Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum-A – 1 ELT, Polish Air Force, Minsk Mazowieki AB 2016

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA6515: Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum-A #56 of 1 ELT, Polish Air Force, Minsk Mazowieki AB, Poland, 2016. Production run of 500 models.

Length 9.5 inches Wingspan 6.25 inches

Between 1989 and 1990 Poland bought 9 MiG-29A and 3 MiG-29UB from the Soviet Union. In 1996 Poland acquired 9 MiG-29A and 1 MiG-29UB from the Czech Republic in exchange for 11 Polish W-3 Sokol helicopters. In 2003 a further 22 MiG-29s were received from Germany. Red 56 MSN 2960532356/4215 from the 1.ELT – 1 Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego (1st Tactical Squadron) Minsk Mazowiecki AB was given a special paint scheme honoring WWII Polish pilot Marian Pisarek who shot down 11 airplanes with 3 more probables before he was shot down.

Designed to help the Soviet Union attain air superiority, the MiG-29 fighter was first flown on October 6th, 1977. The MiG-29, known as the “Fulcrum,” has a high-mounted bubble canopy and twin jet engines with diagonal-shaped air intakes and large exhausts. Its tapered, swept-back wings and boom-mounted tail fins give it its classic look. Armed with medium and short-range missiles and unguided weapons for ground and sea-surface targets, the MiG-29’s sight is a helmet-mounted system-the pilot chooses his targets by looking at them. Even today the Fulcrum remains a potent adversary, and will remain in service for at least another decade.