The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was developed to counter new U.S. fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1982.

While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s have been furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations, and are commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions. The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalized Mikoyan MiG-29K; the most advanced member of the family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35. Later models frequently feature improved engines, glass cockpits with HOTAS-compatible flight controls, modern radar and infrared search and track (IRST) sensors, and considerably increased fuel capacity; some aircraft have also been equipped for aerial refueling.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the militaries of a number of former Soviet republics have continued to operate the MiG-29, the largest of which is the Russian Air Force. The Russian Air Force wanted to upgrade its existing fleet to the modernized MiG-29SMT configuration, but financial difficulties have limited deliveries. The MiG-29 has also been a popular export aircraft; more than 30 nations either operate or have operated the aircraft to date. As of 2013 the MiG-29 was still in production by Mikoyan, a subsidiary of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) since 2006.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Polish MiG-29A Fulcrum multirole fighter that was attached to the 41st Tactical Squadron, then deployed to the 22nd Tactical Aviation Base, Malbork, Poland, and commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Polish Air Force in 2018. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 9-1/2-inches
Length: 13-3/4-inches

Release Date: April 2020

Historical Account: "A Century" - 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the Polish Air Force. On November 11th, 1918, some Polish aviation units had already been formed and become active. Interestingly, the first combat sortie was flown on November 5th, 1918, as Lieutenant Stefan Bastyr and Flight Observer Janusz de Beaurain took off from the Lewandowka airfield in the southeastern city of Lwow. Within less than a month, the white-and-red chequerboard, borrowed from the personal coat of arms of another pilot, Lieutenant Stefan Stec, would become the identification sign of Polish military aircraft and would endure in that role to this day. Polish pilots flew this sign to nearly all theatres of World War II and then in peacetime, their achievements invariably bringing pride, respect and inspiration to generations of Poles.

Today, nearly 30 years after the fall of the communism, the Polish Air Force is flying a mix of tried and tested indigenous designs, some fearsome aircraft dating back to the Soviet Union and an ever expanding fleet of state-of-the-art western-built aircraft. After a long history of top-notch pilots having to fly less-than adequate technology, this is the first time that the Polish Air Force has met the highest worldwide quality standards, which it often confirms in international exercises and combat missions.

On the 100th anniversary of the PLAF, an idea from a handful of aviation enthusiasts inspired the General Command of Armed Services to launch an unprecedented photographic project. The aim was to photograph all aircraft types in Polish service air-to-air against typical Polish landscapes. I had the honour to be invited to be part of a group of select photographers tasked with the job. The photos that resulted from the project offer the best possible illustration of Polish Military Aviation on its centenary.