MiG-21 Fishbed In Stunning Pictures During the Tour-de-Sky 2016

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)

Despite the presence of many other remarkable aircraft, the MiG-21 was the main star of the air show at Kuopio. Without doubts, it’s a legendary aircraft, one of the most characteristic in the world of military aviation of the 20th century. Even today MiG-21 is still in service, though its glory passed a long time ago. And so their story goes on, in armies of several countries. A day before the airshow, MiG-21 celebrated its 60th anniversary. This article will be fully focusing on this amazing machine!

All Photos by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images

#1. The first thing that appeared on the airport was the MiG-21. Not the Romanian one as it was written in the information, but Finnish. And it was in an excellent shape!

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#2. The aircraft was properly secured and maintained for moving it from place to place.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#3. What’s so special in small airshows? Spontaneity and accessibility.  There was no fence with guards, here you could even ‘undress’ the plane and the organizers had a very kind attitude and they were even willing to uncover the plane when asked 🙂

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#4. And here it is! The handsome star of the event.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#5.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#6. An interesting thing – the aircraft have both Russian and Finnish label. And it’s not duplicated, as many labels are simply different. It includes the minimum knowledge about tech parameters and about crew that Russian neighbor apparently needed.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#7. The kindness from the organizers side goes on – we opened the cockpit

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#8. And again – interior of the cockpit is in both langauges, Russian and Finnish.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#9.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#10. Everything is just compact. It have just everything it needs.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#11. It’s irresistible even for the photographer (Fyodor Borisov).

q11
Fyodor Borisov in the cockpit of MiG-21

#12. And not just for him!

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#13. Here is some range of past and present aircraft of the Finnish Air Force.

Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#14. And this is our fighting crew (photographers).

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Finnish Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#15. Romanian guests with their MiG’s.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#16. Landing separately.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#17.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#18.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#19.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#20.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#21. The airport at Kuopio acquired such a peculiar appearance.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#22. Day Two – aircraft is preparing for flight program.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#23. Ascending.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#24.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)

#25.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#26.

q26
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#27.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#28.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#29. Passage at low attitude.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#30. With fire behind its tail.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#31. Approaching…

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#32. And turning away!

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#33.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#34.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#35. Landing.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

#36. Folding the break-parachute.

Romanian military man pack MiG-21 shute in front of Let L-39 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romanian military man packs MiG-21 shute in front of Let L-39 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finland

#37. It’s a wonderful thing to see this aircraft flying after 20 years.

Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 at Tour-de-Sky airshow at Kuopio, Finand. (Photo by Fyodor Borisov/Transport-Photo Images)
Romania Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

Damian Lucjan

Damian is a history geek that’s working for War History Online for almost a decade. He can talk about the history and its chain of events for hours and is 100% legit fun at parties. Aside of history, geography and etymology of all things are no less exciting for him! An avid video game player, meme distributor, and your comment section moderator all in one. Mythologies of all cultures are fascinating to him, Greek, Nordic, Slavic – you name it, and he’s in!

In his spare time, assuming he has some left, he gives it all to his family, enjoying morning walks, a good book, an exciting FPS, and a long nap…or a few. Definitely a cat person.