Hobby Master 1/72 HA6503 MIG-29A Fulcrum 29+14, JG 73 "Steinhoff", German Air Force, Laage Air Base, 1994

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.

In 1988 and 1989 East Germany received twenty MiG-29As and four MiG-29UBs aircraft for 1. /JG3 in Preschen. When the Berlin Wall fell in October 1990 all the inventory of the East German Air Force went to the West German Luftwaffe. The 1./JG3 designation was kept until April 1991 when both MiG-29 squadrons became JG73 “Steinhoff”. In June 1993 JG73 relocated to Laage. One MiG-29 29+14 was former East German JG3 684 c/n 2960525800. In 2003 twenty two of the remaining twenty three MiGs were sold to Poland for €1 each.