It is apparently a Soviet export, built circa 1967. Israeli pilots in the 1970s felt the MiG-21 fighter was the best enemy fighter they flew against during encounters with Arab nations. Thirteen of the sixteen North Vietnamese Air Force Aces flew MiG-21s. The school and exercises re-emphasized the need for Air Combat Maneuvering (dog fighting) training. ![]() The US Air Force also established Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) that eventually became Red Flag (1975) exercises held at Nellis Air Force Base, (Las Vegas) Nevada and Eielson AFB, (Moose Creek) Alaska. During the early part of the Vietnam War, the air-to-air combat loss-exchange ratios against the smaller and more agile MiG-17s and MiG-21s was so poor that it lead the US Navy to establish their Navy Fighter Weapons School " Top Gun," initially at Miramar Naval Air Station, (San Diego) California, in March 1969. The MiG-21 was a deadly adversary for US pilots over the skies of North Vietnam, especially in close-quarter battle. The NATO code name for the MiG-21 was, and is, Fishbed. It was light, fast, and nimble, one of the most maneuverable warplanes of its era. It could reach 40,000 feet altitude in five minutes after takeoff. Its range was eventually extended by use of a 129 gallon (490L) centerline fuel tank. The MIG-21 was designed as a fast-climbing point defense interceptor and long range capability was not a concern in its design. Some predictions are that the MiG-21bis version may still be flying as late as 2015 with new engines and radar. Into the first decade of the 21st century, it is now reaching the twilight of its career as a front line fighter with various nations, including a few who are now part of NATO, the former main rival of the Soviet Union. The Chinese built a copy, without license, as the Chengdu J-7. ![]() The fighter was both exported by the Soviet Union and built under license by other nations. More than 10,000 MiG-21s were built, making it the most widely produced jet fighter built to date with at least 14 versions produced. Over 50 years after it first entered service in 1959, the MiG-21 has served with over 50 air forces of the World. MiG-21s in Soviet service outnumbered the fighter strength of all NATO air forces. Today Naval Air Station Key West is the Navy's premier air-to-air combat training station.This jet fighter is an icon of the Cold War and came to symbolize the military might of the former Soviet Union. Themed "200 Years of the Navy in Key West," the event commemorated Commodore David Porter's 1823 arrival and construction of the first U.S. Navy Reserve Adversary Squadron VFC-111 "Sun Downers," flying the supersonic Northrop F-5N Tiger II and the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, operating the Air Force's most advanced multirole fighter aircraft. Other air show highlights were demonstrations by the U.S. The squadron, whose winter home was NAS Key West in the 1960s, performed both days in F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft. ![]() The legendary flight demonstration team is internationally recognized for its superb formation flying and maneuvers, sometimes used in aerial combat. The Blue Angels headlined the Southernmost Air Spectacular, a free air show staged Saturday and Sunday at Naval Air Station Key West's Boca Chica Field in the Lower Keys. Navy's elite Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron performed over the weekend above the Florida Keys to celebrate 200 years of naval presence in Key West.
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