Time for the MiG-21 to fade into history, albeit with fond memories, ace pilots say with pride
Hindustan Times|December 11, 2023
Streaking across the Prayagraj skies in a MiG-21 clocking almost 900 kmph, Wing Commander JS Sandhu felt a rush of pride and nostalgia in the no-frills cockpit as he pulled the fighter up, and the three MiGs and two Rafale jets neatly broke formation during the spectacular ceremonial flypast to mark the Indian Air Force's 91st anniversary two months ago.
Rahul Singh
Time for the MiG-21 to fade into history, albeit with fond memories, ace pilots say with pride

The splitting of the five-aircraft "Badal" formation was a defining moment laden with symbolism India's oldest fighter plane had just passed the baton to its newest.

It was the MiG-21's swan song before being taken out of service.

It won't be around for next year's IAF Day flypast on October 8.

The MiG-21's 60-year history in IAF has been punctuated by crashes that have put the Sovietorigin aircraft's safety record under running scrutiny and led to an understandable chorus of concern and calls for its early replacement.

With upgrades, IAF has managed to keep them flying for so long.

More than 400 MiG-21s have been involved in accidents that have killed around 200 pilots, earning the fighter jets unfortunate epithets such as "Flying Coffin" and "Widow Maker". To be sure, more MiG-21s have crashed than any other fighter because they formed the bulk of the aircraft in IAF for the longest time.

The maiden batch of six MiG21Fs entered service in MarchApril 1963 and IAF progressively inducted 874 MiG-21s. It has operated a raft of variants-Type 74 or MiG 21F, Type 76 or MiG 21PF, Type 77 or MiG 21FL, Type 96 or MiG 21M, Type 75 or MiG 21 Bis and the latest MiG-21 Bison.

Esta historia es de la edición December 11, 2023 de Hindustan Times.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 11, 2023 de Hindustan Times.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HINDUSTAN TIMESVer todo
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
Hindustan Times

Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza

The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Hindustan Times

Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right

Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series

time-read
4 minutos  |
February 27, 2024
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Hindustan Times

Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast

Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.

time-read
1 min  |
January 22, 2024
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Hindustan Times

Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti

Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 22, 2024
A temple, 169 years in the making
Hindustan Times

A temple, 169 years in the making

Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed

time-read
8 minutos  |
January 22, 2024
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
Hindustan Times

'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket

After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.

time-read
2 minutos  |
February 27, 2024
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
Hindustan Times

Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz

A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).

time-read
2 minutos  |
February 27, 2024
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
Hindustan Times

Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way

The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1

time-read
3 minutos  |
February 27, 2024
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
Hindustan Times

'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'

With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
Hindustan Times

India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received

The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024