GERMAN FULCRUMS FLYING FOR BOTH SIDES

Doug Gordon examines the MiG-29s that initially flew for East Germany and were then inducted into the Luftwaffe.

PART 1

The first air defence MiG-29s arrived with the NVA (Nationale Volksarmee, East German Armed Forces) on March 12, 1988 to join Jagdfliegergeschwader 3 (JG-3) at Preschen.
Stefan Petersen

When the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum made its first public appearance at the Farnborough Air Show in 1988 it left observers astounded by its performance. Military chiefs were perturbed.

For some time, Soviet aircraft design had been regarded with complacency and disdain, but now, respect was due.

Soviet Air Force MiG-29s had visited Finland in 1986 but this was a low-key affair. Although receiving a modicum of publicity at the time, it had nowhere near the impact that the appearance at Farnborough had.

NVA SERVICE

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