IAF's golden machine MiG-21 flies into history

New Delhi: One of the first variants of the MiG 21 combat aircraft, which dealt severe blows to Pakistan Air Force in the 1971 war, flew into the annals of history on Dec 11. The aircraft will undertake its last ceremonial flight at a phasing out ceremony at the air force station in Kalaikunda, West Bengal, in the presence of Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, Chief of the Air Staff. Four MiG-21 FL aircraft flown by pilots from the Operational Conversion Unit, the last abode of the venerable jets, will fly a 'box formation' as Browne will take the salute at the ceremonial parade to bid them adieu. Formations of MiG-27 ML and Sukhoi-30MKI will also fly past the parade square in reverence to the legend of a fighter jet that remains the most widely exploited platform in IAF history and also witnessed action in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Being limited in numbers, the MiG-21s played a restricted role in the 1965 war but played a crucial role in the 1971 war giving IAF the air superiority over vital points and areas in the western theatre. In the first-ever supersonic air combat that ensued over the sub-continent in 1971, an Indian Mig-21 FL claimed a PAF F-104 Starfighter with its internal twin-barrelled guns alone and by the end of hostilities the IAF Mig-21s had claimed 4 Pakistani F-104s, 2 F-6s, one each F-86 Sabre and Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The pin-point accurate attack on the Governor's House in Dhaka by IAF pilots flying the MiG-21s proved to be a turning point in the war forcing the adversary to negotiate an eventual surrender. The aircraft were also fielded in the Kargil war. The MiG-21 has the distinction of holding a number of aviation records, including the most produced jet aircraft in aviation history, the most produced combat aircraft since WWII, and the longest production run of a combat aircraft. Over 11,000 MiG-21 aircraft, derivatives and copies have been built since 1959 and have served with 50 air forces. Because of its low cost and ease of maintenance, even by poor countries, it came to be known as the “people's fighter”. The first flight of the MiG-21, made by Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB, was in 1955 and induction into the Soviet Union air force began in 1959. Russia retired its MiG-21s in the 1990s. The MiG-21, despite its lack of sophisticated avionics, was agile and extremely uncomplicated to manufacture. This made it a valuable military export for the Soviet Union to many countries, more than 30 and in particular India and China. India inducted upwards of 1,200 MiGs, two-thirds of them being MiG-21s, over the decades. The MiGs constituted over 75% of its total combat fleet. Though French and British fighters also joined the force later, the MiG saga still continues.