An open day was to take place at Feteşti again on June 30, 2018. After last year's cancellation, the author had requested permission to visit the MiG-21 LanceR deployed to Mihail Kogălniceanu on the day before. The 2018 event was ultimately postponed too, and all that remained was a short excursion.
Exactly four LanceR stood on the flightline, neatly covered – as was to be expected on a Friday lunchtime. Kindly, Căpitan Adrian Trifa, assigned as escort, agreed to uncover one aircraft together with the author, and so a few photos were actually taken. He also had his flying kit brought so that a few pictures in full gear could be taken. And that was supposed to be it. The other aircraft were in the maintenance hangar or on QRA and the author was not allowed there, Căpitan Trifa's boss, who was also present, informed us. So the author conducted his "interview", which had obviously been arranged by Bucharest, and learned that the LanceRs had actually only deployed to Mihail Kogălniceanu for the repair of the runway at Feteşti, but the order to return had never come and no one knows whether and when they will go back or whether the LanceRs will remain at Mihail Kogălniceanu until their retirement ...
Here are the meagre results of the excursion ...
The author thanks General de Flotilă Aeriană Dr. Lian Someşan for rescuing a minimal success and Căpitan Adrian Trifa for his patience after his long duty.