The Mikoyan MIG-29 Mach 2.3 – Private ownership Take 2
Posted By RichC on January 30, 2011
For those who remember the last days of the cold war and paying attention to military aviation advancements, the Russian Mig-29 was a frightening aircraft … 
and it still is. It was put into service in 1983 and remains an “air superiority” jet fighter in my air forces around the world.
In December of 2010 and then on January 23rd, two of these Mach 2.3 twin engine jet fighters are now flying in private hands. The latest Soviet fighter, N29UB, belongs to the Historic Flight Foundation, based at Paine Field in Mukilteo, which specializes in vintage airplanes. This second restored Mig-29 may be joining RedAir in missions that can help western pilots in preparing against their Mig-29 adversaries.
Below is a video highlighting RedAir’s first flight of their restored Mig-29 in Quincy, Illinois on December 16th, 2010.
According to Wikipedia, these nations still use the Mig-29:
Algeria – 35 MiG-29s in service as of December 2010.[90]
Azerbaijan – 49 in use as of December 2010.[91]
Bangladesh – 14 MiG-29SEs and two MiG-29UBs in service.[92][93]
Belarus – 41 MiG-29s in inventory as of January 2010.[94]
Bulgaria – 14 MiG-29S and 4 MiG-29UB, modernized in 2009.[95]
Cuba – 4 MiG-29s in inventory as of January 2010.[94]
Eritrea – 7 MiG-29s in service as of January 2010.[94]
Hungary – had 12 in service as of January 2010.[94] The last of them was retired in December 2010.[96]
India
- Indian Air Force has 69 MiG-29s in service as of December 2010.[90] The upgrade of all MiG-29s to latest MiG-29SMT standard is in process which will include latest avionics, Zhuk-ME Radar, engine, weapon control systems etc.[36][37]
- Indian Naval Air Arm has 4 MiG-29Ks in service with 39 on order as of December 2010.[90]
Iran – 35 MiG-29s and 4 MiG-29UBs in inventory as of January 2010.[94]
Kazakhstan – 40 in use as of January 2010.[94]
Malaysia – 10 MiG-29s in service as of January 2010.[94] To be retired.[97]
Myanmar – 10 MiG-29Bs and two MiG-29UBs in service as of November 2008.[98] Ordered 20 more MiG-29SMT fighters in 2009.[99]
Peru – 19 in service as of January 2010.[94][98]
North Korea – 40 in service as of January 2010.[94][98] 12 initially bought from Belarus in 1995 and a follow up order of 18 MiG-29SE plus 3 new from Russia in 1996. Two were lost in accidents. 
Poland – 36 in service as of January 2010.[94]
Russia – 447 in use as of January 2010.[94]
Serbia – 3 MiG-29s in service as of December 2010.[90]
Slovakia – 21 MiG-29s received, 12 in service as of January 2010.[94]
Sudan – 12 ordered,[100][101] and 12 in service as of January 2010.[94]
Syria – 19 MiG-29s in operation as of January 2010.[94]
Turkmenistan – 24 MiG-29s in operation as of January 2010.[94]
Ukraine – Ukrainian Air Force had 80 MiG-29s in use as of January 2010.[94] Began upgrading MiG-29 9-13s to MiG-29MU1s.[citation needed]
United States – Evaluation only 
Uzbekistan – 60 MiG-29s in operation as of January 2010.[94]
Yemen – 18 MiG-29SMTs and 1 MiG-29UBT in service as of January 2010.[94]
Comments