A Florida Company Is Selling Soviet MiG Fighter Jets in Prime Condition
A Florida company that specializes in secondhand business jets and helicopters also deals in old jet fighters-particularly those from the former Soviet bloc. Raptor Aviation of St. Lucie, Fla., has a variety of fighters from the famous Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft design bureau, from the 1950s-era MiG-17 to the MiG-29.
Raptor offers a range of Soviet bloc MiG fighters. The oldest is a sporty-looking MiG-17PF (NATO code name: Fresco) formerly of the Polish Air Force. The aircraft interior is immaculate and the exterior is a bright aluminum skin with Polish military markings. According to the airplane's provenance, it was built in 1960 and sat outside for 30 years before falling into the hands of a private collector/restorer. The MiG-17PF even comes with a pair of drop tanks for cross-country travel.
The company also offers a number of MiG-21UM (Fishbed) fighters. A contemporary of the F-4 Phantom II, the MiG-21UM faced off against its American counterpart in a number of wars, including the Vietnam War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The MiG-21UM model was built in the Soviet Union at three plants. From Raptor, the airplanes are available in Soviet, Polish, and one other unidentifiable set of markings. It's an analog, industrial-era aircraft with dials and switches in the interior.
The most recent MiG offering is a MiG-29UB, the twin-seater version of the MiG-29. Still in production in Russia, this MiG-29UB has two RD-33 afterburning turbofan engines with low milage. It looks good for another 1,000 hours with proper maintenance and inspections. The MiG-29UB is painted in modern Russian Aerospace Force camouflage that's a mixture of slate, off-white, and a frosty blue.
The company doesn't just offer MiGs. A Chinese air force prop-driven trainer, a Nanchang CJ6 is available. If you've like to fly an ex-U.S. military close air support aircraft Raptor has OV-10 Bronco and A-1 Skyraiders.
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