot of time, energy and money into lets say ‘projects’ and sometimes ask myself ‘was it all worth it?’. Some say that ‘you get out what you put in’ but whichever the case hopefully you had some enjoyment being involved and hopefully the owners have also. At the very least hopefully they are being looked after in a museum where people can go and view them, and you can say with pride that you helped in restoring the aircraft.

Not as wonderful as seeing them fly but much better than a scrap yard.

I take it you got no enjoyment from working on them then?