| Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0142 Mig-21MF "6807", Romanian Air Force, 1985 |


| The arrival of MiG-23MF from 1979 on did not change the role of the MiG-21 as the most important aircraft of the Fortele Aeriene Romane. The Mig-21MF (Fishbed J) was powered by the lighter and more powerful Tumansky R 13-300 Turbojet and was widely exported to all the Warsaw Pact countries. The most predominant visual feature difference between the MF and M is the periscope on top of the MF canopy. Romania received the first of their Mig-21MFs in 1971 and were re- designated Izdelie 96F. In 1986, a year after political unrest and changes the Romanian Air Force re-introduced its former roundel that lacked the red star and consisted of a blue circle center surrounded by a yellow circle that is surrounded by a red circle. These colors are Romania’s National colors. It is during 1985 – 86 that the Mig-21s started to receive its new paint scheme. The color was similar to “ghost grey” and the aircraft were given a 4 digit serial. A typical load for air-to-air interception consisted of two R-3S (AA-2 Atoll) missiles on outboard under wing pylons, and two RS-2-U (AA-1 Alkali) missiles (mounted on APU-68UM launch rails) on inboard under wing pylons, as well as a single centre line drop tank. When it came to air-to-ground sorties the Mig-21s would carry UB-16-57 rocket launchers, 100kg bombs and a single centre line drop tank. In the mid 1990’s Romania’s economy was improving so it was decided to upgrade 114 Mig-21s. This upgrade would re-designate 6807 as a Mig-21 MF-75 LanceR C series and the aircraft would receive the grey white and light blue paint scheme it wears today. Mig-21MF Specs: Power Plant: One 41.55kN (9,340lb st) or 64.73kN (14,550lb st) with afterburner Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet Dimensions Wingspan: 7.15m (23ft 5½in) Length: 15.76m (51ft 8½in) - including Pitot boom Max T-O weight: 9,400kg (20,725lb) Performance Max speed: Mach 2.1 (2,230km/h - 1,385mph) above 11,000m (36,000ft) Mach 1.06 (1,300km/h - 807mph) at low level Range: 1,100km (683 miles) - internal fuel only 1,800km (1,118 miles) - with three external drop tanks, one under fuselage, one under each wing Armament One 23mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon with 200 rounds in belly pack Various air-to-air and air-to-ground stores carried on four under wing pylons including: K-13A "Atoll" or "Advanced Atoll" a-a missiles, UV-16-57 rocket packs, S-24 a-s rockets, 250kg and 500kg bombs 1 X centre line drop tank. |
| THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT |