What a Mikoyan MiG-21 costs, how far it flies, and what it costs to keep
PlaneFox tracks 4 Mikoyan MiG-21 aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
How far can a Mikoyan MiG-21 fly?
A Mikoyan MiG-21 flies about 626 nm, roughly 1,159 km, which is about 1 h 10 min in still air at typical cruise.
What does a Mikoyan MiG-21 cost to own?
A Mikoyan MiG-21 costs about EUR 23,250 a month to run, or about EUR 1,060 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
More questions about the Mikoyan MiG-21
How much does a Mikoyan MiG-21 cost?
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What should I check when buying a used Mikoyan MiG-21?
About the Mikoyan MiG-21
Aircraft overview
The Mikoyan MiG-21 is a Soviet-designed supersonic fighter developed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau. It first flew in 1955 and entered series production in 1959, with manufacture continuing in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, India and China-derived lines for decades. Built as a lightweight interceptor and tactical fighter, the MiG-21 became one of the most widely produced jet fighters in history. Its importance comes from a simple design philosophy: high speed, small size, rugged systems and comparatively low operating complexity for a Mach 2 military aircraft.
Performance & specifications
Figures vary by version, but a MiG-21bis represents a common late-production benchmark. It is powered by a single Tumansky R-25-300 afterburning turbojet, while earlier aircraft used R-11 or R-13 engines. Typical cruise is in the high subsonic range, around 470 to 520 knots depending on altitude, configuration and fuel planning. Maximum speed is about Mach 2.05 at altitude. Ferry range with external tanks is commonly cited at about 800 nautical miles, while practical mission radius is much lower. Service ceiling is approximately 57,000 feet. Military external load is up to about 4,400 pounds on pylons, although civilian operation usually removes or deactivates combat equipment.
Cabin & avionics
The standard Mikoyan MiG-21 is a single-seat aircraft with a compact, pressurized cockpit and an ejection seat. Two-seat trainer variants, including MiG-21U, MiG-21US and MiG-21UM, are more practical for familiarization and instruction. Original avionics are analog and military-oriented, typically including basic radio navigation, UHF/VHF communications, IFF, gunsight equipment and, on many interceptor versions, RP-21 or RP-22 radar. Civilian examples often require updated radios, transponder, altitude reporting equipment, GPS, battery and wiring work. Modern glass suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical factory equipment for the MiG-21.
Buying & value
Prospective buyers should focus on airframe history, demilitarization status, engine life, logbook continuity, corrosion, hydraulic leaks, fuel system condition and availability of qualified maintenance support. Documentation quality is especially important because many aircraft passed through military storage or export channels. Commonly encountered variants include MiG-21F-13, MiG-21PF, MiG-21MF, MiG-21bis and MiG-21UM trainers. Later MF, bis and UM aircraft generally attract more attention because of parts familiarity and operational usefulness. In the used market, the Mikoyan MiG-21 sits as a specialized warbird and high-performance experimental aircraft rather than a conventional transport or business jet, with value driven by provenance, condition, spares and regulatory path.