MiG-21: From Soviet Skies to Modern Battlefield, ... But the MiG-21 is a model fighter. Simple in its design and straightforward in its mission, over 50 countries have used this craft.

Over 10,000 MiG-21 airframes were built between 1959 and 1985. We can't hope to save them all. Vintage Aviation Romania military upgrades Air and Space restomods MiG-21 Lancer .

Stick an ex-Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21 onto a modern battlefield with advanced contemporary weaponry, and the results are bound to be like bringing a butter knife to a machete fight.

MiG-21 models saw use around the world, but it has proven rather dangerous. According to CNBC , between 1963 and July 2022, there had been almost 300 crashes and dangerous mishaps involving the jets.

The pilot, who wasn't identified, was landing the 1975 model MiG-21 at 10 a.m. at Flying Cloud Airport for this weekend's Wings of the North AirExpo, where it was scheduled to be on display.