The farewell party for the MiG-21 in Czech service was held on 21 May 2005 at Čáslav. No sorry feelings, because the farewell of the Mig-21 meant also the introduction of a new type in the Vzdušné síly armády České (Czech Air Force): the Gripen.

Čáslav
The 21st Tactical Air Base (21.Záladna Tactického Letectva) Čáslav is located at an hour drive to the east of Prague and is home to two squadrons. In the past MiG-23s were based at this Air Base but nowadays the Gripen, L-159 and MiG-21 (for another month) can be seen here. The base is called “Zvolenská”. Runways and platforms have been renovated over the past years, but the old style shelters give this base away as a remainder of the Cold War era.

Units
211.letka is, besides the Mi-24 equipped 231.vrl, one of the Tiger squadrons in the Czech Air Force. It flies the MiG-21MFN and MiG-21UM until its retirement on 30 June 2005. After that, it will transform to the JAS-39 Gripen of which six already have been delivered. Until t this moment, the Gripens fly with an unofficial and temporary unit called “Supersonics”. Sister squadron 212.letka is equipped with the Aero/Alca L-159A.

MiG-21
All of the current MiG-21s on strength with 211.tl were delivered during the seventies to the Czechoslovakian Republic. After this country was split in two, the Czech Republic received four MiG-21MA, twelve MiG-21R, five MiG-21US, nineteen MiG-21UM and 52 MiG-21MF. Of this large amount of MiGs only eleven remain today. Two MiG-21UMs and nine MiG-21MF updated to NATO-standard called MiG-21MFN. The final curtain for these eleven MiG-21s will fall on 30 June when the Czech Air Force will cease MiG-21 operations. Final change to see the MiG-21s in active service will be the (pre) spotters day at Kleine Brogel on 8 June.

Gripen
Is as well a small as a big step from the MiG-21 to the Gripen. Small, as the Gripen is the successor of the MiG-21. Big as the difference in technology literally is more than three decades. In 18 April 2005 the first six Gripens for the Czech Air Force were delivered from FMV Linköping to Čáslav. Flown by three Czech Air Force pilots, two Swedish Air Force pilots and one FMV pilots the first of fourteen Gripens set foot at Čáslav in the afternoon. The remainder of the fourteen leased aircraft will follow in August. The official hand-over took place on 26 April.

Open Day
Quality over quantity seemed to be the motto at the Open Day at Čáslav on 21 May 2005. Emphasis was on the MiG-21’s signing of and the introduction of the Gripen. On the main ramp a small static show was formed consisting of some Czech AF types (e.g. Tu-154, MiG-21, W-3A, L-159, Mi-24), two German Phantoms and a Belgian F-16. Most important item of the was however the flying display which was performed twice during the day. The show started with an impressive demonstration of the capabilities of the W-3A. After that, four MiG-21s, three Gripens and two L-159s took off and performed several flypasts in different configurations.

Although the Czech Air Force has no MiG-21 or Gripen display pilots (yet) it was impressive to see four MiG-21s performing a unique flypast together with the Gripens and L-159s. At the end of the fighter demonstrations there were impressive demonstrations of the Mi-24V and the L-159 from Aero.