Cambodian MiG-21 status
and now for more MiG-21s… just cross the border into Cambodia… I think I counted 17 on the ramp at Pochentong (Phnum Penh) 11 degrees 32 minutes N, 104 degrees 51 minutes East
Here´s some additional info on them (taken from the scramble.nl website): In 1986 the Air Force bought 22 second-hand Russian MiG-21s to form Unit 701 at Pochentong. The MiGs serials consist of four digits starting with 71 (reflecting the date when Pol Pot was ousted; 7 January 1979). Operations with the MiGs didn’t last long as help from Russia stopped in 1989 and the lack of spare parts and support finally grounded the MiGs with the last flight on 17 June 1992.
In 1996 a deal was made with Israeli Aircraft Industries for the overhaul of 12 MiG-21s and part of the deal was the acquisition of six overhauled Aero L-39C Albatros’. The World Bank and especially the US cut direct foreign aid to Cambodia in mid 1997 after Hun Sen ousted coalition partner Prince Norodom Ranariddh. This also affected the RCAF deal with Israel as already four MiG-21s were sent to the IAI Lahav division and Cambodia was unable to pay for the work.
Present situation of the RCAF is that the majority of planes and helicopters have not flown in years and that the lack of funds for the Air Force puts its toll on it. In February 2000 a MiG-21bis (7102) and MiG-21UM (7114) returned from Israel after being overhauled. Due to lack of money and skilled personnel it is still not clear that these aircraft will see the air again.
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