Romanian Air Force

MiG-21 LanceR A launching flares.

MiG-21 LanceR C

http://pics.livejournal.com/fotografersha/pic/0062fk3r

What’s the two part opening opposite of the IRST, with them zigzags?

The refueling probe.

Is it me or does the second prototype have a one piece canopy?…as opposed to the two piece split in half on the longitudinal axis on the first prototype.

Both outer contrails spiral behind the aircraft due to the flow of the air over the wings – vortex. If you look closely at link posted by Flanker_man you will see that the contrail from engine #1 is getting closer to contrail of engine #2 (due to vortex) while on starboard going away from each other. Nothing unnatural here…just an optical illusion.

Click here. It’s not the same aircraft, but the efect is the same.

It was this one.

so why do they overhaul them there instead of Russia?

It may be cheaper, or they may have better relations with Ukraine than Russia.

Better Avionics = F-22
Better Stealth = F-22
Better Situational Awarness = F-22
Better Pilots = F-22
Better Radar = F-22
Better EW = F-22
Better Missiles = F-22
Better Manuverability = PAK FA (allegedly)
Better Price (cheaper) = PAK FA

Don’t get me wrong. The Russians built a decent aircraft that can compete with a Rafale or Eurofighter but it cant hope to match the Raptor. The US lead is far too big in virtually all areas. We were 20 years ahead in 1990 and 30+ years ahead now. G-d bless USA and our number one ally Israel

+1 for that objective analyses! Comparing a finite product with a prototype…good job.