Time for the MiG-21 to fade into history, albeit with fond memories, ace pilots say with pride

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. “Taking part in the MiG-21’s last flypast on IAF Day was one of the best moments of my life,” said Sandhu. It’s painful to visualise a final farewell to IAF’s longest serving fighter plane next year,” said Squadron Leader Mohana Singh, one of India’s first women fighter pilots. Reflecting on India’s first supersonic fighter, a top-notch IAF pilot said the MiG-21 represented the design of the century, at a level higher than that of the Spitfire for propellers.