The Indian Air Force's MiG-21 aircraft, the nation's first supersonic fighter jet, will roar through the skies for the last time on Friday, September 26, 2025. This aircraft heralded the jet age for the air force in the 1960s. After 62 years of distinguished service, it's retiring. The farewell will be most emotional for the pilots who have flown it for decades, representing heroism in battles.
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Former Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis (Retired) reminisced in a podcast about the initial challenges faced with the MiG-21. He became a fighter pilot in 1960 and soon joined a MiG-21 squadron. In 1977, he became the Commanding Officer of No. 23 Squadron.
Also Explore: India's First Supersonic Jet, a Legacy of Valor, Six Decades... Farewell to MiG-21 Captured in Pictures
Tipnis shared that when the MiG-21 was introduced, the Type-74 model had no trainer aircraft. Pilots had to undertake their first solo flight on the MiG-21 itself. The challenge was the lack of trainers or simulators. Additionally, everything in the cockpit was in Russian, without English translations.
The speed measurement unit also changed. Previously measured in knots, it transitioned to kilometers per hour. Tipnis explained that pilots accustomed to knots found the first solo flight disorienting. However, by the return journey, they learned to manage the controls efficiently.
Pilots donned space suits similar to those worn by Yuri Gagarin in space when flying the MiG-21, making it impossible to turn their heads side to side.
Source: aajtak
This ceremony at the Chandigarh Air Force Station will witness the presence of six former Air Force Chiefs, including AY Tipnis, S Krishnaswamy, SP Tyagi, PV Naik, BS Dhanoa, and RKS Bhadauria. This was where the MiG-21 first began its journey 60 years ago.
The final MiG-21 of No. 23 Squadron, known as the Panthers, will be bid farewell. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew a solo flight from Nal Air Base on August 18-19, marking an emotional moment.
Source: aajtak
Despite some horrific incidents, referred to by some as the 'Flying Coffin', former pilots, who prefer anonymity, refute such terms. They believe it affects the morale of pilots' families. Tipnis highlighted the MiG-21's vital role in the 1965 and 1971 wars.
During the 1999 Kargil conflict, under 'Operation Safed Sagar,' Tipnis led the command. It was also part of the 2019 Balakot strike. A former pilot remarked that although the aircraft was designed for high-altitude flights, it was adeptly used for night missions at low altitudes, a significant achievement.
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Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (Retired) acknowledged the MiG-21 as the backbone of the air force for 60 years. A trusted ally in both war and peace, it was a testing ground for pilots.
Group Captain Nanda Rajendra, Commanding Officer of No. 23 Squadron, noted that it was the most advanced fighter during the 1965 and 1971 wars. Always ready for 'Operation Sindhur'.
Former Chief PC Lal remarked that the MiG-21 gave the air force unprecedented wings. As it takes its final flight into history on Friday, the stories of its pilots will remain legendary.
