The Ghost of Kyiv, a Ukrainian fighter jet

Assemble me. Defend the sky over Kyiv!

The Ghost of Kyiv. A fighter pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force. Grim Reaper of over 40 Russian aircraft. Who was this indomitable defender of the Ukrainian capital? He suddenly appeared in his MiG-29 fighter jet at an unexpected location. He lived in the minds of Russian pilots, anxiously holding onto Russian airspace, daring not to conduct missions over Kyiv, while simultaneously inspiring a nation fighting against overwhelming odds. Was he human or myth? A pilot or many? Does he still guard the Ukrainian sky, or did he fall in battle?

People need hope; they need heroes, and in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ghost of Kyiv became that hero for millions of Ukrainians. As the number of enemy aircraft shot down in aerial combat attributed to the Ghost grew, so did the legend. But legends aside, the fact is that Russia failed to achieve air superiority over Kyiv in the early days of the war—a crucial factor for Ukraine's survival—thanks largely to the brave pilots of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of Ukraine, the true "Ghosts of Kyiv."

Ugears, a proud Ukrainian company, brings the Ghost of Kyiv to life with this 1:72 scale model of the MiG-29 fighter jet. The model impresses with its realism, featuring movable ailerons, flaps, and rudders, retractable landing gear at the front and rear, removable missiles, and an opening canopy. However, the standout feature of this self-assembled 3D wooden aircraft model is that it appears to float like a phantom in the air. This is thanks to the application of tensegrity, an elegant construction principle that...