ByronLeal Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Hi, I am about to paint my MiG-21SMT, can someone please tell me which other country, besides the late URSS, uses it? Thanks in advance for any info :) Happy Modeling Byron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Hi, I might prove wrong, but to my knowledge the Mig-21 SMT version was used only by USSR. Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I photographed these MiG-21SMTs at a small display/dump at Dolgoye Ledovo near Moscow..... According to my MiG-21 expert colleague it is - "One of three rare MiG-21MT (iz. 96T) variants on display - from a small batch of 15 built at Znamya Truda for export but not sold." He didn't say who it was being 'exported' to - but it is, essentially a MiG-21SMT..... Here's another one..... ....and the third one..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 According to David Nicolle's Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat, Syria flew a few MiG-21SMT's. FWIW, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
172flogger Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I think MIG-21SMT is a MIG-21SM with big spine. 15 MIG-21MT were cheaper MIG-21M/MF with big spine from SMT. And MIG-21ST was MIG-21SMT refited with smaller Bis spine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 According to David Nicolle's Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat, Syria flew a few MiG-21SMT's. I have serious doubts about that. There were only a handful of SMT's built. The aerodynamics of the spine and the horrible effect the spine tank had on handling characteristics are the reasons they only built so few of them, and I would be *very* surprised if any were actually exported. Even the MIG OKB admits that the SMT was a mistake. J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I have serious doubts about that. There were only a handful of SMT's built. The aerodynamics of the spine and the horrible effect the spine tank had on handling characteristics are the reasons they only built so few of them, and I would be *very* surprised if any were actually exported. Even the MIG OKB admits that the SMT was a mistake. I had my doubts as well, and for the same reasons you give, hence the FWIW - just passing along what the Osprey volume states. Of course, it could be a convenient way for the Soviets to get rid of airframes they themselves would no longer find useful (or even safe...); if you're going to write off an airplane, it's better to get some cash for them from the Arabs than to let them rot away on the grass of a far off airstrip. Then again, some volumes in the series have been written by Tom Cooper... :D Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 (edited) I had my doubts as well, and for the same reasons you give, hence the FWIW - just passing along what the Osprey volume states. Of course, it could be a convenient way for the Soviets to get rid of airframes they themselves would no longer find useful (or even safe...); if you're going to write off an airplane, it's better to get some cash for them from the Arabs than to let them rot away on the grass of a far off airstrip. Then again, some volumes in the series have been written by Tom Cooper... It's possible that Syria used ex-SMTs: MiG-21STs as 172flogger said. There are some of these in the Riga museum (Latvia). Pic 1, pic 2. How to distinguish an ST from Bis: wing panel lines if they're visible, narrow intake lip in the Bis. Edited September 9, 2010 by Laurent Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I have serious doubts about that. There were only a handful of SMT's built. The aerodynamics of the spine and the horrible effect the spine tank had on handling characteristics are the reasons they only built so few of them, and I would be *very* surprised if any were actually exported. Even the MIG OKB admits that the SMT was a mistake.J How many is a "few"? I thought the SMT saw some significant service with select Soviet nuclear strike units in Hungary and Germany back in the cold war days. It was optimized as a nuclear strike aircraft for pretty much a one-way mission, the main consideration was to pack as much fuel as possible into it for max range. All other considerations, including handling were secondary. On a semi-related note - does anyone know if Eduard is going to release a 1/48th SMT? I thought I read somewhere that this was announced but can't find anything conclusively. Regards, John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I photographed these MiG-21SMTs at a small display/dump at Dolgoye Ledovo near Moscow.....<...> Whenever I see those pics, I have that sudden desire to build a diorama of such a scene. There's something special about these half-abandoned, derelict aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yuri Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 How many is a "few"? Well... should check my sources (if I could remember where I read it....)... but really few.... in the number of 50-100 (even as low as 45?) But I'm saying that from memory, so I could be wrong... Anyway, as others said, I don't think it was ever flown by other countries besides Soviet Union Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raymond Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Whenever I see those pics, I have that sudden desire to build a diorama of such a scene. There's something special about these half-abandoned, derelict aircraft. I hear that! wernt those iraqi 21s being overhauled in yugo 21SMs without the big spine? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
flanker Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 (edited) wernt those iraqi 21s being overhauled in yugo 21SMs without the big spine? No these planes are MiG-21bis or MiG-21IQ as they are called.Its intake diameter is bigger and it is visible on photos too since MF protection cover is too small for them. Edited September 10, 2010 by flanker Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pollie Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I have serious doubts about that. There were only a handful of SMT's built. The aerodynamics of the spine and the horrible effect the spine tank had on handling characteristics are the reasons they only built so few of them, and I would be *very* surprised if any were actually exported. Even the MIG OKB admits that the SMT was a mistake.J Between 1971 and 1973, a total of 281 SMT's were build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Between 1971 and 1973, a total of 281 SMT's were build. Do you know how many were converted into STs ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pollie Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Do you know how many were converted into STs ? No, I have no info on that unfortunately. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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