MiG-21s served the nation well for five decades
Time eventually catches up with machine as it does with man. And so, the famed MiG-21 Fl fighter planes of the Indian Air Force which had pulverised enemy positions and contributed significantly to India's remarkable victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan, rested their wings for good at a befitting phasing-out ceremony that the IAF organised for these masters of the sky on Wednesday. Five decades is a long, long time for a fighter aircraft to serve its force — and serve with distinction. It needs a gutsy fighter indeed to hold one's ground when challenged by newer entrants who come with flashy looks and state-of-the-art gadgets. The MiG-21 Fls distinguished themselves all these decades while in service with the Indian Air Force as they chalked one sensational success after the other. Towards the end, especially during the last decade, the fighter planes had become a subject of ridicule for their recurring technical snags, with some uncharitable opinions even branding them as a “flying coffins”. Nothing could have been more insulting to a proud aircraft that had set fear into the heart of the enemy and been the flag-bearer of air superiority. It's true that MiG-21s had crashed too frequently for comfort in the last few years and claimed precious lives, but to have called the flying machines ‘coffins' when they had reached an advanced age is akin to berating an elder in our society because he or she cannot keep pace with the younger lot and falls behind while on a brisk walk. let us, therefore, remember the brave and proud aircraft for what they achieved for the country's integrity and sovereignty and not for their unfortunate crashes in later years.
When inducted into service back in 1963 from Russia, the MiG-21 Fls marked the beginning of the supersonic age in Indian aviation. They also heralded a new era of defence cooperation between the two countries. In these past five decades, the MiG-21 Fl, also known as Type 77, served as the backbone of the Indian Air Force. During the 1971 War of liberation in Bangladesh, its high speed and precision targeting capabilities effectively debilitated the Pakistani Air Force. It took down four F-104s, two F-6s, one F-86 Sabre and a lockheed C-130 Hercules, destroyed entire runways and struck the Governor House in Dhaka that ultimately changed the course of the war in India's favour. Decades later in 1999, the MiG-21 again proved its prowess in the skies as it helped India take back the Kargil heights. The aircraft's agility and its high-speed capabilities made it the preferred choice of fighter pilots battling it out in rugged terrains. Such was its awesome reputation that many experts believe to this day that the newer machines, perhaps because they are designed to be less adventurous with their higher automation levels, find it hard to match the MiG-21's combat effectiveness. The MiG-21 allowed the pilot to go over the cliff and push the envelope, which is why it has become a legend that will endure.