End of legacy as mighty MiG-21s go into sunset

AS the sun shone bright, the mighty MiG-21 of the IAF soared through the endless blue skies for the last time on Friday.

- HARPREET BAJWA @ Chandigarh

This iconic supersonic fighter jet, which has been the backbone of the country’s air power for over six decades, leaves behind an enduring legacy and countless stories.

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew the sortie of the Soviet origin warhorse. The culmination of MiG-21 operations took place with a ceremonial fly past and decommissioning ceremony at the Chandigarh Air Force Station, marking the closure of a historic chapter in the country’s air power. Dilbagh Singh, who became the IAF chief in 1981, led the first MiG-21 Squadron here in 1963.

Among the pilots to fly the MiG-21 on Friday was Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, leaving her name in the annals of aviation history as the last woman fighter pilot to have flown the aircraft one final time.