MiG-21SM Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia, 1968 (1:72)

The Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-21 (Fishbed-NATO reporting name) is a single seat, single engine; supersonic day fighter-interceptor built in the Soviet Union starting in the 1960s. More than 30 countries have flown the Mig-21 and 40 years later it still serves in many parts of the world. The Mig-21 is the most produced jet fighter since WWII with some estimates as high as 13,000 of all variants being made. During the 1960s and 70s the Mig-21 became the benchmark for combat fighters after WWII.

Two red bands were painted on the Soviet Air Force Mig-21s for the August 20-21 invasion of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. These were used to identify their aircraft that supported the invasion from the Czechoslovakian Air Force Mig-21s that never did counterattack. This invasion by Soviet, Polish, East German, Hungarian and Bulgarian troops ended the liberal reforms heading towards democracy led by Czechoslovak Communist Party leader Dubcek. The time these reforms were in place is called the Prague Spring referring to 1848 when several revolutions took place throughout the world.

Specifications Mig-21SM

Dimensions
Wingspan: 7.154 m / 23.47 ft
Length: 14.7 m / 48.23 ft
Fuselage length: 12.285 m / 40.3 ft
Height: 4.710 m / 15.4 ft
Wing area: 23.00 m2 247.5 sq. ft

Weight
Normal take-off: 8300 kg / 18,298 lb
Maximum take-off: 9400 kg / 20,723 lb

Performance
Engines: 1 X Tumansky R-13-300
Thrust: 14,550 lbs / 6599.76 kg
Maximum speed:
At altitude 2230 km/h / 1386 mph
At sea level 1300 km/h / 808 mph
Rate of climb: 205 m/s / 672.57 ft/s
Service ceiling: 18,000 m / 59,055 ft

Armament
Hard-points: 5
Cannon: Semi-internal 1.23 mm GSh-23L mounted under the fuselage on the centerline in front of the pylon.
Optional: 4 X R-13 (AA-2 Atoll) air-to-air missiles.
Could carry bomb load up to 499.86 kg / 1,102 lb.
UB-16-57U 16 shot and UD-J2A 32 shot rocket pods.
Plus other standard Soviet air-to-ground ordnance.