Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-21

Single Jet

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter that became the most-produced supersonic aircraft in aviation history, with over 11,000 built between 1959 and 1985. Designed by the Soviet Union as a lightweight day interceptor, the MiG-21 could reach Mach 2+ and served as the backbone of Warsaw Pact air forces throughout the Cold War. Its delta-wing design, powerful Tumansky turbojet, and exceptional climb rate made it a formidable adversary in conflicts from Vietnam to the Middle East, where it faced off against American F-4 Phantoms and Israeli Mirages. Today, a small number of demilitarized MiG-21s operate in civilian hands in the United States, flown by warbird collectors and aerobatic performers. These aircraft have been stripped of weapons systems and modified to meet FAA experimental or restricted category requirements. The type's blistering performance (capable of exceeding 800 knots and climbing to 50,000 feet) makes it one of the most demanding warbirds to operate, requiring specialized training and maintenance. The single Tumansky R-25 afterburning turbojet produces over 16,000 pounds of thrust, giving the 18,000-pound fighter a thrust-to-weight ratio that few civilian-operated jets can match. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.