Book excerpt: The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is known in NATO circles as the ¿Fishbed¿. Designed as a Mach 2.0 interceptor, the plane holds the distinction of being produced in greater numbers than any other jet aircraft. The Fishbed flew in combat in Vietnam, where it held its own against the F-105 Thunderchief. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, 17 Israeli aircraft were shot down, for a loss of six Egyptian MiG-21s. The plane also flew in combat in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and in Yugoslavia. Today, over 28 of the world¿s air forces continue to fly MiG-21s. Originally printed by NATO, this English-language handbook provides a glimpse inside the cockpit of this incredible plane. The manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text