Interesting afternoon at the Batajnica Air Base and a great chance to take some shoots of one of the last operational MiG-21 Bis „Fishbad“ fighters, or L-17 by serbian military terminology .
Colored like this really looks a bit rusty, but it’s just bad makeup, even stained like this still has that grace which is one of the main characteristic of the 21s. Any aviation fan hardly could stayed indifferent when he stands in front of this beast, or even better, while standing next to him during takeoff. The sound of mighty RD-25 engine is incomparable with any other sound . I always regret for not bringing antiphons, because the noise literally shakes the bone and causes pain, and some strange plasure at the same time :)
As time goes by, this aircraft is getting more and more interesting to me. Probably I’m becaming aware of the fact that he will be retired soon, ant that’s the reason why I’m spending as much time as I can documenting this old birds…
Aircraft in these photos is MiG-21 Bis no. 17409. Today, only few of these aircraft are flying within the 101st fighter squadron “Knights” which also has more modern MiG-29 fighters. Having in mind that this plane was purchased back in 1983, this year will probably be end his of his flying career. So let’s enjoy the last moments of a living legend …
click on image for larger version
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
MiG-21 Bis Fishbed / L-17K / 101.lae “Vitezovi” / Batajnica Air Base 2015
photos, text and art works copyright © Dimitrije Ostojić 2015
This work by Dimitrije Ostojic is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.dimitrijeostojic.com/blog
89/90 sam sluzio redovan vojni rok na Zeljavi u 200.ab. 20ak puta sam bio u Ornitoloskoj ekipi pa sam po ceo dan provodio na pistama Zeljave… Zvuk koji proizvodi Tumanski je fantastican, kao sto si napisao, pomera unutrasnje organe, stvara neverovatnu vibraciju tela a sto posle izaziva odlican osecaj opustenosti (sto bi danas rekli “relax masaza”:-)… Slusati ga i doziveti na 20 metara udaljenosti (a nekada i blize) je predstavljalo neverovatno iskustvo ma koliko puta doziveo. A jos kada su u paru… forsaz, naginjanje nosa, otpustanje kocnice…
Dimitrije, hvala ti na ovim izuzetnim fotkama. Osecam i miris kerozina…
E moj keramičaru…..