Getting a Fish out of Bed

We recently moved the MiG-21 from the storage hangar to the maintenance hangar. It had languished there, out of sight, out of mind. It was time for it to get some attention.

It was still on rollers, too low to get jacks under it.


First, we raised it up and got it on a collection of wood pallets. Our thinking is that we'll attach the wings and then get jacks under the aircraft to lift it up about six feet so that we can drop the gear.


Then we took the wings out of their shipping stands and put them first on pallets then raised them with the forklift and put them on L-39 wing dollys. The wings are heavy and it helps to have some big guys who can muscle them around. Here George the Dog is seen keeping an eye on Todd and supervising as well.


Eventually we got both wings on dollys and everybody posed for a picture.


Tracie posed for a calendar picture as well.


Much work needs to be done. The wing pins need to be rehabilitated and the fairings need some sheet metal work. And then there's that whole "getting the engine running" thing we need to worry about.