Quick Overview

1:72nd Corgi die cast Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum-C, Ukrainian Falcons, RAF Fairford, England, Royal International Air Tatoo 1997. The only non-Russian display team to be equipped with MiG-29s, the Ukrainian Falcons were established in early 1997 with seven Fulcrum Cs and two Fulcrum Bs. The team made its public debut on May 9, 1997 in Kiev during that year's VE-Day celebrations. The Falcons were the stars of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford two months later, and they continued to perform at various events in Europe until July 2002. On July, 27th of that month, an Su-27UB crashed into the crowd while performing acrobatics at Sknilov Air Base, killing 83 spectators. In the wake of this tragedy the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense banned military display flying altogether.

Designed to help the Soviet Union attain air superiority, the MiG-29 fighter was first flown on October 6, 1977. The MiG-29, known as the "Fulcrum," has a high-mounted bubble canopy and twin jet engines with diagonal-shaped air intakes and large exhausts. Its tapered, swept-back wings and boom-mounted tail fins give it its classic look. Armed with medium and short-range missiles and unguided weapons for ground and sea-surface targets, the MiG-29's sight is a helmet-mounted system—the pilot chooses his targets by looking at them. Even today the Fulcrum remains a potent adversary, and will remain in service for at least another decade.