Many thanks for the information, Martinez, but I think you misunderstand the thought processes behind it if you think any of us might be “disappointed”! 😀

I’m happy to accept completely that all of those Fishbeds were scrapped at Sliac during 1998, but there are two things that still remain 100% illogical:

1) Why scrap the last-built/lowest hour Fishbeds when, during 1998, the Air Force were actively seeking buyers for them?!

2) The Slovak MoD made a statement themselves saying it would cost something like $3,000 per aircraft to scrap the surplus MiG-21 fleet, which was money they didn’t have: so why do it, what was the point?

Maybe I just don’t understand contradictory statements and illogical use of scarce funds when it serves no purpose except to a beer can manufacturer :diablo:

Sad as seeing any dissected fighter jet is, I’m sure I’m not the only one around here who would love to see the “photo evidence” if it’s available!

Best regards

Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News

p.s. I guess that, yeah, I’m a little disappointed there are a few less Fishbeds in the World when I think of it that way, as they’re are definitely one of my favourite aircraft 😉

Some of those Fishbeds we are talking about were extensively flown at the 9.slp, 5.slp, 4.slp, 1.lsp and in early nineties they ran out time to overhaul. The other dozen were freshly overhauled in LO Kbely during 1992-93, before Czechoslovakia splited. The LO Trencin could not overhaul Mig-21 and the closest factory overhauling Migs was the LO KBELY(Czech republic). The overhaul should become expensive. All those Fishbeds were produced in 1974. The lifetime was declared up to 30 year. For example the 7706 was grounded in 1994 as a faulty aircraft while the others were grounded in 1995-1997. Also they had to scrap some “flightworthy” Fishbeds to fulfill CFE Treaty. Selling military aircrafts is an arkward….a different story.
But at first you must realize the major problem in Slovak AF since 1993. Very small number of pilots, technicians and a lot of Fishbeds.

regards
Martinez

Many thanks for the information, Martinez, but I think you misunderstand the thought processes behind it if you think any of us might be “disappointed”! 😀

I’m happy to accept completely that all of those Fishbeds were scrapped at Sliac during 1998, but there are two things that still remain 100% illogical:

1) Why scrap the last-built/lowest hour Fishbeds when, during 1998, the Air Force were actively seeking buyers for them?!

2) The Slovak MoD made a statement themselves saying it would cost something like $3,000 per aircraft to scrap the surplus MiG-21 fleet, which was money they didn’t have: so why do it, what was the point?

Maybe I just don’t understand contradictory statements and illogical use of scarce funds when it serves no purpose except to a beer can manufacturer :diablo:

p.s. I guess that, yeah, I’m a little disappointed there are a few less Fishbeds in the World when I think of it that way, as they’re are definitely one of my favourite aircraft 😉

Come on Steve, you have been speculating about Slovak Fishbed deals since beggining, haven`t you?….:)
If I told you that they had gone to North Korea. Wouldn`t you be happier anyway?
Surely I would be happier if they could fly the next decade somewhere.

Yes, you are not aware of many things, therefore it sounds illogical to you. From technical point of view your`re not even right when you said “last-built/lowest hour Fishbeds”.

What I’d really love to know is, what is the current status of the MiG-29UB 1303 Tiger. I got no more access to Slovak AF since my moving to Germany but the machine seems to have disappeared from public somehow.

Currently staying at the TOP and undergoes the SLEP program. The SlovakAF want to use all three trainers for a certain time period.

Regards
Martinez

Thanks for the info Martinez!
Talking about Slovak serial numbers sounds good 🙂

I am looking for Fishbeds:
Model S/n<br />
MiG-21MF 1210<br />
MiG-21MF 7702<br />
MiG-21MF 7703<br />
MiG-21MF 7704<br />
MiG-21MF 7710<br />
MiG-21MF 7712<br />
MiG-21MF 7713<br />
MiG-21MF 7714<br />
MiG-21MF 7801<br />
MiG-21MF 7803<br />
MiG-21MF 8205<br />
MiG-21MF 9502<br />
MiG-21MF 9710<br />
MiG-21R 1502<br />
MiG-21R 1702<br />
MiG-21R 1703<br />
MiG-21R 1920<br />
MiG-21R 1923<br />
MiG-21US 0441<br />
MiG-21UM 0368<br />
MiG-21UM 3041<br />
MiG-21UM 3051<br />
MiG-21UM 3176<br />
MiG-21UM 5101<br />
MiG-21UM 5166

Regrads,
Jeroen Nijmeijer
Holland

Model S/n location/year 2005
MiG-21MF 1210 Kosice
MiG-21MF 7702 Sliac
MiG-21MF 7703 Sliac
MiG-21MF 7704 Sliac
MiG-21MF 7710 Sliac
MiG-21MF 7712 Sliac
MiG-21MF 7713 Sliac
MiG-21MF 7714 Kosice
MiG-21MF 7801 Kosice
MiG-21MF 7803 Sliac
MiG-21MF 8205 Kosice
MiG-21MF 9502 Kosice
MiG-21MF 9710 info is missing, needs more time..
MiG-21R 1502 Trencin
MiG-21R 1702 Trencin
MiG-21R 1703 Kosice
MiG-21R 1920 Sliac
MiG-21R 1923 Kosice
MiG-21US 0441 Trencin
MiG-21UM 0368 Sliac
MiG-21UM 3041 Trencin
MiG-21UM 3051 Sliac
MiG-21UM 3176 went abroad, sold
MiG-21UM 5101 Sliac
MiG-21UM 5166 Trencin

Regards
Martinez

Bulgaria
6 L-29 to Slovakia in 2001 (UN register)
2 L-39ZA to Slovakia in 2002 (UN register)

Slovakia
6 L-29 to Angola in 1999 (UN register
6 Su-22 to Anogla in 1999 (UN regiter)
4 Su-22 to Anogla in 2001 (UN regiter)
1 Su-22UM-3K to Anogla in 2001 (UN regiter)
6 L-29 to Anogla in 2002 (UN regiter)

The two former Bulgarian L-39ZA aircraft have been re-exported to the US in 2002 (or 2003 ?).

I am almost 100% sure that in this illegal MiG-21 sale to North Korea NO former Slovak MiG-21MF aircraft were involved. But maybe there was another (up to now unknown!) illegal MiG-21 sale to North Korea!

I read something about it, but thats all.

Best regards
Jeroen Nijmeijer

Those twelve (batch/6pcs) ex-bulgarian L-29 Delphin underwent overhaul in LOT and were sold to Angola. The first batch of the L-29 left the Slovakia on the same train with the Su-22. The dates are correct.

No one Slovak Mig participated in the illegal deal with North Korea. The Czech company, the ex-Kirgiz(Kazakh) Migs-21 were involved into it. In case of missing Sliac Fishbeds, one pair has been sold to Australia, a few went to a private gatherer to Presov town, some others were scraped. The rest is staying at Sliac AFB and the VHU museum in Piestany(Trencin).
If you want to talk bort numbers separately, write those you are looking for, maybe I`ll be able to trace them down. I know people who spent years gathering information about Slovak Fishbeds.

Regards
Martinez

All have long term archival value.

The Migs “6930” and the “6829”(tiger) do not exist because of mid-air collision in autumn 2002. The pictures with the Magic2 missile were taken at the IDEE1996 exhibition, they are pretty old…

Martinez

to the “ultimate diggers” at the AFM magazine,

The Su-22 shipment to Angola started in autumn 1999 and ended summer 2000. The disassembled aircrafts left the LOT by train and were headed to Gdynsk-Poland. One aircraft being disassembled filled up to 4 to 5 containers. Yes, there have been more fitters on the list to be shipped abroad, but they stayed at home. Non of those Fitters shipped to Angola underwent overhaul. There wasn`t demand for it, because the Fitters were from the latest production batches delivered to Czechoslovakia. They had much time left to overhaul. They underwent complete system check, some high attrition parts were changed(seals, hoses,..) and some of them were freshly painted. At last they got Angolan insignias. Those overhauled Fitters stayed in Slovakia.
The story behind one ex-Slovakian Fitter which crashed in Angola is this one.
After the take-off the tower shouted over the radio “flames on your back, eject!!”. Pilot ejected. Afterwards they figured out that he had used afterburner to get off. 😮

Non of L-29 has been sold to Angola. During the service in SAF two crashed the ground, two went to USA, one wears a civilian insignia , the rest is in the museums in Kosice, Piestany and Malacky AFB.

regards
Martinez