Rare photo of a Syrian MiG-21

[Jennings]

It's just a partial, but it's pretty rare to see pics of Syrian AF airplanes in general...

Makes me wish this ejection seat would malfunction right about now.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Jennings

[Vince Maddux]

The canopy looks squashed and the weathering it too heavy.

[ya-gabor]

It was taken with a wide angle so it looks strange and disproportionat. The colour is nice on this MiG-21MF.

[THX1138]

Let's hope it crashes on the next takeoff with that moron at the stick.

[habu2]

Are we sure the pictured jet is even airworthy?

[VG 33]

Not sure airworthy but it seems the owner have forgotten to make it booby trapped.

Patrick

[ElectroSoldier]

That thing looks as rough as a mutts nutz!

[Rocky]

I wanted to do my Edward MiG-21MF in Syrian AF markings, but I couldn't find any pictures of the subject.

[achterkirch]

That thing looks as rough as a mutts nutz!

Are we talking about the jet or they guy sitting in the jet? Lol

[ya-gabor]

Now there is also a video of a Syrian MiG-21 in a hangar. Have no idea how to post it but I am sure some clever ones will find it and post it here.

[ChippyWho]

Wonder if anyone will attempt this vignette for the StarFish GB? Great subject to show off command of weathering techniques!

Edited September 3, 2014 by ChippyWho

[habu2]

Can anyone translate the writing on the flag?

[Linden Hill]

'Pilot figure not included'

[vince14]

Can anyone translate the writing on the flag?

It's the standard ISIS flag. The writing in white at the top is the 'Shahada' and says 'Testimony', whilst the writing in the white circle (actually called the 'Seal of Muhammad') reads 'Allah', 'Messenger' and 'Muhammad'. It's been used by various Islamic organisations, right back to the days of Muhammad, and it's popular with ISIS and other Jihadi parties because Muhammad prophesised that the advent of the Mahdi (in essence, the Islamic equivalent of the 'Second Coming of Christ') would be signaled by 'Black Standards' or ‘Black Banners’ proceeding from Khorasan - and area that today forms parts of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

Vince

Edited September 4, 2014 by vince14

[Pep]

The Islamic State flag is historically known as the “Black Banner” or “Black Standard.”

There have been multiple versions throughout history.

Its earliest incarnation can be traced to the advent of Islam in 7th century C.E., where Muhammad allegedly spread his teachings under the Black Standard. He adopted this banner custom from the ancient Romans, who conquered the world under the Aquila, or eagle, banner.

Mohammed may have even adopted the eagle name, as early accounts of his conquest cite that he referred to his banner as “the banner of the eagle” also.

As various sects of Islam developed throughout the coming centuries, the Black Standard began to stand for various eschatological ideologies.

Today it is mostly identified with extremist Sunnism and jihadism.

Source:

Edited September 4, 2014 by Pep

[Pep]

It's the standard ISIS flag. The writing in white at the top is the 'Shahada' and says 'Testimony', whilst the writing in the white circle (actually called the 'Seal of Muhammed') reads 'Allah', 'Messenger' and 'Muhammad'. It's been used by various Islamic organisations, right back to the days of Muhammad, and it's popular with ISIS and other Jihadi parties because Muhammad prophesised that the advent of the Mahdi (in essence, the Islamic equivalent of the 'Second Coming of Christ') would be signaled by 'Black Standards' or ‘Black Banners’ proceeding from Khorasan - and area that today forms parts of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

Vince

Thanks Vince, I was googleing it and did not notice your reply.

[habu2]

Thanks for the translation and related info.

Knowing that, I hope he hooks his foot in the E-ring and takes a brief ride to meet his maker.

[TomCooper]

The plane in question is a MiG-21MF with serial number 1543, delivered to Syria sometimes between December 1972 and April 1973.

It is one of six 'captured' by the ISIS (i.e. left behind by the SyAAF) at Tabqa AB, recently overrun by extremists. The others are three MiG-21UMs (serials 2357, 2360 and an unknown example), a MiG-21MF 1569, and MiG-21bis 2217.

Except for that bis, and although all were regularly overhauled by 'The Works' at Nayrab (as can be seen from their camo consisting of orange-sand and green-blue, which are 'standardized' colours for the SyAAF), all are out of service since years. Indeed, the MFs in question were probably not flown since the mid-1990s.

BTW, you can see five of these MiGs (plus some R-13Ms) on this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v==N02wFJ7J0-Q

Particularly interesting is the bis, which obviously has the original front section, but rear section (with fin and engine) from another aircraft. Even so, its ground crew took care to repeat the 'right' serial on the top of the fin (i.e. per SyAAF standard).

[vesthepes]

Here are some more pics of various SYAAF MiG-21's from Tabqa AFB. I guess does are the images from the video Tom was mentioning...

Photos from SyAAF TABQA AFB (Part II)

Edited September 6, 2014 by vesthepes

[TomCooper]

Yup, and 'R.S.' has meanwhile readied another series of stills from the same and few other videos - and now things are getting really interesting.

See here.

[caudleryan]

Don't know what he's bombing, but someone is shooting back. Maybe ISIL?

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/watch-this-syrian-mig-21-narrowly-miss-obliteration-by-1631513197

[TomCooper]

That video was taken somewhere in the Idlib Province (NW Syria), where ISIS was destroyed in an offensive by native insurgents, early this year. (Note: 'ISIL' was the first designation of this group, used back in 2013, when the Assadist regime left it enter Syria and grow, in order to get the sort of 'Islamist extremist' opposition it was all the time claiming to be facing).

So, nope: no ISIS involvement here.

That said, the S-60 flak calibre 57mm is in widespread use by all parties in this conflict, preferably mounted on 'technical' of a sort (usually a truck with load capability of at least 7,000kg).

[caudleryan]

Ahhh. See? Learn something new every day. I have heard both being used, just didn't know that ISIS is what it is called now.

[Falkirk1298]

This photo was publsihed in yesterday's Sunday Herald:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world-news/air-strikes-pound-islamic-state-positions-in-syria-killing-25-civilians-and-nine-fig.25252870

John

[TomCooper]

Ahhh. See? Learn something new every day. I have heard both being used, just didn't know that ISIS is what it is called now.

The designation developed something like this (a much simplified variant):

- ISIL ('Islamic State for Iraq and Levant') = 2013

- ISIS ('Islamic State for Iraq and Sham/Syria') = since late 2013

- IS ('Islamic State') = since July 2014

BTW, not only that with Levan/Sham/Syria, but especially the latter is a sort of paradox, then Caliphate means 'Islamic State', yet those idiots (majority is neither fluent in Arabic, nor have any kind of clue about Qoran) don't know about it.

This photo was publsihed in yesterday's Sunday Herald:

Yup, a MiG-21MF serial 460, which used to be posted as a gate-guard at entry to Tabqa AB. Should be one of at least two survivors from a batch of about 12-16 delivered in December 1972.