Avneet Kaur
Jalandhar, December 26

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) has finally decided to decommission its MiG-27 ground-strike aircraft named ‘Bahadur’ at the Jodhpur Air Force Base today, a retired Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) from Jalandhar and other fighter pilots of the last squadron of seven MiG-27s have been invited to fly its last sortie and bid adieu to the plane with a salute for its glorious service to the nation.

Air Vice-Marshal Sarvjit Hothi (retd), who was the commanding officer of the three squadrons at Halwara during the Kargil War, speaking to The Tribune over phone while he was on his way to Jodhpur, said after four decades of rich service, the seven MiG-27s of the 29th IAF Squadron, that played a crucial role during the 1999 Kargil War, will be decommissioned and given a ceremonial adieu, which was to be attended by retired fighter pilots, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal, among others.

He said the MiG-27 aircraft in India has had an impeccable track record of glorious service to the nation. Procured in 1980s from the then Soviet Union, the fighter jet has proved its worth in various operations, including Kargil, and earned rich accolades in numerous international exercises held in the country.

Sharing his own experience with MiG 23 and 27, Hothi, who has VM and VSM to his credit, said during the Kargil War, the 30 per cent bombings were done by MiG 23 and 27 pilots. He said formidable strike aircraft had the single-most powerful engine in the world and variable geometry wing which allows the pilot to change the wing sweep angle while flying as per mission requirements to achieve optimum flying characteristics.

He said the aircraft would pass into history not only in India but in the entire world as no other country operates MiG 27 now.

“It’s a feeling that could not be expressed as I am happy and equally proud to be part of the farewell ceremony on Friday. Also, I will be meeting my old friends. All the memories and risky encounters with MiG 27 will be refreshed while we have a last sortie,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hothi had also been part of the 10-member pilot crew selected for flying the elite light fighter aircraft — Gnat — in 1971 during the Indo-Pak War. Besides, he had been a pilot for Air India after his retirement from the IAF.