DeKALB | DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport houses a military fighter jet in one of its hangars.
Paul Van den Heuvel, a Lake in the Hills resident, purchased the MiG-21UM fighter jet in 1998.

“I took a look at the airplane and made the classic mistake of falling in love with it,” Van den Heuvel said. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world, but it’s not about me; it’s about the plane.”

Van den Heuvel’s MiG came from the Polish Air Force after the collapse of the USSR.

“When the wall came down, they caught on to capitalism very quickly, and these things became commercially available to anyone who had the money,” Van den Heuvel said. The MiG-21 was designed as an air-to-air missile platform, and Van den Heuvel’s particular plane was originally used as a training aircraft.

Van den Heuvel purchased the MiG in Reno, Nev., from another U.S. owner who was having trouble getting the plane in shape for certification by the Federal Aviation Administration. Because Van den Heuvel was already a pilot, he was able to put the plane through certification himself.

Van den Heuvel uses his aircraft to help train military pilots in air-to-air combat.

Van den Heuvel said he is now looking to sell his MiG. The cost of fuel, insurance and maintenance, as well as the time required to maintain the aircraft, makes it very expensive to operate. At roughly $5/gallon for 600 gallons, a full tank of jet fuel costs more than $3,000 and only lasts about 45 minutes, Van den Heuvel said.

“My perspective on owning this plane is that it is a privilege,” Van den Heuvel said. “I am the caretaker of a flying piece of history. I have a duty and responsibility to maintain it in the best condition I can, to fly it and share it with all those who are interested.”

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