Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a <a href="/facts/Supersonic/D3VpzmlC">supersonic</a> <a href="/facts/Jet_aircraft/esXNnbbg">jet</a> <a href="/facts/Fighter_aircraft/NuIvaGJg">fighter</a> and <a href="/facts/Interceptor_aircraft/HhjPMdnf">interceptor aircraft</a>, designed by the <a href="/facts/Mikoyan/KTGxSXL1">Mikoyan-Gurevich</a> <a href="/facts/OKB/Tf3D8le0">Design Bureau</a> in the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a>. Its nicknames include: "Balalaika", because its <a href="/facts/Planform_(aeronautics)/oB03eltD">planform</a> resembles the <a href="/facts/Balalaika/fs4r4VEo">stringed musical instrument</a> of the same name; "Ołówek", <a href="/facts/Polish_language/lzpvYDvV">Polish</a> for "pencil", due to the shape of its <a href="/facts/Fuselage/vVXlHEE4">fuselage</a>, and "Én Bạc", meaning "silver <a href="/facts/Swallow/FBzpd2zJ">swallow</a>", in <a href="/facts/Vietnamese_language/J3Pbx58C">Vietnamese</a>.
Approximately 60 countries across four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations seven decades after its maiden flight. It set aviation records, becoming <a href="/facts/List_of_most-produced_aircraft/6t42zpre">the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history</a>, the most-produced combat aircraft since the <a href="/facts/Korean_War/Qo93pNhE">Korean War</a> and, previously, the longest production run of any combat aircraft.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 open-in-new

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21