Largely unnoticed by national and international media, several air forces were able to celebrate a remarkable anniversary in 2012 – 50 years of service of a combat aircraft, namely the MiG-21. While in Russia, as the legal successor of the Soviet Union, MiG-21 service already ended in the 1990s, in Germany this type was retired with the end of the GDR and most of the early European operators have also withdrawn their aircraft, Serbia, which continues to operate the Yugoslav fleet, and Romania can look back on 50 years of (largely) uninterrupted operation. Particularly remarkable is that in Yugoslavia MiG-21 service began in 1962 at the same base where all aircraft of this type are stationed today – at Batajnica.
But not only in Europe, where peace has prevailed since the end of the Second World War, but also in one of the most conflict-ridden regions of the world, the MiG-21 has managed to "survive" 50 years. And so the Egyptian Air Force can also look back this year on 50 years of (combat) service of the MiG-21, including its Chinese derivative F-7.
In 2013 two more countries are expected to join the "club of 50-year-olds" – India and Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, too, the first MiG-21 base will also be its last: Graf Ignatievo.
Even if the aircraft in service today are not the MiG-21F-13s delivered 50 years ago, some of the still active aircraft have already reached a considerable age. The Egyptian MiG-21RF and US rolled off the production line in 1969 / 70. If the North Korean MiG-21PFMs, one of which crashed in China in 2010, are still active, even 45-year-old aircraft are still flying. It will be interesting to see what milestones the MiG-21 will still reach in service ...
