Vietnam presents Thai Air Force with MiG-21bis fighter

[webfact]

Vietnam presents Thai Air Force with MiG-21bis fighter
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 18 -- The Vietnamese Air Force on Friday presented a MiG-21bis fighter aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), aimed at strengthening military relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Senior Colonel Vu Hoi An, deputy chief of Vietnam’s Aeronautical Engineering, presented the fighter plane to RTAF Commander-in-Chief Prajin Junthong, also deputy leader of National Council for Peace and Order responsible for economic affairs, during a ceremony held at the RTAF Museum.

The plane will be on display at the RTAF Museum for the public to view.

Sr Col Vu said during the presentation ceremony that the fighter plane was used on manyl occasions during the Vietnam War against the American forces and was able to destroy a number of US fighter-bombers and B-52 bombers.

He said the Vietnamese government wanted the RTAF to help display and inform the Thai people how powerful this fighter aircraft was in the past.

The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975 after North Vietnamese forces seized the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).

Air Chief Marshal Prajin said senior air force officers of the two countries have exchanged visits frequently during the past two years.

The presentation of the MiG-21bis by Vietnam is aimed at strengthening relations between the air forces of the two countries. The RTAF, however, presented nothing in exchange.

Air Vice-Marshal Sakpinit Promthep, assistant chief of the RTAF Air Staff, said the MiG-21bis had played a major role in defending Vietnam against US attacks during the Vietnam War.

He said the fighter aircraft was able to destroy several F-105, F-4 and B-52 fighter bombers which were very powerful at that time. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-07-18

[3NUMBAS]

makes a nice garden ornament ,thanks

[Payboy]

Good thing they're also giving a pilot with it. Is that him on the extreme left?

[Morakot]

The RTAF, however, presented nothing in exchange.

Clearly they should have brought something from Jatu Jak junk yard.

Edited July 18, 2014 by Morakot

[ParadiseLost]

How to get rid of your outdated obsolete junk - any suggestions what the Thais can dump on them?

How about a few concrete pillars from failed Japanese projects? A remarkable monument to the history of corruption, failed dreams and fortunes wasted...

They could put the Mig in the submarine pen. A Mig-pen.

[zydeco]

He said the fighter aircraft was able to destroy several F-105, F-4 and B-52 fighter bombers which were very powerful at that time. (MCOT online news)

Maybe one of you military guys can set this straight, but I thought the B52 was a strategic bomber, not a fighter bomber. And I don't remember too many North Vietnamese aircraft ever taking to the skies--at least not while the USAF was there. I could be wrong. But there should be some experts out there who know.

[JoeThePoster]

Good thing they're also giving a pilot with it. Is that him on the extreme left?

Thailand's most wanted bachelor - high flyer, fair skin, keeps quiet mostly, & wears an uniform.

Edited July 18, 2014 by JoeThePoster

[UbonRatch]

It'll be up in the air tomorrow, as a display of Thai force against the West.

[DrTuner]

Good thing they're also giving a pilot with it. Is that him on the extreme left?

'em pilots can really afford the high-end whitening creams.

[chotthee]

I will be useful for Thai's plane-less aircraft carrier parked in Sattahip as a tourist attraction.

[mojorison]

I'm confused. Did the Thais fight with the North to overcome the treacherous south supported by the US. 'Cos if they did... they won! (Just like in WW2... but that time they lost.)

[Luk Mhee]

Good, the further we can develop relations with our neighbors including Russia the less we have to depend on the yanks and their outdated technology.

[jucel]

Good, the further we can develop relations with our neighbors including Russia the less we have to depend on the yanks and their outdated technology.

Thailand, the land of tech & inventions!

[Paulzed]

He said the fighter aircraft was able to destroy several F-105, F-4 and B-52 fighter bombers which were very powerful at that time. (MCOT online news)

Maybe one of you military guys can set this straight, but I thought the B52 was a strategic bomber, not a fighter bomber. And I don't remember too many North Vietnamese aircraft ever taking to the skies--at least not while the USAF was there. I could be wrong. But there should be some experts out there who know.

I'm not an expert but I do know that the Mig 21 was one of the best fighter jets made in its time, Was more advanced that the opposition fighters,The VC only had a few of them, the Mig 21 is still used in eastern Europe as a fighter trainer

Edited July 18, 2014 by Paulzed

[AleG]

The RTAF, however, presented nothing in exchange.

Clearly they should have brought something from Jatu Jak junk yard.

Oh, wouldn't worry too much about it. Plenty of aircraft were sent to Vietnam from Thailand already, the Vietnamese kept a few, although with a dent or two.

[klauskunkel]

Vietnam presents Thai Air Force with MiG-21bis fighter

..., however, they really wanted a submarine...

[CNXTim]

Perhaps all you clever dicks should take a look at this before you prattle out some more inane comments?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces

So it will be interesting to see a good example up close, guessing it will be at Wing 41 Chiang Mai?

The yanks used Thailand as a major staging post for innumerable air strikes as the dropped their c..p all over Laos and Vietnam, as well as Wattay Noi in Vientiane and Diego Garcia.

That is why it so nice and easy to fly around the Kingdom now - thank you Uncle Sam for all the concrete

[gemini81]

Perhaps all you clever dicks should take a look at this before you prattle out some more inane comments?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces

So it will be interesting to see a good example up close, guessing it will be at Wing 41 Chiang Mai?

The yanks used Thailand as a major staging post for innumerable air strikes as the dropped their c..p all over Laos and Vietnam, as well as Wattay Noi in Vientiane and Diego Garcia.

That is why it so nice and easy to fly around the Kingdom now - thank you Uncle Sam for all the concrete

This is like giving the bad news bears a baseball.

[ParadiseLost]

Perhaps all you clever dicks should take a look at this before you prattle out some more inane comments?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces

So it will be interesting to see a good example up close, guessing it will be at Wing 41 Chiang Mai?

The yanks used Thailand as a major staging post for innumerable air strikes as the dropped their c..p all over Laos and Vietnam, as well as Wattay Noi in Vientiane and Diego Garcia.

That is why it so nice and easy to fly around the Kingdom now - thank you Uncle Sam for all the concrete

And the landmines, agent orange, cluster bombs...

[TimCM]

Good, the further we can develop relations with our neighbors including Russia the less we have to depend on the yanks and their outdated technology.

Thailand, the land of tech & inventions!

Surely you mean the HUB

[ezzra]

They should now ask the US for a Phantom 4E or/and the P86 Saber to complete the picture

of whom fought who in that war...

[Snig27]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

He said the fighter aircraft was able to destroy several F-105, F-4 and B-52 fighter bombers which were very powerful at that time. (MCOT online news)

Maybe one of you military guys can set this straight, but I thought the B52 was a strategic bomber, not a fighter bomber. And I don't remember too many North Vietnamese aircraft ever taking to the skies--at least not while the USAF was there. I could be wrong. But there should be some experts out there who know.

The B-52 is a strategic bomber (still). However the North Vietnamese took to the skies plenty in the war, with their Mig-17s, Mig 19s and Mig-21s having a pretty strong success rate. Indeed, the NVAF played a pretty large part in the eventual US withdrawal. As the US has found time and time again over the years, very expensive weaponry is not a match for fervent belief in your own cause. The VNAF shot down a lot of US aircraft.

As to sending an F-86. Why? It was another war away - Korea.

[Trembly]

He said the fighter aircraft was able to destroy several F-105, F-4 and B-52 fighter bombers which were very powerful at that time. (MCOT online news)

Maybe one of you military guys can set this straight, but I thought the B52 was a strategic bomber, not a fighter bomber. And I don't remember too many North Vietnamese aircraft ever taking to the skies--at least not while the USAF was there. I could be wrong. But there should be some experts out there who know.

The B52 is indeed a strategic bomber. Ignore the ignorant journalist.

As for the VPAF, they flew alright . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_People's_Air_Force

Edited July 18, 2014 by Trembly

[Payboy]

Good thing they're also giving a pilot with it. Is that him on the extreme left?

'em pilots can really afford the high-end whitening creams.

Maybe he just saw a Cambodian paper plane.

[Steiner]

Perhaps all you clever dicks should take a look at this before you prattle out some more inane comments?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces

Hokum.

Do you actually believe the stats that North Vietnam pushed out?

Bigger fool you if you do, I would trust the stats of a communist country at war about as far as I could throw a Mig 21!

The link you posted isn't even verified.

American fighters had a far superior kill ratio to the Vietnamese, 19:3 for the F8 fighter the F4 shot down 66 Mig 21's, confirmed kills and finished the war with an 11:1 kill ratio (although it started with a much lower ratio until a machine gun was fitted for dog fighting)..

Considering that Mig 21's didn't often mix it up with US fighters but would fly in at top speed, attack bombers and keep going I don't see how the figures can be close to correct.

The North Vietnamese didn't have that many Mig 21's and used them sparingly because of the kill ratio.

[attento]

Good, the further we can develop relations with our neighbors including Russia the less we have to depend on the yanks and their outdated technology.

Good plan friend. Let's stop dependency on the West and become dependant on Russia instead . . . . . .

[iphad]

Perhaps all you clever dicks should take a look at this before you prattle out some more inane comments?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces

Hokum.

Do you actually believe the stats that North Vietnam pushed out?

Bigger fool you if you do, I would trust the stats of a communist country at war about as far as I could throw a Mig 21!

The link you posted isn't even verified.

American fighters had a far superior kill ratio to the Vietnamese, 19:3 for the F8 fighter the F4 shot down 66 Mig 21's, confirmed kills and finished the war with an 11:1 kill ratio (although it started with a much lower ratio until a machine gun was fitted for dog fighting)..

Considering that Mig 21's didn't often mix it up with US fighters but would fly in at top speed, attack bombers and keep going I don't see how the figures can be close to correct.

The North Vietnamese didn't have that many Mig 21's and used them sparingly because of the kill ratio.

"The entry of missile-armed, supersonic Mig-21's in early 1966 dramatically increased the VPAF ( Vietnam People's Air Force ) threat.

The USAF's primary counter to the MiG was the F-4 Phantom II fighter

Though outnumbered, VPAF MiGs had some significant advantages.

Guided by ground controllers using early warning radar, MiG pilots only attacked under ideal circumstances, such as when USAF aircraft were bomb-laden, low on fuel, or damaged.

The small, hard-to-see MiGs typically made one-pass attacks at high speed, then escaped to a sanctuary (either their airfields, which were not bombed until mid-1967, or to nearby communist China).

Since they were always over friendly territory, MiG pilots could be back in action quickly if they survived being shot down.

USAF fighter pilots had better training and superior aircraft, but they endured several disadvantages.

One serious issue was missile reliability and performance. Over one-half of the missiles fired by the USAF during the SEA War malfunctioned, and only about 1 in 11 fired scored a victory.

At the end of the Southeast Asia War in 1973, the VPAF had lost nearly 150 MiGs in combat to USAF fighter crews, while the USAF lost about 70 aircraft (of all types) to MiGs".

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=18112

Edited July 18, 2014 by iphad

[Marknreston]

Having flown the F-4 against the Mig-21 in many post Vietnam War peacetime training stories.....a few corrections/comments

As with any fighter, the MIG-21 is only as good as the pilot/crew. With a good pilot, the MIG-21 was a formidable opponent in a close in dogfight. It's weapons and radar systems were not good in Vietnam timeframe. If they could come I to the fight un observed or get the F-4 into a turning fight then the MIG-21 had a chance. But the pilot still made the difference. In Vietnam there were just a few good NV pilots. The newer equipment like the Mig-21 was often flown by Chinese pilots.

The F-4E saw late and limited combat with the F-4C and D being the primary aircraft flown. The few F-4Es were dedicated air to air while the others carried bombs.

As for the uninformed comments regarding US military activities, capabilities etc, I find it ironic when they come from those who grew up in Europe where the landscape is dotted with US military cemeteries, the final resting place for thousand of US men who gave their all in defense of Europe. I caution you that this anti-US attitude is beginning to result in US people being fed up with the sacrifices made to help those less capable. Soon the rest of the world just might have to live with more extremist/terrorist religious based countries, Russian oil, and defend themselves against the likes of Putin and Al Queada without the support of the US. Good luck with that. Also, the ONLY reason China is held in check is because of US power. So bash the US and their outstanding military capability but be prepared to go it alone. Have a nice day.

[zydeco]

Funny thing is, that while the Vietnamese are shipping their Russian museum pieces for display in Thailand, they are fervently seeking out a new relationship with the US. The Vietnam War was indeed a murderous fiasco for all concerned. Going on almost 40 years after its end and the two antagonists might well find themselves joined in an alliance once again. I always thought we Americans made a mistake in Vietnam. Right at the beginning, we should have allied with Ho and declared war on the French. Vietnam and the US will always have the same mutual concern--China. But it's a good move to send the Mig to Thailand, as some Thais seem hell bent on building a dependency on China, while all their ASEAN partners are becoming worried about the PRC.

[3NUMBAS]

does it have a log book and MOT and operating manual with it ,and a kit of virtually unavailable parts, better get a flight simulator as well