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Câmpia Turzii air base was built by the Romanian Air Force between 1952 and 1953 for the Ilyushin IL-10 ground attack aircraft. In 1987 the 71st Fighter Regiment (formally the 48th Fighter Squadron) transferred its MiG-21's from Deveselu to Câmpia Turzii. In 1995 the 71st Fighter Group was formed, however the Group structure was abandoned in 2001. In January 2001 the first MiG-21 LanceR's arrived the unit then converting from the MiG-21M and MiG-21MF, which had been in service since 1969 and 1972 respectively. When Baza Aeriană 93 at Timisoara closed in 2004, it's LanceR-A's transferred to Câmpia Turzii. 71st Air Base (Baza Aeriană 71) is currently the home of;
711 Squadron (Escadrila Aviatie Vânătoare) with the MiG-21 LanceR-A and B 712 Squadron (Escadrila Aviatie Vânătoare) with the MiG-21 LanceR-C and B 713 Squadron (Escadrila) with the IAR.330L Puma. |
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| Mikoyan Gurevich-Aerostar MiG-21 LanceR-B (172).
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Left to right: MiG-21 LanceR-C (9611 x3, 6499). |
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Left to right: MiG-21 LanceR-A (3002 x2) and MiG-21 LanceR-B (172). |
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Left to right: MiG-21 LanceR-A (9612), MiG-21 LanceR-B (329) with the 'bonnet' open and IAR.330L Puma (98) of 713 Squadron.
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The temporary storage area with all three variants of MiG-21 LanceR,
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Left to right: MiG-21 LanceR-C (6518 x3 and 6721). 6721 was in the coming weeks over-hauled and made ready for service once again. 0n its first flight the pilot lost control and the aircraft crashed, tragically the pilot failed to eject and was killed. Click for full story. |
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Left to right: MiG-21 LanceR-A (6421) and MiG-21 LanceR-B (176 x3). |
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Left to right: The storage line with all three variants of MiG-21 LanceR. MiG-21 LanceR-A (9702) and MiG-21 LanceR-B (176 x2).
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Photography Note: This was the first air base visited during our week in Romania. Following our through-the-night drive from Budapest, we arrived full of anticipation and with a certain amount of apprehension. Would we be expected, how much access would we get? These were the questions that would soon be answered. Immediately our fears were dispelled, with a very warm welcome, a tick on their list and transport to the flight lines. Once on base our escorts were very willing to offer assistance, including the removal of the nose cone intake protectors and the provision of steps for the very nice
elevated shots. It was very hot and the self-inflicted long walks exhausting, the ice cooled drinks tent has never been so much appreciated. |
