Suomen MiG-21f

Finland has received their Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 from April 1963 up to the 1965 and all of them served in Havittajalaivue 31/ Karjalan Lennosto (Fighter Squadron 31/ Karelian Wing). MiG-21f was delivered and served in the Suomi Ilmavoimissa (Finish AF) in its natural aluminum color, where the panels are of different shades and this depend of the manufacture as well alloys used in plating. Some areas were painted in the silver colors like the panels over wings, ailerons, hatches, missile racks. Five airplanes are finished in the light grey color after overhaul in the late seventies.

National insignia present White-Blue-White roundel, in six position, four on wings and two on fuselage nose. Fuselage roundel was 540 mm diameter and wing roundels are 750 mm diameter. Later this roundels had received 10 mm thin outer border. On the fuselage was also caried registration code and for the MiG that was MG, followed with dash and two digit number. This code was painted in gloss black color and letters are 320 mm high. In many cases on tail was used Havittajalaivue 31 logo, black lynx guarding its nest. It have white, but sometimes silver, eyes.

01. MiG-21f, MG-31 from HavLv/KarLsto, 1972. Natural metal finish, national insignia with black border. Black lynx on tail.

02. MiG-21f, MG-34 from TiedLLv, 1983. Note interesting logo on the tail which indicate airplane used in the reconnaissance role. Natinal insignia are black outlined and it have later type of the ejection seat warning triangle.

03. MiG-21f, MG-35 from HavLv 11/HamLsto, 1971. This machine have national insignia without black border as well old type of the ejection seat triangle. Emblem of the unit is the black and white bull on shield.

04. MiG-21f, MG-65, from HavLv31/KarLsto, 1976. This is one of the five machines which get new all grey color, more common for the later versions of the MiG’s. Standard national insignia with black border and lynx on the tail.

05. MiG-21f, MG-77 from HavLv31/KarLsto, 1969. It have been used dring the sticker cockarde trials and you could note additional roundel on the vertical tail. Roundels are without black border.

Srecko Bradic