Fishbed Fishbed!
By 
Still working through some back catalog, but I worte this on the MiG-21 a couple weeks ago…
A few designs stand the test of the time. The B-52 Stratofortress first flew in 1952, yet remains in service today. New C-130s continue to roll off the production line, based on a design that became operational in 1954.
But those are bombers and transport aircraft; they don’t fight one another. Fighters face a special problem of longevity, because they must compete directly with newer models. Thus, very few fighters have had long lifespans, either in production or in service.
The MiG-21 “Fishbed” is an exception
Chinese liked it so much the stole the plane. Russians liked it so much they stole the article.