In brief
After decades of service and a mixed legacy, the MiG-21, once the pride of the Indian Air Force, is retiring. Pilots reflect on their experiences flying this fast, agile aircraft, which was both celebrated for its capabilities and criticized for its high crash rate, leading to its infamous nickname. With its retirement, the MiG-21 leaves behind a complex story of loyalty and sorrow.
The first time he throttled the MiG‑21 to full power, soaring 20km above the Earth at twice the speed of sound, the young fighter pilot felt utterly weightless, as if the sky itself had let him go. 'At Mach 2 you can feel the lightness in the stomach. The MiG‑21's turns at that speed are vast - banking sharply can carry you over many kilometres before completing a full arc,' recalls Air Marshal (retired) Prithvi Singh Brar. He joined the Air Force in 1960, switched to the Soviet jet in 1966, and flew it for the next 26 years.'After six decades of admiration - and later, infamy - India's most iconic warplane is finally taking its last flight on Friday. At its peak, the MiG‑21 was the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF), making up two-thirds of its fighter fleet. However, it earned a grim nickname 'flying coffin' after a series of deadly crashes.According to official figures, between 1966 and 1980, India procured 872 MiG aircraft of various models. Between 1971 and April 2012, 482 MiG crashes were recorded, resulting in the loss of 171 pilots. 'The MiG-21 has a chequered legacy. It was the mainstay of the IAF for over three decades but became infamous for its high crash rate, outlasting its time in service,' says analyst Rahul Bhatia. Designed by the Soviets, this razor-slim jet was not only fast but also versatile, playing a key role in every conflict since its induction in 1963. It also kick-started India's aerospace industry, becoming a symbol of national pride. With the last squadrons now retired, the MiG-21's legacy is one of partnership and peril in the skies.
