A MACH SPEED EXPERIENCE; a rare two-seat MiG-21 jet cockpit is the centerpiece of this Cold War exhibit that includes historic Soviet artifacts.
November 11, 2017 at Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park
AN EXTREME SPEED EXHIBIT; A rare two-seater jet cockpit is the centerpiece of this special exhibit that includes a Soviet ejection seat and an interactive MiG-21 simulator station. Mostly made as a one-seater, the cockpit on display is an unusual two-seater version and is the only one in the U.S. with the inside of the cockpit on public display.
The MiG-21 originated in the former Soviet Union and was the first Soviet fighter jet capable of speeds over Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound. Its top speed is still as fast as the latest high tech fighter types. The jet has a reputation of being easy to fly and maintain. It has all manual controls with no onboard flight computers, instead relying on analog instrument panels that visitors will be able to see.
The MiG-21 is the most produced jet fighter in history, having served in the air forces of over 50 countries. Captain Nguyen Van Coc, who flew a MiG-21 with the NVAF 921st Fighter Regiment has 11 confirmed air victories, making him the highest scoring ace of the Vietnam War. With one of the top jet fighter air to air kill records, the Mig-21 has made approximately 209 verified worldwide air to air kills. Hundreds of MiG-21s remain in service today and it scored its last air to air kill on 10 August 1999.
The cockpit on display was flown by the Polish air force at the height of the Cold War, a historic milestone of aviation technology.
