MiG-21's of the Polish Navy in show of strength over the Baltic coast.

Poland 1995! Gdynia Babie Doly, Polish Navy MiG-21s. 

"What's not to like"?

Just one little problem: I was located in Dorset, Southern England. After sending and receiving frantic letters to and from the Polish embassy, I was granted access to all areas for photography.

Heathrow Airport was a good place to start my journey, with a Sabena flight to Brussels. However, I had reservations due to my old days spotting civil airliners, when we had a saying for Sabena (Such A Bloody Experience Never Again) to Brussels, where I connected to an onward flight bound for Warsaw. I then took a five-hour train journey to Gdansk, followed by a short trip to Gdynia. 

Stepping out of the rail station at Gdynia, I found no available taxis, and whilst walking into town, I was rewarded with the immense roar and thunder as no less than Four MiG-21 BIS flew over the Main Street; I watched in awe as they passed low over the promenade and out across the Blue Baltic Sea. 

Gdynia Babie Doly was home to the Polish Navy's 34th Fighter Regiment (34 Pulk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego) with two squadrons (Eskadra) operating the awesome MiG-21 BIS. 

Early morning on the flight line with a mix of seven MiG-21BIS from Eskadra's A and B. Beyond them, a pair of visiting French Navy Etendards are in attendance for the coming weekend's air show.

 

View Babie Doly's 1995 airshow photos by clicking the link below. 

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/polish-navy-aviation-eye-opener-1995.html

8910 MiG-21 BIS of Eskadra A "Siuksow" (Sioux). Behind, you can see Eskadra 'B' "Chinezyków" (Chinese people).

0798 Mig-21 BIS Eskadra 'B' Chinezyców.

1007 Mig-21 BIS Eskadra 'B' Chinezyców. Not on the flight but outside of a HAS.

8705 MiG-21 BIS Eskadra 'A' (Sioux) taxis from the flight line. It has always been a wonder to me, on my travels, at the speed with which pilots flying Russian-designed jets climb in and taxi for takeoff. 

8870 MiG-21BIS taxis for runway 32. 8971 is being cleared to taxi, and just before it did, I took the following photograph.

This shows some lovely individual markings of the 34 Pulk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego.

8861 MiG-21BIS Eskadra 'A' (Sioux) leads, with 1029 about to follow.

 

8705  MiG-21BIS Eskadra 'A' (Sioux) far beyond are two of the based W-3RM Anacondas and the blue Baltic Sea. 

0798 MiG-21 BIS Eskadra 'B' (Chinezyków) The MiG-21 was in service with the Navy from 1979 through 2003.

8870 MiG-21 BIS leads a four-ship launch in an early evening airshow formation practice.

1029 MiG21 BIS passing emergency vehicles and local residents who have congregated along the runway's village side.

8971 MiG-21 BIS was photographed as it launched, with a couple of classic Polish Fiat cars, similar to the iconic Trabant, parked beyond. 

8870, 8971, and 8861 MiG-21 BIS are in a fiery three-ship launch.

8870, 8861, leading 1029 and 8971 Polish Navy MiG-21 BIS.

What a pass!

Just love that incredible shape!

A superb break for landing.

8705 MiG-21 BIS took off for a solo practice display and passed the continuity. Polish Fiat cars were parked alongside the runway.

8705 MiG-21 BIS Eskadra 'A' (Siuksów) Polish Navy.

8861, taxiing back to the flight line. As all the aircraft seen were MiG-21 BIS, I presume that the two-seat MiG-21UM, NATO code name Mongol, was withdrawn from use or, sadly, tucked away in the shelters. 

1029 brings a lovely end to a fantastic visit.

I had just a couple of days to wait for the Polish Navy airshow, which allowed for a visit to the fascinating Navy Aviation Museum in Gdynia and a trip to the village of Hel on an old military narrow-gauge railway.

See Links below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/polish-navy-aviation-eye-opener-1995.html

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/polish-navy-museum-of-aviation-at-gdynia.html

http://www.narrowrail.net/hel/

All in all, a great trip.