Login Register
Follow Us

Abhinandan flies MiG-21 minus his ‘gunslinger’ moustache

NEW DELHI:Over the skies of Pathankot on Monday was a unique flight by two MiG-21 pilots —Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and the other the toast of the nation, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Show comments

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 2

Over the skies of Pathankot on Monday was a unique flight by two MiG-21 pilots —Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and the other the toast of the nation, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Wing Cdr Abhinandan was minus his signature ‘gunslinger’ moustache that had led to commercials being made both in India and Pakistan. Several youths had started sporting the ‘Abhinandan-style moustache’.

Strategically, it was a message to Pakistan that Abhinandan, who has been awarded Vir Chakra, was back to flying after the mandatory lay-off enforced due to injuries when a pilot ejects.

The Pathankot airbase is situated close to Pakistan and historically was a key launch pad for IAF during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Incidentally, the IAF had launched its operations against Pakistan from the same base on September 1, 1965.

The 30-minute sortie that commenced at 11.30 am was unique in many ways. The IAF Chief described two commonalities saying “both of us have two things in common — first both of us ejected and second both of us have fought Pakistanis. I fought in Kargil (May-July 1999) and he fought after Balakot”.

The IAF Chief recollected that he had also flown with Wing Cdr Abhinandan’s father Air Marshal S Varthaman (retd). “I have flown with his father. It’s an honour for me to do my last sortie in IAF, in a fighter aircraft, with his son,” he said.

The Air Chief Marshal was the lead pilot in the twin-seat MiG-21 trainer and himself did the pre-flight physical checks as Wing Cdr Abhinandan, who was the face of a tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in February, followed him.

Abhinandan was cleared by a medical board to resume flying duties after his aerial combat with Pakistan Air Force on February 27. He was held captive by Pakistan for two days. This was the last sortie of the IAF Chief in MiG-21 jet before he retires this month. The IAF has five squadrons of the Russian-made MiG-21s, four of which comprise the upgraded MiG-21 Bison fighter jets. 


Back to fighter cockpit in less than 6 months

  • Abhinandan has got back flying category in less than six months after his MiG-21 was shot down during Feb 27 combat with Pak
  • Was captured by Pak army and released on the night of March 1; had been off flying duties since because of his injuries 
  • IAF Chief Dhanoa said he, too, ejected from a combat jet in 1988 and had to wait for nine months to return to the fighter cockpit
Show comments
Show comments

Top News

Most Read In 24 Hours