Fighter jet plan still waiting to take off

The MiG-21 was bought on Trade Me for $59,454, after the firm that previously owned it went into receivership. Photo / Greg Bowker

A Soviet-era MiG-21 jet fighter sits idly outside a commercial building in Onehunga four months after it was to have been hoisted on to the roof of the building.

New Zealand Seal Services director Manfred Bennett bought the now-inactive fighter on Trade Me for $59,454 following a two-week auction in September last year.

Mr Bennett planned for the 37-year-old fighter jet, previously used by the Polish Air Force, to go on the roof of the New Zealand Seal Services building to promote the business.

At almost 16m long, with a wingspan of 7m, in its flying days the jet could reach supersonic speeds of more than 2000km/h.

It was sold to Mr Bennett after the firm that owned it - headed by prominent Christchurch property developer David Henderson - was placed in receivership.

The jet - codenamed "Fishbed" by Nato - is the only single-seat MiG-21 jet fighter in New Zealand.