Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA6521
MIG-29 9-13 "Ghost of Kyiv" bort 19, Ukrainian Air Force (with extra 2 x AGM-88 missiles)
 
General Background
The MiG-29 is a twin-engine supersonic fourth generation air superiority jet fighter developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970’s. The aircraft entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983 and still is in use with them as well as equipping over twenty four other countries over the years. The NATO designation for the MiG-29 is Fulcrum and it was designed to counter the American F-16 and F-18. The MiG-29 was first seen in the West in 1986. The MiG-29 (9-13) is designated the Fulcrum C.
 
The Aircraft
The story of the “Ghost of Kyiv” began at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The story goes that on the first day of the invasion a brave Ukrainian pilot flying a MiG-29 managed to shoot down 5 possibly 10 Russian aircraft depending on the source. The action gained worldwide attention and the pilot became known as the “Gkost of Kyiv”. The pilot was Major Stepan Tarabalka who managed a total of 40 victories before being killed on March 13, 2022.