FAREWELL LEGEND

                      FAREWELL LEGEND

Mighty jets roared, a familiar sound, the last flight of the iconic fighter filling the air. Mixed feelings of excitement and sadness filled my mind. Spotless sunny day, a fitting final Adieu to the sentinel of the sky, the MIG-21. It was a jam-packed arena to see the final farewell of the fighter jets that flew through Indian skies for the last time. The Indian Air Force's (IAF) iconic MiG-21 fighter jets finished their journey in Chandigarh on September 26, 2025, marking the end of an era that began in the city in 1963. There were legendary old soldiers and former chiefs in attendance, who were part of the history of these mighty machines, bidding an emotional farewell to the end of the era of the MiG-21s. The ones who lived and breathed this machine travelled far and wide in large numbers to bid a final farewell. 

I have a distinct memory of witnessing these fighters during the show on Air Force Day in Chandigarh as a child and the sound of the roar of legend years ago. Whenever an opportunity arose, I attended the air shows. Each experience is unique and new.

Akash Ganga's elite skydivers' spectacular display commenced the programme, followed by the majestic flypast of the roaring jets matched by thundering applause from the crowd. Suryakiran acrobatic team’s performance of aerial manoeuvres was breathtaking and appeared anew every time. Tricoloured smoke formation, creating a heart with an arrow in the sky to a 360-degree manoeuvre to perfect inverted flying that seemed as if we were watching it lying down to head-on crosses that scared us but kept us glued to the sky. A team that is “Always the Best.” Such a high standard of performance shows the dedication and expertise of these pilots who perform synchronised manoeuvres.

Air Marshal PC Lal rightly said, “ The MIG-21 gave the IAF wings it never had before.” The induction of MiG-21s in the Indian Air Force provided the Indian Air Force with unprecedented capabilities. This backbone of India’s aerial defence for six decades has been hailed as a workhorse, yet feared as a flying coffin, with glory came tragedy. Air Chief Marshal flew the last sortie of the Squadron as the fleet retired. Legends landed forever with a befitting water cannon salute. Proud pilots stepped out from the cockpit carrying with them a chapter of history. 

Guardian of our skies for six long decades landed forever from the base where they touched down in 1963. It was a privilege to hear the final roar of Sentinel of the Sky. An experience that I will cherish forever. A chance encounter with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a fighter pilot who made history as the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission, was the icing on the cake. Within minutes of the closing address of the Rashtriya Mantri, a sea of people rushed towards the parked MIG-21s, to capture their moments alongside these mighty machines. The machines, part of the heritage flight, stood tall against the backdrop of clear blue skies. 

Pictures from Google 

Delighted