Kraków 2023-12-06
Mikojan i Guriewicz MiG-21 UM nb 9349.
193b Section 1965-05-18. Poland. A supersonic trainer aircraft used in the Polish Army.
Training versions of the MiG-21 UM type 69. A total of 54 units were purchased. Delivery schedule: 1971, 3 copies on July 26, 1971. 1972, 5 copies. 1973, 9 copies. 1974, 2 copies. 1975, 1 copy. 1980, 24 copies. 1981, 10 copies. The MiG-21 UM was introduced into service in the period 1971-1981. The planes were used, among others, in: 32. PLRT Sochaczew. 28. PLM Słupsk, until 1980. 3. PLM Krzesiny, since 1997. 10. PLM Łask.
The MiG-21 UM aircraft nb 9349, no. 516999349, was one of the last MiG-21 UM aircraft purchased. It was the 51st copy of the UM version, which was delivered in 1981. The plane was used in Krzesiny in the 3rd ELT. At the end of its service, the plane’s livery was Albino Tiger. This painting was done in 2001. The last renovation was carried out at the WZL-3 Plant. After the end of service, the plane was moved to the museum in Krakow in 2007.
There is a small emblem of the 3rd ELT in Poznań in Krzesiny on the vertical tail. There are also signs of the WZL-3 Plant on the fuselage of the plane and the names of the last pilot officers: J. Skiba, R. Zadencki.
The plane was powered by the R-13-300 engine, a turbojet, single-flow, twin-shaft engine, developed under the supervision of S. Gavrylov, as a development of the Tumański R-11 engine. The engine received a new five-stage high-pressure compressor, a new combustion chamber that made restarting the engine easier at high altitude, and a new afterburner. Titanium alloys were used on a larger scale in engine construction. The engine was used in MiG-21 MF, SM, SMT and Su-15T and TM fighter aircraft, as well as MiG-21US and UM combat training aircraft. The R-13-300 engine had a thrust of 3,990 kG without afterburning and 6,360 kG with afterburning.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman