Azerbaijani MiG-21 F-7M

[comrade harps]

Socialist Unity Aviation Collective (SUAC) Mig-21 F-7M
Blue 66, Yusif İmanov Escuadrille, Bəxtiyar Həsənalızadə Regiment, Azerbaijan People's Socialist Republic Air Force, 1963
Personal mount of Flight Leader Bəhlul Mustafazadə



There were 4 production versions of the MiG-21 F. The original F model was armed with 2 internal 30mm cannon, plus optional rockets or bombs. The F-7 was an interceptor with a single 30mm cannon and 2 heavy weight K-7 Alpine IR guided missiles. The F-13 was armed with 1 cannon and could carry air to surface ordnance or 2 lightweight K-13 first generation Atoll IR guided missiles. Both the F-7 and F-13 were replaced on production lines by the F-7M during 1962. This fighter bomber variant differed chiefly from its immediate predecessors in being able to carry either the K-7 Alpine or the K-13M Atoll, the latter using a scaled down version of the K-7's PbTe IR seeker; this was not just an improvement on the K-13's original seeker, but enabled interchangeability as the K-7 and K-13M had common coolant requirements.




This MiG-21 F-7M, Blue 66 of the Azerbaijani Bəxtiyar Həsənalızadə Regiment (BHR), was usually flown by Flight Leader Bəhlul Mustafazadə. The BHR was available for rapid deployment commitments in mid-1963 when it was ordered to provide air defence over the Iberian Peninsula at Spain's Armilla Air Base in June. This was in response to the UN's ongoing Operation Storm Front, a campaign of "protective reactive strikes" which saw UN aircraft penetrating into Red Mediterranean and European airspace on strategic bombing missions. From Armilla, the Azerbaijani pilots engaged UN strike packages over the Spanish Republic and the Alboran Sea.




Flight Leader Bəhlul Mustafazadə achieved 14 kills during this deployment: 9 in Blue 66, plus 5 in other aircraft, as follows:

7/6/63: USAF F-105D with K-13Ms in Blue 66 (POW)
9/6/63: USAF F-105D with K-13Ms in Blue 66 (KIA)
15/6/63: USAF F-8F with K-13M in Blue 66 (POW)
19/6/66: RCAF Mirage IIIC with cannon in Blue 67 (KIA)
25/6/66: BrAF F-105D with cannon in Blue 67 (KIA)
26/6/63: SAAF F-101E with K-7s in Blue 62 (POW, POW)
1/7/63: USAF F-106E with K-7s in Blue 66 (KIA, POW)
5/7/63: RAAF F-105D with K-13Ms in Blue 66 (KIA)
12/763: USAF F-8F with K-13Ms in Blue 66 (KIA)
16/7/63: RCAF F-105D with K-13Ms in Blue 63 (POW)
17/7/63: BrAF F-105D with K-13Ms in Blue 63 (POW)
27/7/63: USAF B-72C with K-7s in Blue 66 (KIA, KIA)
3/8/63: USAF B-58B with K-7s in Blue 66 (KIA, KIA, POW)
9/8/63: USAF F-105D with K-13Ms in Blue 61 (KIA)
16/8/63: USAF F-8F with K-13Ms in Blue 66 (POW)




An observation about this kill tally is that all the victories achieved with the big K-7 were scored at night. It was a Regimental policy that night QRAs be armed with the heavier, longer ranged K-7, as maneuvering agility was less important at night and the airspace less congested. As the K-7 was longer ranged than the F-7M's radar, these engagements were highly orchestrated by GCI officers. In Mustafazadə's case, all his night kills were achieved over the Alboran Sea. He was highly rated for his IFR skills.




Flight Leader Mustafazadə was flying Blue 66 on a post maintenance check flight on 18 August 1963 when the aircraft experienced an engine fire at low altitude. Forced to eject, he suffered a spinal injury that ended his flying career. He went on to be a secondary school science, technology and maths teacher.

[zenrat]

That's awesome mate.  Another fabulous Harpsian paint scheme.
  

[Dizzyfugu]

Neat. 

[NARSES2]

I like that 

[Old Wombat]

That's awesome mate.  Another fabulous Harpsian paint scheme.
  

Fred said it!  

[perttime]

I'm sure I've mentioned before that, to me, the F models are the best looking MiGs ever.

One minor detail caught my eye: all MiG-21 F model photos that I have seen have the pitot "spear" mounted on the bottom of the nose. This one has it high on the starboard side.

[comrade harps]

I'm sure I've mentioned before that, to me, the F models are the best looking MiGs ever.

One minor detail caught my eye: all MiG-21 F model photos that I have seen have the pitot "spear" mounted on the bottom of the nose. This one has it high on the starboard side.

A deliberate choice, to shift up the whiff a bit. Glad you noticed.

[su27rules]

    

[DogfighterZen]

Another excellent build, love the camo!   

[chrisonord]

Marvelous