Best looking fighter - Fulcrum or Flanker.?

[gubbi]

Though I love the flankers, I love the MiG-29s more!

hows that for a paint job

Watch 1:08-1:19 and 1:35-1:40 or better yet watch the intire thing and tell me where you see a cargo plane.

YouTube- Mig-29 OVT

MiG-29 OVT is the only one of its kind. It is the only MiG-29 with 3D-TVC, more of a tech demonstrator. No other MiG-29's have 3d TVC. Now MiG-35 is a totally different case - MiG-29 is to MiG-35 what F-18 is to F-18SH.

That IMHO is the best camo paint scheme I have seen for the MiG-29! Isnt that a Slovak AF MiG-29?


Please moar MiG-29 ****!!!!

 

[Prowler]

More MiG **** please

 

[Dash]

I will vote for Fulcrum, its small and sexy..

Remember?, Small is powerful and Small is revolution???...

 

[IndianArmy]

I will vote for Fulcrum, its small and sexy..

Remember?, Small is powerful and Small is revolution???...

Thats probably why its small in numbers aswell

 

[Dash]

Thats probably why its small in numbers aswell

yet powerful and revolutionary.......

 

[Jade]

Flanker looks better

 

[harrymohan]

I voted for Mig 29 it must been very cool when it was inducted in IAF in 1985-86

 

[gubbi]

Thats probably why its small in numbers aswell

That is quite an understatement!

Initially what worked against the MiG-29s were the lack of a decent ferry range (~450 miles?) without drop tanks. Also a lack of advanced avionics for an aircraft of such aerodynamic beauty didnt fully utilize its true potential. Hope that there is a lot to see with MiG-35.

Anyway, here's a list of MiG-29s being operated by various countries.

Operators

Algeria
Algeria has 105 aircraft in service. 65 MiG-29s, four MiG-29UBT and 36 MiG-29SMT will be delivered between 2007 and 2008. However, in March 2008, in an unprecedented move, Algeria decided to return to Russia 15 of the MiG-29SMT aircraft delivered in 2006-07, citing the "inferior quality" of certain components and units.[1]
Algerian Air Force
113e Escadron de Chasse based at Tindouf operates MiG-29S (9.13S) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.
143e Escadron de Chasse based at Ouargla operates MiG-29S (9.13S) and MiG-29UB (9.51) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.
153e Escadron de Chasse based at Béchar-Oukda/Leger operates MiG-29S (9.13S) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.
193e Escadron de Chasse based at Bou Sfer operates MiG-29S (9.13S) and MiG-29UB (9.51) upgraded to MiG-29SMT standard.

Armenia
18 Russian Mig-29 are based on Erebouni airport, (visible on the google maps), Armenian Air Force.

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has 48 aircraft in service.
Azerbaijan Air Force

Bangladesh
Bangladesh has 16 aircraft in service. 24 single-seat MiG-29SE multi-role variants were ordered, however procurement was cancelled after 16 aircraft were delivered.In 2010, the new Government ordered 14 Mig-29SMT/M and will be in operation from 2011 taking the overall number to 30 Mig-29's.
Bangladesh Air Force
8th Squadron based at Bashar operates 14 MiG-29SE (9.12A) and 2 MiG-29UB (9.51).

Belarus
Belarus has 50 aircraft in service.
Belarus Air Force

Bulgaria
Bulgaria has 20 MiG-29B in service, including 4 MiG-29UB.
Bulgarian Air Force
2/3 Iztrebitelna Avio Eskadrila based at Graf Ignatievo operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

Cuba
Cuban MiG-29UB
Cuba has 14 aircraft in service but only three of them remain in flying condition.
Cuban Air Force

Eritrea
Eritrea received 8 aircraft in 1998, of these five are still in service.

Hungary
MiG-29B of the Hungarian Air Force
Hungary has 21 aircraft in service.
Hungarian Air Force
2. Vadászrepülö Század based Kecskemét operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).
59th Wing, Dongó Squadron based at Kecskemét operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

India
Indian Air Force
63 aircraft in service and undergoing upgrades.
Indian Navy
12 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB on order.[2] Plans to purchase an additional 30 MiG-29K fighters.[3]

Iran
Iran took over 21 ex-Iraqi aircraft, flown over in 1991, the rest were bought some from Russia during the 1990s. Currently 60 MiG-29A and 15 MiG-29-UB are in service (totalling 75), some reports claim 35 MiG-29A, while others go as low as 24 (including MiG-29UB). Most of these planes have been upgraded by Iran, which included adding an inflight refuelling nozzle making them compattible with the drogue refuellers operated by the IRIAF.
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
11 TFS based at Tehran and Mehrabad Int'l operates MiG-29 (9.12B), MiG-29 (9.13) and MiG-29UB (9.51).
23 TFS based at Tabriz operates MiG-29 (9.12B), MiG-29 (9.13) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has 40 aircraft in service.

Lebanon
Lebanon will get from Russia 10 modernized MIG-29 aircraft. Message was in the news December 17, 2008 (AFP, Interfax). But in 2010 the Deal between The Russian Federation and The Lebanese Republic has been changed to 10 Mi-24

Malaysia
A Malaysian Mig-29 in formation with a US Navy F-14 Tomcat
Malaysia introduced 18 aircraft. Two of them crashed, 16 are in service.
Malaysian Air Force
19 Skn Cobra based at Kuantan-Sultan Ahmed Shah operates MiG-29S (9.13S) and MiG-29UB (9.51) under (local designation MiG-29N).

Myanmar
Myanmar has 12 aircraft in service. 20 MiG-29SMT ordered.

North Korea
North Korea has 40 aircraft in service.
Korean People's Air Force
57th Air Regiment based at Onchon-up

Peru
Peruvian Air Force MiG-29 on display
Peru has 19 aircraft in service, 18 MiG-29 (9.13) and 2 MiG-29UB (9.51) acquired from Belarus in 1996 and 3 MiG-29SE (9.13SE) purchased brand new from Russia in 1998, two further former Belarusian MiG-29 were lost in accidents in 1997 and 2001 respectively.
In August 12, 2008 was signed a contract of US$ 106 million with RAC MiG for a custom-made SMT upgrade of eight MiG-29 called MiG-29SMP[4]
Peruvian Air Force
Escuadrón Aéreo Nº 612 based at Chiclayo operates MiG-29S/SE (9.13/9.13SE) and MiG-29UB (9.51).[4]

Poland
Poland bought 12 aircraft (nine MiG-29 9.12 and three MiG-29UB 9.51) from Soviet Union between 1989 and 1990. Next ten ex-Czech aircraft (nine MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB) were exchanged with Czech Republic for 11 Polish PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in 1996. Last 22 were handed over by Germany in 2003. Currently Poland has 44 aircraft (36 MiG-29A and eight MiG-29UB) but only 32 aircraft are operational in two units.
Polish Air Force
1. Pułk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego based at Mińsk Mazowiecki operated MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) between 1989 and 2000. Unit was reorganized to 1. ELT.
1. eskadra lotnictwa taktycznego based at Mińsk Mazowiecki operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) from 2001.
41. eskadra lotnictwa taktycznego based at Malbork operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) from 2005.

Russia
Russia has 580 in service total, 266 with air force [5] plus 110 with navy (150 in reserve, 50 for training).[6]
Russian Air Force
783rd Training Centre - Armavir
14th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Kursk
28th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Andreapol (air base)
237th Air Technology Demonstration Centre of Guards - Kubinka
19th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Millerovo
31st Fighter Aviation Regiment - Zernograd
120th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment
102nd Military Base in Gyumri - 18 Mig-29
Russian Naval Aviation

Serbia
Serbia has three MiG-29B and one MiG-29UB in service. The fourth MiG-29B will be back from overhaul until the winter.[7]
Serbian Air Force
101st squadron based at 204th Air Base (Batajnica Airbase) operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has 4 x MiG-29SM + 1 x MiG-29UB from 2008. March 2008 talks with Russia about deliveries of 5 MiGs (about 75 mln USD) for SLAF, to fight with LTTE , together with four modernised MiG-27.

Slovakia
Slovakia has 21 aircraft in service since 1993, 13 are operational. In 2005-2006 aircraft were upgraded to MiG-29SD (locally designated AS - S for Slovak) and MiG-29UBS with NATO/ICAO standard.
Slovak Air Force
1 Stíhacia Letka based at Sliac operates MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51).

Sudan
Sudan has 22-23 aircrafts in service. According to Sudanese Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein, Sudan bought 12 MiG-29 from Russia in 2004 (despite the UN arms embargo[citation needed]) and other 12 in 2008 (probable Russian surplus via Belarus). One MiG-29 was shot down in May 2008 by heavy machine gun fire during a CAS mission;[8]Sudanese Air Force

Syria
Syria has 56 aircraft in service.[9][10]
Syrian Air Force
699 Squadron based at Tsaykal
698 Squadron based at Tsaykal
697 Squadron based at Tsaykal

Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan has 20 aircraft in service.

Ukraine
Ukraine has 217 [11] aircraft in service.
Ukrainian Air Force
204th Fighter Aviation Brigade
9th Fighter Aviation Brigade
114th Fighter Aviation Brigade
40th Fighter Aviation Brigade

United States
USA bought 21 aircraft from Moldova.[citation needed]

Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has 30 aircraft in service.

Yemen
Yemen has 44 aircraft in service. Five or six of them were bought from Moldova. Since 2005 the standard was MiG-29SMT, replacing SE version (14 SE and UB delivered in 2001, after sent to MIG to be updated). Together with those 14 aircraft updated, RSK-MiG sold 6 new examples. Later there was eventually another batch delivered (20-30 examples were discussed in 2008)[12]
Yemen Air Force

Former operators

Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia had 18 MiG-29A and 2 MiG-29UB from 1989. All were passed on (in 1:1 ratio) to Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Czechoslovakian Air Force
Czech Republic
Czech Republic received nine MiG-29A and one MiG-29UB. Aircraft are no longer in service, being exchanged with Poland for 11 PZL W-3 Sokół helicopters in 1996.
Czech Air Force

East Germany
German MiG-29 fires AA-10.
East Germany received 24 aircraft delivered in 1988-1989, including 4 MiG-29UBs. They were based at Preschen. Upon the German Reunification in 1990 all were passed to Luftwaffe.
East German Air Force

Germany
Germany inherited 24 aircraft from East Germany in 1990 and upgraded them to NATO compatibility. One was lost, and one was kept for display when the remaining 22 were transferred to Poland in 2003, following the arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon which replaced them.
German Air Force
JG73 "Steinhoff" based at Laage operated MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) under local designation MiG-29G.

Iraq
Iraq received 41 aircraft. Some were destroyed in Gulf War, 21 fled to Iran. No longer in service.
Iraqi Air Force

Israel
Israeli Air Force
2 aircraft, borrowed from an undisclosed European air force for evaluation. Flown by 601 Squadron, the Israeli Air Force's flight test center.[13]

Moldova
Moldova had 34 aircraft inherited from USSR. Six of them were sold to Yemen, 21 bought by USA, 1 MiG-29S sold to Romania. Last six remaining MiG-29S were overhauled in Ukraine recently. Yemen Return Six Mig-29S.
Moldovan Air Force

Romania
Romanian Air Force MiG-29A
Romania received 20 MiG-29A delivered from USSR starting in 1989 plus 1 MiG-29S from Moldova. Currently 18 aircraft were placed in storage after funding was cut for upgrade programme.[14]
Romanian Air Force

Soviet Union
Upon its dissolution in 1991 the Soviet Union had approximately 1000 aircraft in service. Upon the break-up they were passed to Belarus (50), Ukraine (220), Kazakhstan (40), Uzbekistan (30), Turkmenistan (20). The rest 600+ were passed to Russia. Many were subsequently sold off to third party states and/or written off.[15]
Soviet Air Force

Yugoslavia/ Yugoslavia
Yugoslavian MiG-29
Yugoslavia received 14 MiG-29B's and two MiG-29UB's from the Soviet Union in the 1980's. During the Kosovo war, six MiG-29s were shot down, another three and one MiG-29UB were destroyed on the ground by NATO,[16] One MiG-29 was also lost in a noncombat related accident. Since the disolution of Yugoslavia the remaining four MiG-29s and single MiG-29UB were passed on to Serbia.
Yugoslav Air Force
127th of the 204th based at Batajnica Airbase operated MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) between 1986-1991.
FR Yugoslav Air Force
127th "Vitezovi" of the 204th based at Batajnica Airbase operated MiG-29 (9.12A) and MiG-29UB (9.51) between 1991-2006.

 

[sancho]

Without any doubt... FLANKERS ! ! !

It just looks mean:

 

[illuminatidinesh]

How about this?

MiG-29 06, Russia 2006, Strizhi Aerobatic Team

MiG-29SMT 777, Russia 2005

MiG-29SMT 917, Russia 2005

MiG-29SMT 918, Russia 2003

 

[illuminatidinesh]

MiG-29M2 154, Russia 2005

MiG-29 32, Russia 2006, Russian Falcons Aerobatic Team

MiG-35 154, Russia 2007.
12.2008: equiped with Zhuk-AE radar for indian MMRCA tender.
03.2009: aircraft participated in Aero-India 2009.

MiG-29SMT, Russia, February 2009, 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (GIAP) at Kursk. Ex-algerian aircraft.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

Finally this is what we are getting......

MiG-29K (9.41), Russia, April 2008 (Indian Navy final painting scheme).
This is dedicated to all Mig 29 lovers

 

[sancho]

Buddy doesnt ur pic bear an uncanny resemblance with this Fulcrum..?

Pic - Click Here

This is the reason i like the Fulcrum.

It was an original concept and an uber-cool design in those days when Fighter jets were not so good looking.

The Flankers just borrowed the curves from the Fulcrum and improved upon them.

No mate, they have similarities of course, but clearly are different designs and just look at the pics I posted, how it points down it's nose/cockpit section, the amazing size and all.
The Mig is nice and if you want close in look, but not as fascinating as the Flanker design:

 

[KS]

No mate, they have similarities of course, but clearly are different designs and just look at the pics I posted, how it points down it's nose/cockpit section, the amazing size and all.
The Mig is nice and if you want close in look, but not as fascinating as the Flanker design:

Yeah thats wat i said......

Flankers sure do look mean...but the major inspiration (if i may say so) for their curves comes from the Fulcrum and they have improved upon them.
The Mig was a revolutionary design in the 80's while the Flanker was developed in the 90's.

 

[harrymohan]

Yeah thats wat i said......

Flankers sure do look mean...but the major inspiration (if i may say so) for their curves comes from the Fulcrum and they have improved upon them.
The Mig was a revolutionary design in the 80's while the Flanker was developed in the 90's.

SU 30 is a derivative of Su 27 which was first flight tested in 1977. Same with Mig 29 first flight tested in 1977.