1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.BZ 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.BZ 3 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,600 He was Arjun's arrow, 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,280 a flying sword. 5 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,240 Fierce like the sun… 6 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,920 the wind's own warrior. 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:32,720 The zeal of the Army… 8 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,040 wild and intoxicated. 9 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:38,160 Across the frontier, 10 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,640 he used to travel like an arrow. 11 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:42,840 Having struck down the enemy, 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:44,360 he used to return a hero. 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,720 MiG-21. 14 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,600 I myself joined this aircraft as a pilot officer, 15 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,960 I remember, way back in 1985. 16 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,400 And about 70% of the fighter pilots of the Air Force 17 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,240 have been trained on this aircraft. 18 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,000 MiG-21 is, 19 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,400 I think, one of the most beautiful thing which was ever produced in the world. 20 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,160 Sixty countries in the world flew this, 21 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,480 and every pilot who flew, fell in love. 22 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:15,240 Every pilot who didn't fly was dying of envy. 23 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,120 And he wanted to, some way, get a chance to get into MiG-21 cockpit, 24 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,800 just to get a feel of actual fighter pilot. 25 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,480 As a child, I saw all those war movies of First World War 26 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,800 and the camera being in the cockpit, and how the aircraft was manoeuvring. 27 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,160 You know, that sparked my imagination, and that is how I decided that okay, 28 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,600 I'll join the military but I'll come and join the Air Force 29 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:41,920 because I wanted to fly. 30 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,960 I was a young bachelor, so MiG-21 was my sweetheart. 31 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,400 Only one I had at that time. 32 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,520 So first time I saw the MiG-21, I thought it's like a rocket. 33 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,520 It is a kind of alien aircraft which I couldn't believe can fly. 34 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,960 Because it doesn't have the kind of aerodynamic structures 35 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,360 which I normally am used to in an aircraft, 36 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,520 which is big wings, and big tailplane. 37 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,520 And I just refused to believe that it can really fly successfully… 38 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:21,520 till I flew it. 39 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,560 I am Air Commodore Amit Budhwar. Currently, I am 40 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:36,000 Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Nal. 41 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,400 I have about nearly 3,000 hours of flying 42 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,000 and I have operated across 43 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,320 many Air Force Stations in the length and breadth of the country. 44 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,080 So, 23 Squadron is the last squadron 45 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,080 which is flying the MiG-21s in an operational role. 46 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:03,040 I'm Group Captain Nanda Rajender. 47 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,000 I'm the Commanding Officer of 23 Squadron presently. 48 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,320 My first operational squadron was 23 squadron 49 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,200 and this is my third posting to the squadron. 50 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,360 As everyone is aware, the legend is being phased out. 51 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:15,720 So it's a matter of pride 52 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,160 for being given the opportunity to command the last MiG-21 squadron. 53 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,440 I don't think even the first-term Commanding Officer 54 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,640 who inducted MiG-21 would've ever imagined 55 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,240 that this aircraft is going to serve for 62 years. 56 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,240 I'm Group Captain Mohit Gupta. 57 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,840 Presently I am the Flight Commander of 23 squadron which has got the privilege 58 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,720 of being the last fighter squadron… 59 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,400 not only in Indian Air Force, but I think world over, 60 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:49,960 to fly the MiG-21s. 61 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,560 A squadron which has got many greats 62 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:55,680 in the history of Indian Air Force. 63 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,760 I am squadron leader Priya Sharma. 64 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:08,720 I am flying a MiG-21 Bison and I got commissioned in December 2018. 65 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,200 MiG-21 is brutally honest. 66 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:18,080 Whatever it says, you can feel it very clearly. 67 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,120 It's scary, it's aggressive. 68 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,600 It knows how to scare people. 69 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,640 I'm Wing Commander Sunil Yadav. 70 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,760 I have been flying this machine for last 16 years. 71 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,400 Hi, I'm Wing Commander S Chetan Giridhar. I'm posted in Panthers 72 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:44,960 from last year in April, 73 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,880 and I've been associated with MiG-21s for last 13 years, 74 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,280 and I'm also a test pilot. 75 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,800 For a fighter pilot, your aircraft is kind of your first love. 76 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,520 I was not even driving motorcycles when I was learning to fly. 77 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,960 So yeah, I have a lot of love for MiG-21s. 78 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:47,160 MiG-21s, it was like they were born at this base. 79 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,000 It was like coming out of mother's womb. This was a place where they did come out. 80 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:55,440 They survived, they thrived, they gave us national security. 81 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,600 And finally, this is the place from where they are bidding farewell. 82 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,840 Or rather, we are bidding farewell to that great fleet. 83 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,640 So, it's a very emotional moment for all of us who are based here, 84 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,040 and definitely for everyone 85 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,280 who has either flown this machine, or has maintained it. 86 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:24,600 I've been seeing MiG-21 87 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,560 since I was very young as a child, 88 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,600 because I grew up in air force stations. 89 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,600 My father was in Indian Air Force. 90 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,480 So, I have seen MiG-21s all during my schooling, 91 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,640 and it actually in a way I can say, came naturally to me. 92 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,680 I never thought of doing anything else except for becoming a MiG-21 pilot. 93 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,840 Anybody who has come into the Air Force after the stage one training, 94 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,000 they come in at the age of 21, 22. 95 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,400 So that is a young impressionable age 96 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,600 and MiG-21, there is no extra flab. 97 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,440 It is there in your face all the time. 98 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,120 Sleek, sharp, 99 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,800 and you have to be on top of your game 100 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:08,240 to ride the MiG-21. 101 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:09,880 Absolutely pristine, 102 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,560 a weapon, a legend on its own. 103 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,160 I am ex-NDA. 104 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,400 So in our parade ground, we have a MiG-21 on display. 105 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,040 That's the first time I saw it. 106 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:22,360 Literally, the thing which came to my mind is, "Where are the wings?" 107 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,480 So I started flying the glider initially 108 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,960 and there was a lovely wing on both sides 109 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,560 to tell me, 110 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:30,800 "Okay, that is what is keeping us flying." 111 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,720 However, when I came on to the MiG-21, 112 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,840 I found that the wings were way behind 113 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,560 and you couldn't really see the wings on both sides. 114 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:44,520 So I was a bit confused on that, and it kind of even gave me some times 115 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:46,960 a kind of disorientation kind of feeling, 116 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,160 initially, 117 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:49,560 till I got used to it. 118 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,240 A pilot came in our squadron 119 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,560 and he was a MiG-21 pilot. 120 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,720 So we all rushed towards the tarmac to look at it. 121 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,400 And the moment we entered the cockpit, we were feeling so amazed. 122 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,880 There were so many instruments, so many gauges. 123 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,000 The brakes are on the control stick. 124 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,240 It was different from anything I'd ever flown or seen. 125 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,800 So I was in awe of this aircraft. 126 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,200 Something that clicks me is the reverberating sound it makes 127 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:19,720 while it is taking off. 128 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:29,160 And that is one thundering noise which keeps my heart also pounding. 129 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,480 So the first feeling that I got is that, 130 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:34,280 "Gosh, this makes so much noise!" 131 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,000 Tower to one, cleared for take-off. 132 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,880 As a controller, you wear headset, 133 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,200 and you are supposed to discern what the pilot is saying. 134 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:48,800 So initially, I was not able to make out what the pilot is communicating on RT. 135 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,920 Tower to one, winds twelve o' clock, five kilometres, 136 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,240 runway three-six, cleared to land. 137 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,800 The first day when I sat down in the aircraft, 138 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:03,960 that was to learn. 139 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,200 My instructor took me up to turn the aircraft. 140 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:10,480 He said, "Look down." 141 00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:11,400 I got so scared. 142 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,320 I was holding the seat, more worried about falling off. 143 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:15,680 And looking down, 144 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,200 my eyes are open, but it was total blank. 145 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,520 The instructor must have understood there. 146 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,200 He reduced the bank. He said, "Now look down." 147 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,960 I looked down, I saw the Gurudwara over there. 148 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,440 He says, "Pray that we are getting into the profession." 149 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,800 And then, there was the time to go solo. 150 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,520 So people had scared me enough that, you know, 151 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,520 you will forget something or you will not be able to land. 152 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,960 You will just mess it up really bad. 153 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:47,440 And I was not confident. 154 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,280 Nobody is confident when they first fly this aircraft. 155 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,440 Though I was very qualified in other aircraft, 156 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:58,480 but I do not remember 157 00:10:58,560 --> 00:10:59,960 when I took off in a MiG-21 158 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:01,920 for my first solo, and when I landed. 159 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,320 Everything just happened in a glance, which I can say. 160 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:06,760 We didn't feel comfortable. 161 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,800 Not only me, all my coursemates. 162 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,280 Because first few sorties, 163 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,200 they actually got over 164 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,320 before we could say Jack Robinson. 165 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,200 Initially, I was apprehensive, 166 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,960 wondering what would happen in the sortie, and all that. 167 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,640 And I stuffed a lot of puke bags 168 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,920 all over the anti-G suits, all prepared for the eventuality. 169 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,160 And the pilot did a vertical Charlie 170 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,400 and somewhere in between, I conked off. 171 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,480 And by the time it was about to land, that is the time I gained consciousness 172 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:40,200 and all I remember is that I utilised one of the puke bags. 173 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:44,360 So that was the first time 174 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,520 in the MiG-21 cockpit. 175 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,920 I simply had a lot of respect for all the pilots after that. 176 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,760 The first feeling doesn't come just when you take off. 177 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,160 It comes as soon as you start strapping up. 178 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,480 Because once you strap up, it becomes a part of your body. 179 00:12:01,560 --> 00:12:03,280 So right from the word go, 180 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,240 when you start the aircraft, you can feel the vibrations. 181 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,560 When the reheat kicks in, in the MiG-21, 182 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,040 for a pilot who's just joined in new, 183 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,400 there is that kick that pilots used to feel. 184 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,520 In fact, a lot of pilots who flew on MiG-21s, 185 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:24,680 they talk about 186 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:25,920 light… 187 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,000 light… 188 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:28,400 fork… 189 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:29,680 drop, 190 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,040 kick. 191 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,320 That kick is the thrust that the MiG-21 used to give. 192 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,120 The moment the aircraft is about to roll, 193 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,320 you get a backward jolt. 194 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:49,160 Even in civil aircraft, when the aircraft starts rolling, you get that kick. 195 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,880 You get a feeling of being pushed backwards. 196 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,800 So you can multiply that push into, say, hundred thousand times, 197 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,240 that is the kind of push you're going to get in the cockpit 198 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,920 when you engage reheat and commence your roll. 199 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,680 I went solo after I think, eight dual checks in Tezpur. 200 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:05,720 Thirty squadron. 201 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,120 So you know, there is no time for melancholy and feeling 202 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,560 and, you know, it's not Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, or something. 203 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,360 No. There's no time for all that. 204 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,400 So we are more bothered about sticking to our briefing 205 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:19,960 than having any feeling. 206 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:25,320 When you are in this aircraft, you are like Superman. 207 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,400 You can do whatever the aircraft can do, 208 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,720 whether it's flying at 100 feet or 100 metres. 209 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,560 You can carry out attacks on enemy tanks. 210 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,840 You can carry out attacks on just normal targets. 211 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,640 You can do anything, because it's so manoeuvrable, and so multidimensional. 212 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,040 Our instructors used to tell us that 213 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:55,160 God has created humans only to walk and run, not to swim and fly. 214 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,520 But humans have taken on that challenge. 215 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:02,160 So to keep yourself alive by that logic, you have to be good. 216 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,160 My generation, all of us have started flying fighters from MiG-21s. 217 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,200 We had MiG operational flying training units. 218 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:16,400 These are the units which train raw pilots who have just got commissioned 219 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,080 into the Air Force, to operate MiG-21 aircraft. 220 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,680 So it was a route for everyone. You first go and you fly there. 221 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,400 So that sets your routine, 222 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,560 the way you go about your day-to-day working. 223 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,320 And then it continued with us for rest of our life. 224 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,040 Everything, initially, was all mechanical. 225 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,640 Because you had gone like a robot, you're doing all the actions. 226 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:42,360 Because you're so well prepared, you know at this stage, you'll do this action. 227 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:43,720 You've done blindfold check. 228 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,600 Blindfold check, we mean that you're put in the cockpit, your eyes are closed 229 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:48,840 and then you ask, 230 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:53,360 "Switch A," so your hand should go there. "Switch B," your hand should go there. 231 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,080 Brake, stick, everything. 232 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,400 So you get so used to, that if you blindfold me, 233 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,160 I'll still bring the aircraft back and land it safely. 234 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,360 Actually, the instructors also tell you, 235 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,800 and you also have to ingrain in your mind 236 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,080 that you cannot make the aircraft too big. 237 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,560 Otherwise you'll become fearful of the aircraft. 238 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,520 For any trainee officer who goes from a training aircraft 239 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,480 to a first operational aircraft, there is always an iota of doubt in his mind, 240 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:21,000 "How am I going to hack it?" 241 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,360 So the same thing popped up in my mind, 242 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,600 especially when you know the fact 243 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,960 that this is the fastest aircraft to take off and land. 244 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,360 MiG-21 doesn't forgive in case 245 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,520 you're making any mistakes or not. That discipline has to come in your life. 246 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,920 For my life, it came through MiG-21 and so I'll say it's my mentor. 247 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,160 And whatever I'm in Air Force, how my life is shaped, 248 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:49,640 that is because of MiG-21s. 249 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,600 Indian Air Force gives about eleven dual sorties in the trainer 250 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,840 when the instructor is sitting behind you. 251 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,800 Fortunately, by the time you go for the solo check, 252 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,600 your confidence level, from being almost zero, 253 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:03,560 it comes down to about 60-70 percent. 254 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,960 And thereafter, if you are found fit, 255 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,360 they send you solo in a single seat fighter aircraft. 256 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,840 It requires little more concentration, 257 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,000 or the effort in piloting the aircraft. 258 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,360 You have to be always up to it. 259 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,520 You should not be behind the aircraft at any stage. 260 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,720 When you come to the operational squadron, 261 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:23,640 there's a day ops syllabus. 262 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,520 You'd learn how to fly it as a machine in war, in combat. 263 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,760 Now if war breaks out tomorrow, you can fly it during the day in combat. 264 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:33,440 Then you do your night syllabus. 265 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,480 And then when you finish that, then you become fully ops. 266 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,680 It used to almost take two years, plus, 267 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,640 after joining the squadron till you became fully ops. 268 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,720 I have seen scores of young pilots 269 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,480 getting trained on MiG-21s 270 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,400 and passing out from these units. 271 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,440 That was the very first posting I've had, and today I'm here 272 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,240 as a Chief Admin Officer of Air Force Station Nal. 273 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,080 This station also, 274 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,720 the reason for its existence 275 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,000 has been MiG-21 operations. 276 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,760 And to see that this legacy aircraft is bidding adieu, 277 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,440 it is like life coming full circle for me. 278 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,680 We, the whole contingent, will move to another base 279 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,600 where it is more convenient for people to come and attend 280 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,080 the culmination ceremony of MiG-21 operational flying. 281 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:30,840 For me, personally, I will get to meet many veterans, seniors, 282 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:34,720 who'll be coming to attend that ceremony, who've taught me and my generation 283 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,560 how to walk to the aircraft, how to take off, how to land. 284 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,320 So it'll be good to fly in front of them and show them 285 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,480 that we are maintaining this the way they taught us. 286 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:54,400 When the Russians built this aircraft in the 1950s and '60s, 287 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,120 it was basically made as an interceptor, 288 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,440 and it was to intercept the intruding western aircraft. 289 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,840 In those days, there was an American aircraft, the U-2. 290 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,040 So the MiG-21 was built to intercept them. 291 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:13,400 And, you know, it was a time when we needed an aircraft 292 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,480 to create air superiority in our region, 293 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,640 and MiG-21 was sought after that time. 294 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:24,640 We got Type 74 and then 76 in 1963 at Chandigarh. 295 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:26,320 For the entire Air Force, 296 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,360 and for a defence setup, it was a historic moment 297 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,680 because MiG-21, at that time, was one of the aircraft 298 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,600 with modern avionics and quite modern technology for that time. 299 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,320 So it gave us that edge against our adversaries. 300 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,960 The 28th squadron is called First Supersonics, 301 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:52,000 and it's because of this aircraft that the squadron was named First Supersonics. 302 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:54,760 Because MiG-21 was the first supersonic aircraft 303 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:56,400 in the Indian Air Force. 304 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,360 The first war wherein it was used was 1965, 305 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,920 wherein it was the most advanced fighter of the Indian Air Force then. 306 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,800 And thereafter, for almost two decades, it has been the most advanced fighter. 307 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,680 And even after the induction of Mirages and the MiG-29s, 308 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,840 MiG-21 remained the vanguard of any Indian offensive 309 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,880 or defence action which our military has taken. 310 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,000 Air Force evolved with MiG-21. 311 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:26,640 That means 21 grew from six aircraft to 31 units 312 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:28,280 in the Indian Air Force 313 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:30,120 which were only MiG-21. 314 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,000 So which actually formed nearly 70% of the Air Force. 315 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:46,960 '71 war, we had bombed Dhaka runway, and totally rendered them useless. 316 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,760 Because now their pilots couldn't take off, 317 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:54,480 that means, what kind of warrior are you if there's no enemy to fight? 318 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,120 TACDE, Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment, 319 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:03,600 where the MiG-21s had struck important airfields at night. 320 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,720 These were Chaklala, Sargodha, Risalewala. 321 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:12,120 These all airfields were struck by a single aircraft going again and again. 322 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,080 And the complexity of this operation 323 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:17,480 cannot be judged right now 324 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,800 because there was no navigation system guiding the pilots. 325 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:26,120 It was just pure time, map and airspeed management. 326 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,400 Another notable part of the 1971 war 327 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:35,160 was the attack on the governor's residence in Dhaka, East Pakistan. 328 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,560 The pilots got the information very last minute 329 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,200 about an important meeting happening. 330 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,280 So they had a tourist map. 331 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:50,400 The attack was so intense and so timely on the enemy's command structure. 332 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,680 This was 14th of December. 333 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:54,160 15th of December, 334 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,320 Governor of Dhaka, he signed his resignation. 335 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,120 And 16th of December, as we all know, 336 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,440 Pakistan forces had to surrender with 93,000 troops. 337 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,480 And Indian Air Force, along with Indian Army, 338 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,680 had carved out a new nation 339 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:10,600 called Bangladesh today. 340 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,280 When the Kargil War broke out, I was posted in Chabua. 341 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:15,720 It falls in the eastern sector, extreme east. 342 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,480 We received a message asking us to commence movement. 343 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,120 With operations like this, when war breaks out, 344 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,240 we shift to wherever the action is unfolding. 345 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:30,720 Very little time is given for this. 346 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:35,960 Within 24 to 36 hours, we have to get our entire contingent ready, 347 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,040 get all the aircraft ready, and move. 348 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:41,640 So we got there, and the operation was carried out. 349 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,000 In Safed Sagar, to fly this aircraft to engage targets 350 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,160 at 14,000, 15,000, 351 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,120 the air is so rare and the weapon is not behaving the same manner. 352 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:05,560 So it was basically at that time, lot of you can say, jugaad, was done 353 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,720 to make the aircraft perform and then become more accurate 354 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,120 at those altitudes when we carried out our bombing, day and night. 355 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:19,000 One of my best experiences was when we were doing 356 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:20,760 our first night strike sortie… 357 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:26,160 during Operation Safed Sagar. 358 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:39,440 And the target was inside a valley, so we went inside the valley 359 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,600 and then we came down to one kilometre above the target level. 360 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,760 The snow-clad peaks on both sides 361 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,000 and, you know, the moon phase, they were looking beautiful. 362 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,200 Of course, I was keeping a track of my course and compass also, 363 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:52,440 what I was doing. 364 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,760 But at the same time, I could see all that and it was beautiful. 365 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,040 And then there is battle going on below you. 366 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,920 In fact, when we came and landed, 367 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,440 that is when Late Dhaliwal, he told me, "Sir, they are trading cigarette butts!" 368 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,640 I said, "No, they aren't trading cigarette butts, those are shells!" 369 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,880 The rear half of the shell gets heated up when it gets fired out of the barrel. 370 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:22,000 So you can see that red hot glow 371 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,120 of the rear half of the shell, and that's how you see the whole thing. 372 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,480 And in the cockpit, it is all quiet, 373 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:31,440 you don't know, actually, the death and devastation going on below. 374 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:36,160 I don't think so it's possible for anyone to get that unless he's gone into battle. 375 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:40,520 Op Safed Sagar, MiG-21 was deployed in all the roles. 376 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,840 I mean, it's been a extraordinary fighter. 377 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,200 We've used it for photo reconnaissance. 378 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:46,880 We've used it for strike. 379 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:48,680 We've used it for air defence. 380 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,520 In fact, some of the radio telephony chatter 381 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,120 that was picked up by the Indian Army. 382 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,440 The Pakistani forces which had come in and dug in, 383 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:01,760 they were short of rations, they were short of ammunition. 384 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,440 So this is the kind of effect that Indian Air Force 385 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,800 and of course, the MiG-21s also had. 386 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,040 Thereafter, in 1999 again, 387 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:12,560 Squadron Leader Bundela had shot down an intruding aircraft. 388 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,040 That was the Atlantic. 389 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,680 He had used the R-60 missile strapped on the MiG-21. 390 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:19,120 During Balakot operations, 391 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:22,760 I was Senior Air Staff Officer of Western Air Command, 392 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,800 who is operational head of the Command. 393 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,520 And we were given about 14 days 394 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,040 to plan the Balakot operations. 395 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:39,520 Pakistan had to respond as a face saver. 396 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,120 We had Su-30s, 397 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,200 we had Mirage 2000s, all MiG-29s, 398 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:45,200 and also MiG-21. 399 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,960 And it so happened that on the final day, 400 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:50,880 the action which took place, 401 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,000 it was between F-16 and MiG-21. 402 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:55,920 It gives me great pride. 403 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,320 One is, it happened from Western Air Command, which I was heading. 404 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,200 And the second, it happened on MiG-21, 405 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,720 which could get the better of F-16. 406 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:09,360 And that's the reason why MiG-21 today is known as Falcon Slayer. 407 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:13,920 You take a ballpoint pen, put a dot on the paper, 408 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,240 that is how small the MiG-21 looks 409 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:19,120 to a pilot in the vast sky. 410 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:24,160 But as far as the enemy is concerned, if they are not trained with the MiG-21, 411 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:29,000 it is impossible to spot a MiG-21 till the time it gets into the kill ranges. 412 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,040 Nowadays, it's one of the rare occasions where you get to participate 413 00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:34,560 in actual operations like Sindoor and Balakot. 414 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,480 Having participated in both of them, 415 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,600 it's a good experience and good learning value going forward. 416 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,520 This aircraft has been a forerunner, 417 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,160 you know, whether it was 1965 war or '71 war 418 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,400 or thereafter in 1999, Kargil War, 419 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,200 Atlantic shooting down in Bhuj area, 420 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,120 and then even in 2019, 421 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:58,080 the shooting down of F-16 by a Bison aircraft. 422 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,880 Can you imagine any fighter aircraft, 423 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:05,960 nearly 11,600 aircraft were produced 424 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:07,120 of MiG-21. 425 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:13,480 We in India produced nearly 674 MiG-21s. 426 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,080 So very large number. 427 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,920 So we could say that MiG-21 has been the backbone of Indian Air Force. 428 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,360 It has been the staple diet of Indian Air Force. 429 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,680 And colloquially you call, it was dal chawal of Indian Air Force. 430 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,040 Jai Hind, Air Warriors. As we know, MiG-21 phase out 431 00:26:31,120 --> 00:26:33,240 has been planned at Chandigarh Air Base on 26th. 432 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:37,680 They'll be parked in this area, carrying out their tyre check here. 433 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,280 After carrying out tyre check for runway two-niner, 434 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:44,240 the aircraft will depart from here, and by middle marker, it'll get airborne. 435 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:52,320 If I give you reasons for flying 5,800 sorties on MiG-21, 436 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:56,640 my first reason was that I had to be 437 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,960 medically, physically and emotionally fit. 438 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,800 I don't recall my being medically unfit 439 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:09,680 for more than six to seven days throughout my flying career. 440 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:13,440 And for being emotionally stable, fit, 441 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,440 I'll give the credit to my family 442 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,760 because my wife single-handedly managed the household affairs, 443 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,360 the health, the education and well-being of the children. 444 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:26,400 And I did not have any worries about my home, 445 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,080 so I could focus my energies only towards flying. 446 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,800 Our families get trained from the very beginning. 447 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,320 Or you could say, we end up training them. 448 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,120 During Kargil, when I was in Chabua, my family wasn't with me. 449 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,880 Back then, there were no phones. So my wife would send me letters, 450 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,680 encouraging me to remain steadfast and not back down from national service. 451 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:47,000 They're also passionate. 452 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,720 You will realise that as long as the aircraft sound was there 453 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:52,680 for them to hear, 454 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,520 they were confident that everything is okay. 455 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,440 There were cases once or twice when, suddenly, 456 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,040 they'd stop hearing the sound of flying. 457 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:04,520 And I was fairly senior when my wife gave me a call, 458 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,000 "The sound of flying has stopped. What happened?" 459 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,080 So I just told her something happened, 460 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:10,840 so we had to stop flying for some time. 461 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,520 Their relations are directly with our emotions. 462 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,720 The day I come back happy, she knows he's got full three-four sorties. 463 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:19,680 The day you find I'm not happy, it means I've not flown that day. 464 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:21,840 My family is-- 465 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,760 Yeah, they want a phone call from me every day. 466 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,080 I'm not able to promise that, 467 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,360 but yeah, I try to call them up every day. 468 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,960 They try not to discuss certain things with me over the weekdays 469 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:35,840 because they know I'll be flying 470 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:40,240 and they silently, you know, take care of me. 471 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:51,040 I remember a very interesting incident from that time. 472 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,880 My parents were not very eager for me to get married to him. 473 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:59,640 So they came to visit Kalaikunda and he met the flight commander also. 474 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:01,240 And the flight commander goes, 475 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,680 "Sir, you daughter will be very happy 476 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,480 if she marries a fighter pilot. 477 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,320 I'm telling you, he goes in the morning before sunrise. 478 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,320 Breakfast, lunch, all in the squadron. 479 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:12,640 By evening, he'll be so tired. 480 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,000 He won't have the energy to argue with your daughter. 481 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,080 So your daughter will be very happy. 482 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,320 If at all they end up fighting, it will only be on weekends, 483 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:22,640 and not before that." 484 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:27,040 At times, I spend more time with the aircraft than with my family 485 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:31,120 and I have been able to sustain it because of the support of my family. 486 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,560 There is a saying in Indian Air Force, 487 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,000 "If you think being a fighter pilot's difficult, 488 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:37,800 try being a fighter pilot's wife." 489 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:40,360 Probably, had I been a civilian wife, 490 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,920 I would have thought or made a big deal out of it. 491 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,000 But being in the Air Force, it's a job he is doing, 492 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,760 and it's a job he loves doing. 493 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:51,720 Frankly, when I'm flying, I think only about 494 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,280 what I'm supposed to do sitting in the cockpit. 495 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:56,840 I don't think about family, friends, any of that. 496 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:00,200 Thankfully, my better half, Squadron Leader Neha Devi, 497 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,920 is also a serving officer in the Indian Air Force. 498 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,760 So she has a better understanding of my work life. 499 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:14,520 As a wife, when he took over command of 23 Squadron, 500 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:18,800 I was very happy because he was Squadron Leader when I saw him. 501 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:22,480 So that time also, he was in 23 squadron, MiG-21. 502 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:27,560 So there's a lot of emotional attachment with the squadron from last 11 years. 503 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:32,400 So obviously I have a personal connect with the squadron and the aircraft. 504 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,120 Because had I not been in this aircraft, 505 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:36,840 had I not been in the squadron at that point of time, 506 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:38,000 I'd have never met Neha. 507 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,320 So just like when you're talking on a mobile, 508 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:43,760 you like to put a face to the voice you're hearing. So when you know 509 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:47,880 it's your wife who's on the other side, giving the RT transmission, 510 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,120 then of course, the feeling is going to be a bit different. 511 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,800 As a controller, when you know that your spouse is flying, 512 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,880 and you're sitting on RT, 513 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:02,440 so there is a bit of joy and also a little bit of cuteness. 514 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:03,680 It's all professional. 515 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:07,320 In the heart, there is a little bit of anxiety also, 516 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:08,880 but you know that 517 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,800 your husband loves what he is doing, so it gives you strength. So-- 518 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:17,480 There is always a silent prayer, though I don't tell him. 519 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:20,720 So there are days when you don't feel like saying him, 520 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:22,280 "Don't fly today." 521 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,600 But as a controller, you understand you cannot say that. 522 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:29,400 It's not easy to say. So those feelings remain buried, unspoken. 523 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,120 We normally say it's the man behind the machine. No. 524 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:35,440 It is the family behind the man who is behind the machine. 525 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,440 If I give you a parlance, if you are a Formula One fan, 526 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:48,200 we go to max speeds of about 300, 350. 527 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,760 For a MiG-21, when you roll for take-off, 528 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,440 the airspeed indicator or the speedometer in common parlance, 529 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:58,680 starts registering only at 200 kmph. 530 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:03,280 So that is the speeds that we are looking at in MiG-21. 531 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:16,160 You see, MiG-21 by design was a high altitude interceptor. 532 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:18,240 It is supposed to intercept the B-52 533 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:22,480 or that Hound Dog missile or something. That is what it was originally built for, 534 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:23,920 that's why it's very fast. 535 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,520 See, when we engaged afterburner and released brakes, 536 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:29,120 I mean, it was like 537 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,240 Arjun's arrow had been released from his bow. 538 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,960 So we used to really get back into the seat, stuck. 539 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,960 And then, of course, slowly we got used to it. 540 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:43,800 I have flown all variants 541 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:50,320 including Type 77, Type 75, Type 96, Bison and Trainer Aircraft. 542 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,280 The best variant was Type 77. 543 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:56,920 If you ask any MiG-21 pilot, he will vouch for its manoeuvring. 544 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,000 We used to call it a flying Ferrari. 545 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,920 It's the fastest landing aircraft. No other aircraft has the speed Bison has. 546 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,640 It lands at such a fast speed, 547 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:18,480 sometimes you wonder, "Will it stop or not?" 548 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:23,160 But these are our pilots, our machines. Aircraft comes back to us safe and sound. 549 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,640 Again, I was in my training stage in Bidar, 550 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:30,160 and one of the pilots announced an emergency, 551 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,120 and that was a MiG-21 aircraft. 552 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:35,400 I was sitting with my instructor and I asked him what is this emergency. 553 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:38,840 So he said, "It's a pneumatic emergency and they don't have brakes." 554 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,080 I was like, "Why will they not have brakes?" 555 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:46,840 And I saw that aircraft land and that speed astonished me. 556 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:48,800 I asked, "What is the landing speed?" 557 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:50,160 He said, "It's 340 kmph." 558 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:51,200 And I was shocked. 559 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:55,720 I mean, it is a big thing to land this aircraft at such a speed. 560 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:59,120 After spacecraft, MiG-21s are the fastest in the world. 561 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,840 MiG-21 gets priority in landing because of the speed it has, 562 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,120 touchdown speed somewhere around 300 to 320. 563 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,960 So you have to take out other aircraft which have comparatively lesser speed 564 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:09,880 than MiG-21. 565 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:13,720 So irrespective of the fact that aircraft is on final approach track or not, 566 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:15,440 MiG-21 is rejoining, 567 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:17,200 you have to tell these, 568 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,480 "Vacate the final approach track. MiG-21 is on final." 569 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,960 Right from the word take-off, if I am immediately coming for landing, 570 00:34:24,040 --> 00:34:25,920 by then it takes around five minutes, 571 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,320 and even in that five minutes, I've travelled around 40 kilometres. 572 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:40,000 The venue which has been chosen has been aptly chosen as Chandigarh, 573 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,120 because that's the place where the first MiG-21s 574 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:44,200 were inducted into the Indian Air Force. 575 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,520 So, it is historically apt, life comes a full circle. 576 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:49,040 The last flight takes over there. 577 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:53,760 Towards it, we are preparing by flying different kinds of formations, 578 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,800 working out how to go about it, 579 00:34:55,880 --> 00:35:00,440 and how to signify the changeover of MiG-21 to the newer platforms. 580 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:05,120 And seeing which will be the best way 581 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:08,880 to give a befitting farewell to the aircraft. 582 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,440 Main motivation for a MiG-21 pilot is it's a single cockpit. 583 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:52,360 So today, if I sit in the cockpit, 584 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:55,800 to me, there can be no other blessing. 585 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:59,360 And anyone who makes that possible for me, 586 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:01,880 would be as good as God, as far as I go. 587 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:14,600 Once you've strapped up inside the cockpit and you've taken off, you're alone. 588 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:16,240 You're the person flying the aircraft. 589 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,640 Till the time you touch down, it's your responsibility. 590 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:21,720 So all your preparations, everything's-- 591 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:23,560 you have to put up a good show. 592 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:27,200 So when I flew the MiG-21, it was 1:1. 593 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:29,200 And there was no interruption. 594 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:32,560 And subsequently, I went into civil flying 595 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:34,400 and I started flying airliners. 596 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:37,520 That's the time when I was getting used to the fact 597 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,320 that there's another guy in the cockpit, another lady also maybe. 598 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,560 And having the cabin crew come in, 599 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,320 they want some tea, they want some coffee, whatever. 600 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:50,400 That was so different from what I was used to flying in the Air Force. 601 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:58,080 When you go and sit inside the aircraft, you are not strapping yourself. 602 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:00,360 You are strapping the aircraft to your body. 603 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:03,040 So once we sit inside and we strap ourselves in, 604 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:05,520 we feel that we and the aircraft are the same. 605 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:07,800 You become part of it. 606 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:11,680 You live that aircraft and the aircraft lives through you. 607 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:15,640 It's very important for you to feel that you and the aircraft are one, so that 608 00:37:15,720 --> 00:37:19,440 you understand each other and fly it the way it is supposed to be flown. 609 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:27,320 Whenever there are exercises over there, we park the aircraft on the runway side, 610 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:29,640 where we keep our canopy open. 611 00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:31,080 Moment the scramble comes, 612 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:33,320 within two minutes, we have to get airborne. 613 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,840 You close the canopy. After closing the canopy, you have to lock it. 614 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:38,760 Then the pressurisation takes place. 615 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:40,880 Now in a hurry, I lined up. 616 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:43,320 Now when you were moving, the canopy was closed. 617 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:45,840 So, I didn't realise that I have not locked it. 618 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,360 As I got airborne, put the undercarriage up, 619 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:51,840 I found that some air started coming in, 620 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:53,280 and canopy going up. 621 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:55,560 I held on to it, pushed it down, 622 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:57,960 pushed the lever, locked everything, 623 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:00,480 landed back safely, all good. 624 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,160 Basically, the MiG-21 cockpit is quite cramped. 625 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:09,440 There are so many switches and instruments around. 626 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,600 Analog ones, not digital. 627 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:14,600 And you have to look at those instruments in a glance. 628 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:16,640 You don't have much time to look at it. 629 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,480 They have so many checks before they get airborne. 630 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,800 So seeing them doing all those checks within a span of time, 631 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,040 you know, their hands are tuned. I'm using my hands. 632 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,080 Their hands are tuned, their speech is tuned. 633 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:33,600 Now, just imagine the workload on the leader. 634 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:38,200 He is looking at the map and looking at his speed, looking at his direction. 635 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,040 He is thereafter now looking outside to check, 636 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:44,240 oh, if that culvert has come, the road is coming, 637 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:47,120 what angle the road is crossing, am I flying in the correct direction? 638 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:53,920 When you are going into a hostile environment, like say, 639 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:55,760 you are going into enemy territory, 640 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:59,040 you are looking for people who are trying to track you down, 641 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:00,680 to shoot you down. 642 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,360 So you have to scan not only for yourself, 643 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:06,000 but for the other guy who's on your right side. 644 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:08,880 And more than that, I'm looking for my number two's tail, 645 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:12,600 that no enemy or simulated enemy is coming for attack. 646 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:14,000 So then you have to react. 647 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:17,280 If you'd miss an aircraft at that point, 648 00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:21,320 then he might be able to position in such a way that he can shoot 649 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:24,280 one of your aircraft down and you don't want that. 650 00:39:29,240 --> 00:39:31,440 The moment I sat in the aircraft, 651 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:35,920 so there is no air-conditioning in the aircraft when you sit down. 652 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:38,400 So the air conditioning gets on once you are airborne. 653 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:41,840 And we were sitting in the cockpit in Suratgarh, 654 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:43,560 the extreme summer. 655 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:46,160 So I was all drenched in sweat 656 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:48,600 till the time aircraft asked for lineup, 657 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:50,520 and I was like, 658 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:55,600 "God, I don't know how they endure this much sweat before they get airborne." 659 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,480 MiG-21 is a Russian aircraft which was designed 660 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,880 as per their climate, which is-- Russia is a very cold country. 661 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:05,920 Whatever is temperature outside, 662 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,320 the temperature in the cockpit is about seven to eight degrees higher. 663 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:12,800 You can appreciate that when the temperature is 40 degrees outside, 664 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:17,040 the temperature in the cockpit is about 47 to 48 degrees centigrade. 665 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:19,560 And since it's all metal, if you are not careful 666 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:24,240 and you touch the skin of the aircraft, you may burn your fingers. 667 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:30,240 While we were making good landing, sir kept asking me, 668 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:32,000 "Neha, are you able to spot the runway?" 669 00:40:32,080 --> 00:40:35,600 I initially said I'm looking out. Then I nodded, "Yes, sir, I can see," 670 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:36,920 although I saw nothing. 671 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:39,960 So then I realised that in that cockpit, 672 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:42,760 spotting the runway is a challenge in itself. 673 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:45,800 The moment you finish one sortie and come down, 674 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:48,360 you are soaking wet in your sweat. 675 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:51,200 It took me some time to, you know, 676 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:53,960 there was that spinning in the head when I went, 677 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:58,920 and for me to just get my feet firmly on the ground itself took some time. 678 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,320 Whereas to imagine that the pilot does that 679 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:04,000 probably more than once in a day at times, 680 00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:05,480 it is amazing. 681 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,680 When I gained about 500 to 700 hours on MiG-21 682 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:13,400 and you felt very comfortable in the cockpit, I started loving flying. 683 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:19,640 And my love for flying ensured that I preferred hot cockpit of MiG-21 684 00:41:19,720 --> 00:41:23,640 as compared to the cool environment of my office or the crew room. 685 00:41:23,720 --> 00:41:26,520 When I sit in the cockpit, I feel at home. 686 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:28,040 I feel very comfortable. 687 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:30,760 It's not a good thing to feel comfortable in the cockpit. 688 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:33,720 You should always be, you know, doing the job. 689 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:36,600 But when I sit inside the cockpit, 690 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:39,080 the comfort comes from knowing the aircraft, 691 00:41:39,160 --> 00:41:42,280 from knowing the system, from knowing how it will behave. 692 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:46,080 You are now sitting as if you are sitting for a meditation. 693 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:52,440 Even the saints who sit, they take longer time to get into-- 694 00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:00,720 to get into that mood, 695 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:05,280 or to build that environment where they start thinking, connecting with God. 696 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:08,960 We actually connect with God moment the canopy goes down. 697 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,400 Fighter pilots, particularly MiG guys, 698 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:16,080 they never go and bow down in the feet of any of these saints 699 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:20,120 because they really don't find anything more special in them 700 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:23,040 than what one has achieved in their own life. 701 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:28,040 What I loved most was when we were flying in J&K, 702 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:33,320 and we were doing valley flying. Total whiteout. 703 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:36,840 There was nothing, just white snow down there. 704 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:39,400 So that was an amazing feeling actually. 705 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:42,240 The varied experience of each place is different. 706 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:45,000 Feeling of flying over a desert is different. 707 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:47,960 Flying over Himalayas, the feeling is different. 708 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:51,840 And flying over, say, Brahmaputra, the feeling is totally different. 709 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:57,560 I did a sea flying once and I think that was pretty intimidating. 710 00:42:57,640 --> 00:43:01,760 I think that's quite challenging. There's nothing but water. 711 00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:05,440 Now, if the aircraft can go twice the speed of sound, which it can, 712 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:08,320 or it can fly up to 60,000 feet, 713 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:11,560 you can see the curvature of the Earth at that altitude. 714 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,440 It's like you're halfway to space. 715 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:21,200 I would say that it's a very demanding aircraft because it is very unforgiving. 716 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:25,400 The mistakes that you make in flying, while flying this aircraft 717 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:28,600 multiply, you know, and come back to you. 718 00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:31,800 Error is so small that at low levels, you can't do any errors. 719 00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:36,000 Because the margin for error is so small, within no time, the aircraft may go down. 720 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:38,920 That is the reason why you are on the edge of your seat 721 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:42,360 looking out for terrain clearance, any obstructions. 722 00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:46,040 So what generally our parents say is, "Fly low and fly slow." 723 00:43:46,120 --> 00:43:49,240 Which we shouldn't be doing, especially in MiG-21. 724 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:52,080 The day you decide it is going to be a very easy sortie, 725 00:43:52,160 --> 00:43:54,640 is the day it shows you that, you know, 726 00:43:54,720 --> 00:43:57,640 it will make sure that you get a lesson in humility. 727 00:43:57,720 --> 00:44:00,960 It will not come down easy on you. 728 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:03,960 You have to match up to the MiG-21. 729 00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:08,720 You cannot not be prepared on a MiG-21 sortie. 730 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:10,600 You have to be at your 100 percent. 731 00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:14,840 I was flying a MiG-21, leading a MiG-21, leading other aircraft also. 732 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:17,480 And that mission was not an operational mission, 733 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:20,480 but it was firepower demonstration 734 00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:24,200 which was being witnessed by many senior dignitaries. 735 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:33,600 Well, my friends on the other types on that particular day may not agree with me, 736 00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:37,000 but we did it better than others. There is one thing which goes with MiG-21, 737 00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:39,760 that she never says no. It always delivers. 738 00:44:44,480 --> 00:44:47,520 I don't think that an aircraft distinguishes 739 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:50,840 whether it is a female or a male sitting inside. 740 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:53,000 I think it treats everybody equally. 741 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:55,880 You see, this decision to get women into the fighters 742 00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:58,280 was when I was the Vice Chief. So when I became the Chief, 743 00:44:58,360 --> 00:45:01,120 they had finished their training and they were in Hawks. 744 00:45:05,520 --> 00:45:09,320 I took a call that, okay, all of them will go through MiGs. 745 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:12,480 Because MiG is a very good discriminator. 746 00:45:12,560 --> 00:45:15,120 Either you fly it or you flunk it. 747 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:16,960 You'll get thrown out. 748 00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:20,840 No, there can be no mollycoddling in MiGs. Nobody can help you. 749 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:22,600 You know, you are on your own. 750 00:45:22,680 --> 00:45:28,320 So it's a very, I would say, not a big fraternity, but we are getting there. 751 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:33,280 And I don't think anybody differentiates, anybody will differentiate, 752 00:45:33,360 --> 00:45:35,720 as far as you are capable enough. 753 00:45:35,800 --> 00:45:39,560 See, we fight the enemy through our machines. 754 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:41,720 We don't physically fight through muscle. 755 00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:43,520 If you're fighting through muscle, 756 00:45:43,600 --> 00:45:45,880 then there is a differentiation between man and woman. 757 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:49,040 But you are fighting the enemy through machines, 758 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:51,600 then it is how well you are operating the machine, 759 00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:54,840 how much is your skill on operating the machine, 760 00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:58,360 how much residual capacity you have got to fight with the machine. 761 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:00,520 So, all that, that is all gender-neutral. 762 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:09,080 In terms of preparation, we have been lucky enough 763 00:46:09,160 --> 00:46:13,880 that our present AOC had also commanded a MiG-21 squadron. 764 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:17,200 I can say it's a happy coincidence that the final team 765 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:20,920 which is making all the preparations have all been associated with MiG-21 766 00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:23,160 and have been associated with this squadron. 767 00:46:23,720 --> 00:46:25,640 In terms of pilots, yeah, of course, 768 00:46:25,720 --> 00:46:27,760 the number of pilots are very less as of now. 769 00:46:27,840 --> 00:46:29,520 But in terms of experience, 770 00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:32,240 I couldn't have asked for any better group of pilots. 771 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:36,240 So the responsibility of doing this ceremony 772 00:46:36,320 --> 00:46:38,920 and flying in this ceremony rests with seven of us. 773 00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:43,000 Also, some senior officers from Air Headquarters and Command Headquarters, 774 00:46:43,080 --> 00:46:45,440 they have been coming here, occasionally flying. 775 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:48,200 And you might see some of them flying in the ceremony as well. 776 00:46:48,280 --> 00:46:51,200 So everyone's eyes are going to be on the formation flying, 777 00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:54,440 as to how we are going to execute it. Even the slightest flaw, 778 00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:58,080 they are going to pick it up, because they have got loads of experience. 779 00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:08,040 I would say that as administrators, our main contribution towards MiG-21s 780 00:47:08,120 --> 00:47:11,280 would be in terms of the runway, the hangars 781 00:47:11,360 --> 00:47:12,880 and other operational infrastructure. 782 00:47:15,320 --> 00:47:18,040 If one were to frame it in terms of challenges, then… 783 00:47:18,120 --> 00:47:19,440 we all have families. 784 00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:21,600 There are people of all ages in a family. 785 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:26,600 And obviously, one must take special care of the elderly. 786 00:47:26,680 --> 00:47:28,800 Because of the elderly issues, 787 00:47:28,880 --> 00:47:33,880 knee pain, hip pain, someone may have a slight heart issue. 788 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:37,160 In taking care of those issues, challenges arise and sometimes, 789 00:47:37,240 --> 00:47:41,040 things worsen, and you may have to go to the hospital suddenly at night. 790 00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:49,040 Sometimes the hospital might tell you that something is beyond their expertise. 791 00:47:49,120 --> 00:47:53,360 So you bring in super-specialist doctors, which in our case is, experts from HAL. 792 00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:59,560 A pilot takes the aircraft into the air. After that, 793 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:02,400 we stick very close and keep an eye out the entire time, 794 00:48:02,480 --> 00:48:05,240 constantly checking when our aircraft will re-enter the circuit. 795 00:48:05,320 --> 00:48:08,480 It is like when a mother sends her child out to play, 796 00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:11,720 she is constantly worried about her child's whereabouts, 797 00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:13,520 where he might be, what he might be doing. 798 00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:20,880 Before you line up for the take-off, the technical airman, 799 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:24,680 what he does, he goes around the aircraft and sees if there is any nail 800 00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:26,600 or nut has gone loose, or something. 801 00:48:26,680 --> 00:48:27,560 That's the last check. 802 00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:31,280 Then the tyre checker, after he does last salute, he will do-- 803 00:48:31,960 --> 00:48:35,160 Means, do a little higher angle-of-attack take off. 804 00:48:35,240 --> 00:48:40,200 So I used to line up and do this, and aircraft used to resonate like hell. 805 00:48:42,280 --> 00:48:47,760 And that resonance used to resonate and vibrate the whole station. 806 00:48:47,840 --> 00:48:50,480 The houses, the windows, the hangars. 807 00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:53,120 And people who were wanting to rest, particularly senior guys, 808 00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:57,080 they used to get very upset. Of course, then I used to get my normal dose, 809 00:48:57,160 --> 00:48:59,800 "Can't you bloody behave and do a normal thing?" 810 00:48:59,880 --> 00:49:03,720 "Yes, sir, I'll never repeat it," till next time you did it. 811 00:49:03,800 --> 00:49:08,680 So these are something which, how you motivate your technical guys, 812 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:11,520 you make them feel that they are part of you. 813 00:49:11,600 --> 00:49:17,560 In the decades of '80s, '90s and the first decade of 2000s, 814 00:49:17,640 --> 00:49:21,880 Indian Air Force had inducted lot of new aircraft, starting from 815 00:49:21,960 --> 00:49:27,800 Jaguars to MiG-23, MiG-27, MiG-29, Mirage 2000 and Su-30. 816 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:29,440 So at that moment, 817 00:49:29,520 --> 00:49:33,520 more than 50% of the fighter squadrons consisted of MiG-21. 818 00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:36,440 Because of this reason, 819 00:49:36,520 --> 00:49:39,560 all the pilots who had gone to fly these aircraft 820 00:49:39,640 --> 00:49:42,240 had gone from MiG-21 squadron. 821 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:44,080 In terms of pure flying, 822 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:47,040 no other platform in the Air Force right now can beat MiG-21 823 00:49:47,120 --> 00:49:50,840 because most of the modern platforms, they've got the avionics suite 824 00:49:50,920 --> 00:49:53,080 and indirectly or directly, they assist the pilot. 825 00:49:53,160 --> 00:49:57,760 Spotting the enemy aircraft, flying by feel, was a part of the art. 826 00:49:57,840 --> 00:50:01,560 However, today, modern aircraft have lot of sensors. 827 00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:06,200 Therefore, we can say that flying today is more of a science 828 00:50:06,280 --> 00:50:08,040 and less of an art. 829 00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:11,160 There is a saying amongst pilots wherein you say 830 00:50:11,240 --> 00:50:14,640 that if you have not flown a MiG-21, you have not flown at all. 831 00:50:15,200 --> 00:50:19,080 And we MiG-21 pilots, we call ourselves the Thoroughbreds. 832 00:50:19,160 --> 00:50:22,480 And others, we address as system managers. 833 00:50:23,720 --> 00:50:25,840 I didn't want to use that word, but since he's got it, 834 00:50:25,920 --> 00:50:27,880 the system management, so-- 835 00:50:27,960 --> 00:50:30,160 So there are Jaguars who come in, 836 00:50:30,240 --> 00:50:32,720 the pilots will call themselves Jaguar pilots. 837 00:50:32,800 --> 00:50:34,560 Sukhoi-30 squadron will come in, 838 00:50:34,640 --> 00:50:36,840 they'll call themselves Su-30 pilots. 839 00:50:36,920 --> 00:50:40,800 But we, the MiG-21 pilots, we call ourselves fighter pilots. 840 00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:43,760 When my pilot engages the reheat, turns on the afterburner, 841 00:50:43,840 --> 00:50:46,440 you hear a much louder boom. 842 00:50:46,520 --> 00:50:48,760 The Su-30 pilot says that he has two engines. 843 00:50:48,840 --> 00:50:53,120 Then I say that even with two engines, you can't match my single engine. 844 00:50:53,200 --> 00:50:55,320 There used to be a lot of banter like this. 845 00:50:55,400 --> 00:50:58,960 And whenever we'd be losing, we'd pull out the MiG-21's trump card, 846 00:50:59,040 --> 00:51:02,680 "My take off speed is the highest, my landing speed is the highest." 847 00:51:02,760 --> 00:51:05,160 The people who have not flown in MiG-21, 848 00:51:05,240 --> 00:51:09,760 everybody wants to have a feel of what it takes to sit in the cockpit and fly. 849 00:51:09,840 --> 00:51:12,840 But unfortunately for them, they don't have this opportunity, 850 00:51:12,920 --> 00:51:14,560 and I think I am really blessed. 851 00:51:14,640 --> 00:51:18,840 The mere fact that after 1971 ops, Indian Air Force has participated in 852 00:51:18,920 --> 00:51:23,800 Kargil ops, in Balakot ops, and recently fought in Operation Sindoor, 853 00:51:23,880 --> 00:51:28,040 is a testimony to the anchor role played by MiG-21. 854 00:51:28,120 --> 00:51:30,960 No matter how old he is, he always turns up to prove himself. 855 00:51:31,040 --> 00:51:33,800 Trust me, even if something were to happen today, 856 00:51:33,880 --> 00:51:35,840 he will go prove himself and come back. 857 00:52:05,080 --> 00:52:07,040 Red means danger. 858 00:52:07,920 --> 00:52:09,760 I'd like to mention a special trade, 859 00:52:09,840 --> 00:52:12,840 our weapon fitters, weapon tradesmen… 860 00:52:18,200 --> 00:52:20,680 When an armament is being fitted before a sortie, be it a bomb, 861 00:52:20,760 --> 00:52:22,200 or a rocket, or a missile, 862 00:52:22,280 --> 00:52:24,560 that is completely handled by these tradesmen. 863 00:52:24,640 --> 00:52:27,440 Which is why the badge that weapon fitters wear, 864 00:52:27,520 --> 00:52:29,400 even that is red in colour, 865 00:52:29,480 --> 00:52:31,520 because they are always engaged in dangerous work. 866 00:52:32,640 --> 00:52:36,600 The aircraft will tell you beforehand, you know, something is going to happen. 867 00:52:36,680 --> 00:52:40,000 I still can remember the date, 15th October, 1986. 868 00:52:43,160 --> 00:52:46,960 Like, in MiG-21, you cannot see anything in front when the nose wheel is up. 869 00:52:47,040 --> 00:52:49,920 I just heard a noise, a churning noise, from the engine. 870 00:52:52,080 --> 00:52:55,320 Something has gone inside, which I have not seen it. Aircraft is accelerating, 871 00:52:55,400 --> 00:52:59,200 I have gone to almost about 300 feet. Thought comes to my mind, 872 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:02,240 "Now you are on the ground. Why don't you stay in the ground 873 00:53:02,320 --> 00:53:05,000 instead of go up and then come back, taking a chance?" 874 00:53:05,080 --> 00:53:09,400 So I discontinued with the take-off, put the nose wheel down, applied brakes. 875 00:53:09,480 --> 00:53:12,200 As speed came below 280, applied tail chute. 876 00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:14,880 The tail chute cable snapped. 877 00:53:19,400 --> 00:53:21,960 This is the time the whole of my life, 878 00:53:22,040 --> 00:53:24,880 film has gone through to me from childhood to this thing. 879 00:53:24,960 --> 00:53:26,760 I thought today is my last day. 880 00:53:30,360 --> 00:53:31,880 I went into the barrier, 881 00:53:31,960 --> 00:53:35,200 it took me just ten metres and stopped me there, 882 00:53:35,280 --> 00:53:36,360 pushed it back… 883 00:53:37,560 --> 00:53:41,520 opened canopy, disconnected all the things, jumped out. 884 00:53:41,600 --> 00:53:44,400 First thing I did was pinch myself. 885 00:53:44,480 --> 00:53:46,640 Is it paining or not? 886 00:53:46,720 --> 00:53:50,200 Like in the cartoon they show it, when a crash takes place over there, 887 00:53:50,280 --> 00:53:53,080 the aircraft is there and the soul was gone up. 888 00:53:53,160 --> 00:53:57,000 So then I realised the soul is still there, it's not gone up. 889 00:53:57,080 --> 00:53:59,560 Followed by, CO came, he went around the aircraft, 890 00:53:59,640 --> 00:54:03,360 then he told me there's a vulture which has gone inside and it has got 891 00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:06,400 two kilograms of meat lying in the jet pipe. 892 00:54:06,480 --> 00:54:10,440 And these kind of incidents which take place are never told at home. 893 00:54:10,520 --> 00:54:12,160 My friends told my wife. 894 00:54:12,240 --> 00:54:16,440 Thereafter, there was a court of inquiry on me. I was blamed, not informing her. 895 00:54:16,520 --> 00:54:18,640 But that she was told before the marriage. 896 00:54:18,720 --> 00:54:21,560 That this is a part of life, sometimes tyre bursts. 897 00:54:21,640 --> 00:54:25,360 Luckily, never ejected over there, and I am here in front of you, 898 00:54:25,440 --> 00:54:27,120 73, going strong. 899 00:54:27,200 --> 00:54:31,600 I had a ejection in 2008 in MiG-21 trainer aircraft. 900 00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:38,240 I ejected with now Group Captain Supandeep Singh. 901 00:54:38,320 --> 00:54:40,880 After their ejection, sir could not fly, 902 00:54:40,960 --> 00:54:44,400 but they have become family to us. They're not even friends. 903 00:54:44,480 --> 00:54:48,040 I can ask them anything or everything, I think. 904 00:54:48,120 --> 00:54:51,560 As an outsider, you feel that once you have an accident, 905 00:54:51,640 --> 00:54:53,800 then people will hesitate to go back to the aircraft. 906 00:54:53,880 --> 00:54:57,720 But as I've heard, within the forces, it's always the opposite. 907 00:54:57,800 --> 00:55:01,160 Once you have an accident, you have more confidence on the aircraft. 908 00:55:01,840 --> 00:55:04,200 I was back in cockpit within next two months. 909 00:55:04,280 --> 00:55:07,480 I myself flew 1,000 hours on a MiG, which is hell of a lot. 910 00:55:07,560 --> 00:55:09,800 It was accident-free. 911 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:13,920 Now the squadron that was under me, we had only two accidents. 912 00:55:14,000 --> 00:55:15,880 Both accidents over range bird hit. 913 00:55:15,960 --> 00:55:19,240 In a single engine aircraft, you have a bird hit, what can you do? 914 00:55:27,880 --> 00:55:29,600 But the best part of the story is, 915 00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:32,240 when the bird hits took place, both the pilots ejected in time, 916 00:55:32,320 --> 00:55:36,240 okay, ejection was safe, and they came back to flying. 917 00:55:36,320 --> 00:55:41,000 You must consider yourself being a pessimistic optimist. 918 00:55:41,080 --> 00:55:44,680 Pessimistic that you will be faced with a serious emergency 919 00:55:44,760 --> 00:55:47,000 at a critical stage of flying. 920 00:55:47,080 --> 00:55:52,120 An optimist that you have good amount of knowledge, that you've prepared yourself, 921 00:55:52,200 --> 00:55:55,680 you'll be able to take the right action and handle the emergency 922 00:55:55,760 --> 00:55:57,400 in a desired manner. 923 00:56:02,720 --> 00:56:05,240 See this is a, you can say, incorrect statement 924 00:56:05,320 --> 00:56:08,320 to say that the MiG-21 had a very bad safety record. 925 00:56:08,400 --> 00:56:13,440 If you talk of statistics, I think 2.95 or something per 100,000 hours 926 00:56:13,520 --> 00:56:18,720 is the safety record of the MiG-21, which is same as the MiG-23BN. 927 00:56:18,800 --> 00:56:21,480 And it is lower than that of a MiG-27, 928 00:56:21,560 --> 00:56:24,920 and lower than that of a Hunter and much lower, 929 00:56:25,000 --> 00:56:28,560 it is close to six or something is the accident record of a Gnat. 930 00:56:28,640 --> 00:56:31,840 So, MiG-21, comparatively, was a more reliable aircraft. 931 00:56:31,920 --> 00:56:36,280 I think it will be unfair to the MiG-21, to the Indian Air Force, 932 00:56:36,360 --> 00:56:40,760 and thousands of pilots who have flown MiG-21, 933 00:56:40,840 --> 00:56:44,800 if we do not contest the image 934 00:56:44,880 --> 00:56:47,920 which the media has projected about MiG-21, 935 00:56:48,000 --> 00:56:52,960 calling MiG-21 as a flying coffin, calling MiG-21 as a widow maker. 936 00:56:53,040 --> 00:56:57,360 I just want to ask them that when a car crashes on the highway, 937 00:56:57,440 --> 00:57:01,040 even there, unfortunately people die. 938 00:57:01,120 --> 00:57:07,040 But how many times do our TV channels criticise the car company? 939 00:57:07,120 --> 00:57:08,520 So, this should not be said. 940 00:57:08,600 --> 00:57:10,760 It becomes very demoralising for people. 941 00:57:10,840 --> 00:57:13,560 It hurts when people make comments like that, 942 00:57:13,640 --> 00:57:16,600 or when they say that it should be stopped. 943 00:57:16,680 --> 00:57:20,560 In fact, two of my youngsters, they got the Chief's commendation 944 00:57:20,640 --> 00:57:24,120 for landing the MiG-21 with hydraulic failure, main hydraulic failure. 945 00:57:24,200 --> 00:57:29,760 So that is the kind of skills we used to develop and the time we used to devote. 946 00:57:29,840 --> 00:57:31,600 To say that the aircraft was accident-prone, 947 00:57:31,680 --> 00:57:33,240 no, it was not accident-prone. 948 00:57:33,320 --> 00:57:36,040 I mean, you have to deeply understand an aircraft, 949 00:57:36,120 --> 00:57:39,080 understand a machine before you make a statement. 950 00:57:39,160 --> 00:57:42,120 As a MiG-21 pilot, I think that, you know, 951 00:57:42,200 --> 00:57:46,200 you should take your chances of flying this aircraft. 952 00:57:46,280 --> 00:57:47,720 The fact of the matter is, 953 00:57:47,800 --> 00:57:52,000 if media was partially true in its projection of MiG-21, 954 00:57:52,080 --> 00:57:56,680 then the Indian Air Force would have retired this aircraft long time back, 955 00:57:56,760 --> 00:58:00,840 and would not have used this aircraft for more than six decades. 956 00:58:00,920 --> 00:58:03,280 Indian Air Force, the first name is Indian, 957 00:58:04,360 --> 00:58:06,800 and the tricolour stands out. 958 00:58:06,880 --> 00:58:09,200 It is there in everybody's heart. 959 00:58:09,280 --> 00:58:12,000 And that is how we want to show 960 00:58:12,080 --> 00:58:15,800 that the MiG-21, with the tricolour on its airframe, 961 00:58:15,880 --> 00:58:19,440 represents India for a long period of time. 962 00:58:19,520 --> 00:58:23,360 Right from the top, the Chief of Air Staff has been personally involved in this. 963 00:58:23,440 --> 00:58:28,200 He's been flying the MiG-21 so that he can bid the proper adieu 964 00:58:28,280 --> 00:58:31,640 to this legend of the aircraft. 965 00:58:47,600 --> 00:58:51,080 The very runway from which the first MiG-21 took off 966 00:58:51,160 --> 00:58:53,760 is again where it will make its last landing. 967 00:58:53,840 --> 00:58:56,680 So I will say that emotions are running high, 968 00:58:56,760 --> 00:59:01,000 and we are bubbling with fervour, and my team is ready to host 969 00:59:01,080 --> 00:59:04,960 all the veterans and officers who've been associated with this great machine. 970 00:59:14,480 --> 00:59:17,680 All of the pilots including serving, veterans, 971 00:59:17,760 --> 00:59:20,160 they all will be here 972 00:59:20,240 --> 00:59:24,960 to bid goodbye to this beloved fighter of Indian Air Force, 973 00:59:25,040 --> 00:59:30,760 and maybe for a fraction of a time in their life, relive those moments 974 00:59:30,840 --> 00:59:32,600 where they were part of the squad. 975 00:59:44,160 --> 00:59:46,520 It's a part of who we are. 976 00:59:46,600 --> 00:59:48,840 It's just like a family member 977 00:59:48,920 --> 00:59:52,320 that you meet daily, fly daily, see daily. 978 00:59:52,400 --> 00:59:55,240 So it's just a part of us. 979 00:59:59,840 --> 01:00:04,080 We warmly welcome our chief guest, India's Defence Minister, 980 01:00:04,160 --> 01:00:10,680 Shri Rajnath Singh, on this historic occasion. 981 01:00:14,000 --> 01:00:16,040 Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. 982 01:00:16,120 --> 01:00:18,960 Here at Air Force Station Chandigarh, 983 01:00:19,040 --> 01:00:23,440 a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests and their families 984 01:00:23,520 --> 01:00:26,320 gathered here on this historic occasion. 985 01:00:26,400 --> 01:00:32,240 Today, our MiG-21 fighter aircraft will be given a valorous farewell. 986 01:00:43,920 --> 01:00:46,880 Displaying their unmatched skill in synchronisation, precise footwork 987 01:00:46,960 --> 01:00:51,800 and weapon handling, 988 01:00:51,880 --> 01:00:55,680 is the Indian Air Force's Air Warrior Drill Team. 989 01:01:32,480 --> 01:01:36,280 Ladies and gentlemen, turn your attention to the skies. 990 01:01:38,520 --> 01:01:41,800 May your applause be so thunderous 991 01:01:41,880 --> 01:01:48,240 that it reaches those who are about to descend from the sky to meet you. 992 01:01:50,000 --> 01:01:53,840 Right in front of your eyes, seven daredevil skydivers 993 01:01:53,920 --> 01:01:58,720 of the Paratrooper Training School have jumped from 8,000 feet. 994 01:01:58,800 --> 01:02:02,760 Squadron Leader Rajendra Singh Randhawa 995 01:02:02,840 --> 01:02:05,520 has descended at a speed of 150 miles per hour! 996 01:02:27,880 --> 01:02:29,160 Jai Hind! 997 01:02:29,240 --> 01:02:33,600 So it's a very, very nostalgic moment for all of us. 998 01:02:33,680 --> 01:02:37,360 We've never had an aircraft lasting this long till now. 999 01:02:37,440 --> 01:02:39,560 First of all, it's a matter of pride for me 1000 01:02:39,640 --> 01:02:43,040 for being the last commanding officer of a MiG-21 unit. 1001 01:02:43,120 --> 01:02:48,160 So obviously, my last sortie in MiG-21 is going to be memorable. 1002 01:02:49,400 --> 01:02:52,560 There is an emotional quotient attached to it, where you think, 1003 01:02:52,640 --> 01:02:56,200 "I wish this aircraft would have been flying for some more time." 1004 01:02:56,280 --> 01:03:00,520 But of course, 62 years of service, she deserves a respectable farewell. 1005 01:03:00,600 --> 01:03:05,920 It'll be like saying goodbye to somebody I've been constantly seeing every day 1006 01:03:06,000 --> 01:03:07,640 for the past six years. 1007 01:03:07,720 --> 01:03:10,760 And I've seen this aircraft more than I've seen my parents. 1008 01:03:11,880 --> 01:03:14,240 I'll say my reaction will be bittersweet. 1009 01:03:14,320 --> 01:03:16,120 Bitter because I'll be missing the platform. 1010 01:03:16,200 --> 01:03:18,120 It's one of the best platforms to fly. 1011 01:03:18,200 --> 01:03:21,800 See, it is always difficult to say goodbye to your girlfriend. 1012 01:03:22,720 --> 01:03:25,280 And in these times, if you ask us, 1013 01:03:25,360 --> 01:03:27,800 we would love to continue flying this aircraft. 1014 01:03:27,880 --> 01:03:30,080 It is like clipping somebody's wings. 1015 01:03:31,000 --> 01:03:36,040 So yes, it is very sad to say goodbye 1016 01:03:36,120 --> 01:03:39,600 and we don't want to say goodbye, 1017 01:03:39,680 --> 01:03:40,760 but we have to. 1018 01:03:42,560 --> 01:03:48,080 It is indeed a privilege and it's a great feeling to be fortunate enough 1019 01:03:48,160 --> 01:03:50,880 to be the flight commander of the last MiG-21 squadron. 1020 01:03:50,960 --> 01:03:54,680 As I said earlier, not only in Indian Air Force but perhaps the world over. 1021 01:03:54,760 --> 01:03:56,840 So, flying it for the last time, 1022 01:03:56,920 --> 01:04:02,320 yes, it will have a certain baggage of emotions associated with it. 1023 01:04:02,400 --> 01:04:04,560 But yes, of course, during that last sortie, 1024 01:04:04,640 --> 01:04:07,480 we can't let those emotions come in the way. 1025 01:04:07,560 --> 01:04:11,000 We will do, we will fly that sortie the way it is to be flown. 1026 01:04:11,080 --> 01:04:12,760 And yes, after the landing, 1027 01:04:12,840 --> 01:04:15,760 we'll see and think about the emotions that come through. 1028 01:04:15,840 --> 01:04:18,280 It is going to be emotional ride, yes, of course. 1029 01:04:18,360 --> 01:04:20,920 Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has arrived. 1030 01:04:21,000 --> 01:04:24,600 Three-aircraft Badal formation and four-aircraft Panther formation 1031 01:04:24,680 --> 01:04:28,280 are about to thunder into the sky for one last time, 1032 01:04:28,360 --> 01:04:29,960 yet for all time to remember. 1033 01:04:30,040 --> 01:04:31,720 Wind, variable. 1034 01:04:31,800 --> 01:04:33,440 Runway in use, two-nine. 1035 01:04:33,520 --> 01:04:35,280 Visibility, clear. 1036 01:04:35,360 --> 01:04:39,760 Please enjoy the approaching roar of our lion. 1037 01:04:39,840 --> 01:04:45,040 Badal and Panther formations now taking off in front of your eyes. 1038 01:05:02,400 --> 01:05:07,080 From the very runway ahead, seven proud Bisons will surge forward, 1039 01:05:07,160 --> 01:05:10,560 a symbol of a legacy that refuses to fade. 1040 01:05:33,520 --> 01:05:36,560 Ladies and gentlemen, shift your gaze towards your left 1041 01:05:36,640 --> 01:05:40,280 as MiG-21 approaches dais in classic Vic formation. 1042 01:05:45,640 --> 01:05:50,240 Leading this formation, moving at a cheetah's speed, 1043 01:05:50,320 --> 01:05:51,800 is Group Captain Mohit Gupta. 1044 01:05:51,880 --> 01:05:55,280 On his right and left are Air Commodore Amit Kumar Budhwar, 1045 01:05:55,360 --> 01:05:57,720 and Chief of the Air Staff himself. 1046 01:06:16,240 --> 01:06:19,520 Here is that thrilling sight, straight from the cockpit 1047 01:06:19,600 --> 01:06:23,000 of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team. 1048 01:07:14,240 --> 01:07:16,000 And now, the final formation, 1049 01:07:16,080 --> 01:07:20,040 exhibiting the history and bright future of the Indian Air Force. 1050 01:07:25,080 --> 01:07:27,760 Three-aircraft MiG-21 formation, flanked on both sides 1051 01:07:27,840 --> 01:07:31,000 by the indigenously-built Tejas fighter aircraft. 1052 01:07:34,960 --> 01:07:39,040 After more than six decades of serving and protecting the nation, 1053 01:07:39,120 --> 01:07:45,000 it is now time for this legendary aircraft to hand over its duty to its successor. 1054 01:07:50,160 --> 01:07:55,920 And that is the message this flypast will convey to you all today. 1055 01:07:58,280 --> 01:08:00,600 Roaring through the sky, 1056 01:08:00,680 --> 01:08:05,720 the MiG-21 passes over the dais for the final time. 1057 01:08:15,640 --> 01:08:18,120 Ladies and gents, keep your eyes and ears glued 1058 01:08:18,200 --> 01:08:22,520 as you are about to hear the last ever RT call from our Panther 1 1059 01:08:22,600 --> 01:08:25,040 as it returns to the homeland. 1060 01:08:25,120 --> 01:08:27,120 Panther 1, final three greens, 1061 01:08:27,200 --> 01:08:29,040 full flaps, full stop. 1062 01:09:21,920 --> 01:09:25,160 With the traditional water cannon salute, 1063 01:09:25,240 --> 01:09:26,880 we bid farewell to the MiG-21. 1064 01:09:26,960 --> 01:09:33,400 Ladies and gentlemen, brace up as this is our last salute. 1065 01:10:14,800 --> 01:10:17,520 When I touch down, maybe I'll just thank this aircraft 1066 01:10:17,600 --> 01:10:21,840 for, you know, keeping me safe for all these years that I've flown it. 1067 01:10:21,920 --> 01:10:22,920 Yeah. 1068 01:10:24,480 --> 01:10:26,640 And there they step out, 1069 01:10:26,720 --> 01:10:31,040 not just from a cockpit, but from a chapter of history. 1070 01:10:31,120 --> 01:10:34,760 These proud pilots carry with them the echoes 1071 01:10:34,840 --> 01:10:40,840 of every sortie, every mission and every heartbeat of the MiG-21. 1072 01:10:44,400 --> 01:10:45,840 The engines may be silent, 1073 01:10:45,920 --> 01:10:50,960 but the footsteps of these pilots resound louder than ever. 1074 01:10:51,040 --> 01:10:54,280 It is now time to formally hand over 1075 01:10:54,360 --> 01:10:57,400 to the Chief of the Air Staff, that document of the MiG-21 1076 01:10:57,480 --> 01:11:02,240 which has been filled in and signed by countless Indian Air Force warriors, 1077 01:11:02,320 --> 01:11:08,240 its very pages inscribed with the saga of their courage and valour. 1078 01:11:08,320 --> 01:11:12,000 Group Captain Amit Ranjan, Group Captain Nanda Rajender, 1079 01:11:12,080 --> 01:11:15,280 Senior Engineering Officer Wing Commander Banti Kumar Jha 1080 01:11:15,360 --> 01:11:20,560 and Warrant Officer Amit Kumar Arya will now hand over the Form 700. 1081 01:11:21,600 --> 01:11:25,600 With the handing over of this document, known as the Form 700, 1082 01:11:25,680 --> 01:11:28,560 the MiG-21 now passes out of active service 1083 01:11:28,640 --> 01:11:30,800 and joins the ranks of the Heritage Flight. 1084 01:11:30,880 --> 01:11:35,760 And with this, a glorious chapter of six decades comes to a close. 1085 01:11:36,720 --> 01:11:39,680 Our chief guest today and India's Defence Minister, 1086 01:11:39,760 --> 01:11:44,280 the honourable Shri Rajnath Singh, will now address the gathering. 1087 01:11:44,360 --> 01:11:48,240 Friends, we have all gathered today 1088 01:11:48,320 --> 01:11:52,040 for the MiG-21's final operational sortie. 1089 01:11:52,120 --> 01:11:54,600 Friends, on every historic mission, 1090 01:11:54,680 --> 01:11:58,520 the MiG-21 has always elevated the honour of the tricolour 1091 01:11:58,600 --> 01:12:02,440 Therefore, this is also a farewell to our collective memories, 1092 01:12:02,520 --> 01:12:07,120 to our national pride, and to this journey, 1093 01:12:07,200 --> 01:12:12,360 in which a story of courage, sacrifice and excellence has been written. 1094 01:12:12,440 --> 01:12:17,040 In closing, to all the pilots, technicians, ground staff, 1095 01:12:17,120 --> 01:12:20,640 and to all the engineers and other staff at HAL, 1096 01:12:20,720 --> 01:12:22,360 I extend my heartfelt salute. 1097 01:12:22,440 --> 01:12:26,080 Their hard work, dedication and courage 1098 01:12:26,160 --> 01:12:30,360 have made the MiG-21 a part of the Indian Air Force's very soul. 1099 01:12:39,560 --> 01:12:43,480 And here, the stroke of a historic signature. 1100 01:12:43,560 --> 01:12:48,040 A special postage stamp will be presented to India's Defence Minister, 1101 01:12:48,120 --> 01:12:50,400 Shri Rajnath Singh. 1102 01:13:17,080 --> 01:13:20,640 It is a hard feeling, but a new thing had to come in over there. 1103 01:13:20,720 --> 01:13:23,360 MiG-21, bye, till we meet. 1104 01:13:28,240 --> 01:13:30,800 It's part of me. It may physically not be here, 1105 01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:33,600 but then, it'll always be in some corner of my heart. 1106 01:13:38,360 --> 01:13:42,760 I would just tell MiG-21, till whenever we are breathing, 1107 01:13:42,840 --> 01:13:47,080 MiG-21, you will be part of our life. 1108 01:13:51,680 --> 01:13:54,120 The aircraft fades out but it lives in our hearts. 1109 01:13:54,200 --> 01:13:56,880 I'm sure there are enough memories, enough books will be written, 1110 01:13:56,960 --> 01:13:59,880 continue to be written on this aircraft and its exploits. 1111 01:13:59,960 --> 01:14:03,480 All I can say is this aircraft will live in our hearts forever. 1112 01:14:03,560 --> 01:14:04,960 Thank you. Jai Hind. 1113 01:14:16,720 --> 01:14:20,400 I would say MiG-21 is one aircraft which changes your soul. 1114 01:14:26,560 --> 01:14:31,120 It's a very emotional aircraft and I loved flying it. 1115 01:14:34,800 --> 01:14:37,000 I don't think so we are bidding farewell. 1116 01:14:37,080 --> 01:14:39,800 This particular entity is a giant. 1117 01:14:39,880 --> 01:14:42,640 Yes, it is symbolic. We have done whatever we have done. 1118 01:14:42,720 --> 01:14:45,200 But this aircraft brought with it a culture, 1119 01:14:45,280 --> 01:14:47,680 which we call as a fighter pilot attitude. 1120 01:14:47,760 --> 01:14:50,360 You don't just give up, you never give up. 1121 01:14:52,440 --> 01:14:56,480 That's a beautiful bird there. You know, they say silence speaks a million words. 1122 01:14:56,560 --> 01:15:00,480 For once, I'm actually at a loss of words when standing in front of 1123 01:15:00,560 --> 01:15:03,800 this beauty and the beast both rolled into one. 1124 01:15:24,560 --> 01:15:27,240 I can handle the most difficult situations. 1125 01:15:27,320 --> 01:15:28,920 That's what I learnt from this plane. 1126 01:15:29,000 --> 01:15:31,520 If it was a human, I would hug him and say, 1127 01:15:31,600 --> 01:15:36,520 "Thanks for teaching me this, thanks for letting me be what I am today." 1128 01:15:41,240 --> 01:15:43,720 To sit in cockpit of MiG-21 1129 01:15:43,800 --> 01:15:48,120 once again after nearly 26, 27 years, 1130 01:15:48,200 --> 01:15:53,000 my God, I still find each switch as if it's part of my dream 1131 01:15:53,080 --> 01:15:55,400 which I am doing every day, every night. 1132 01:15:55,480 --> 01:16:00,600 Thanks to the Air Force once again for making this possible for me. 1133 01:16:00,680 --> 01:16:01,960 Thank you. Jai Hind.