Goodfellow Static 3—Oh-Mi-Gosh! MiGs!

Two of the most unique Goodfellow statics have to be the Russian-built MiG fighters resting near the main school houses. Part of the training at Goodfellow involves recognizing our own military aircraft and especially the adversary’s aircraft. Our classes use the two MiGs as training aids, as you can see in the photos. The U.S. government obtained these jets after the Cold War ended and our ally, Germany, sold them to us from old East Germany’s inventory.

MiG-23 "Flogger" at Goodfellow AFB, Texas.

Hidden along Fort Lancaster street sits a green camo schemed MiG-23 Flogger fighter-interceptor. Russia, then known as the Soviet Union, began making MiG-23s in 1970. Like its adversary the United States, Russia has upgraded its jet fighters many times in the past 40 years. The “Flogger” does fly on, however, and has been sold to several countries who aren’t able to afford newer jets. These countries include Cuba, North Korea, Syria, and many more.

"Me & a MiG-23"

Read more about the MiG-23 at CombatAircraft.com (click here). And finally, take a look at (and a listen to) MiG-23s taking off. Click here for coolness!

The cockpit is made for shorter people.

Sitting closer to my school, the 315^th Training Squadron, rests a MiG-29 Fulcrum. The Fulcrum came into Soviet Russian service in 1983. The designers kept improving later models for several decades. Russia built and sold many copies. The MiG-29 continues to fly today for more than 30 countries including Russia.


The instruments are labeled in Russian (of course!)

You can read more about the MiG-29 at CombatAircraft.com (click here). And check out this very cool promotional video for the Fulcrum. The plane on display sports a stylish paint scheme and the videographers layered in shark video on a background of European techno-instrumental music (click here).

The MiG-29 is looking down
its nose at us.

And for the real aviation or military geeks, check out a Russian documentary series called “Wings of Russia.” It’s an English-translated version of a Russian-produced series about the many decades of Russian military aircraft. I appreciate listening to the Russian perspective on their own equipment and their opinion of American aircraft. The menu of Wings of Russia episodes can be found by clicking here. (The narrator’s Russian accent on English is priceless.)

A MiG fact for movie geeks: Tom Cruise, while playing “Maverick” the arrogant Navy fighter pilot in the 1986 movie Top Gun encountered a “MiG-28.” In reality, it was an American F-5 fighter painted black to appear like an enemy. It’s sort of a rite of passage to learn this factoid here at the school house and chuckle at those who don't know.

"I think I see a MiG-29!"

Russia remains a worthy adversary in developing jet fighters along with China. With some American innovation and a stronger economy, the U.S. will be able to keep pace. HF1

Some additional links to explore (click on each link)

Area51 hosted tests for “secretly acquired” Soviet Fighter jets (The London Guardian)

Goodfellow Air Force Base moves its MiG-29 to make room for Saudi training facility
MiG corporation begins testing new Russian navy fighterjets