ZSh-5 Fighter Squadron 31 Kapteeni J. Heikkinen MiG-21bis
Captain Jouna Heikkinen used ZSh-5 flight helmet.
The helmet has a green edgeroll.
The lower edge of visor has been trimmed for better fit over KM-34 mask.
A green velcro tape has been fixed on the upper edge of the visor for Finnish made visor cover.
The helmet has a late style name tape on the left side. The last maintenance was valid to week 16 in 1998.
A Soviet type label with Finnish Army tower emblem. This helmet is size 1.
Rear view. There are still visible markings of the use of the older style name tape on rear.
The interior of the helmet.
Captain Jouna Heikkinen MiG-21bis Driver
Capt Heikkinen was one of the last MiG-21 Flight Commanders of Fighter Squadron 31.
Captain Jouna Heikkinen wearing his ZSh-5 in 1997 (FiAF photo).
Three Finnish MiG-21bis flight helmets with different style and colour (white-green-black) name tapes.
MiG-21bis Fishbed-L in Finnish Air Force Service
Finnish Air Force (FiAF) had 26 MiG-21bis jets in service during 1978-98.
Four MiG-21UM Mongol-B trainers were used for pilot training.
Main operator was Fighter Squadron 31 at Rissala (EFKU).
First two MiG-21bis fighters MG-111 (MB-111) and MG-114 (MB-114) arrived in 1978 for pilot training.
The most of the MiG-21bis fleet (18) were delivered in 1980 in three batches. MG-124 at Rissala in 29.3.1985 during Conscripts Day.
Three more MiG-21bis fighters were flown from Russia in 1985 and three in 1986. Six MiG-21bis and two pilots were lost in accidents 1982-1995.
White clouds were removed in 1989 for better camouflage.
Smaller insignias and serials were adopted also in 1989.
Six MiG-21bis were modified for recconnaissance duties and were operated by the Recconnaissance Squadron 1986-96.
All recce MiGs were transferred back to Rissala in 1996. Recce MG-127 is located today at Lappeenranta Aviation Museum.
Today seven MiG-21bis jets are in museums and three are as memorials.
Finnish MiG-21bis driver's patch. The last MiG-21bis flight was made in 7.3.1998 at Rissala.